CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Lutheran congregations across the eastern
United States continue to distribute emergency supplies, prepare
food and offer shelter to survivors of Hurricane Isabel, which
struck the eastern coast last month.
"Relief efforts in response to the widespread damage caused
by Hurricane Isabel continue full force," said the Rev. Gilbert
B. Furst, director of Lutheran Disaster Response, a ministry of
the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Lutheran
Church-Missouri Synod.
Lutheran churches are working with the ELCA synods, LCMS
districts, Lutheran social ministry organizations and interfaith
partners to provide disaster response in Delaware, Maryland,
North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington, D.C., and
West Virginia, Furst said.
Hurricane Isabel caused 17 deaths in six states, produced
extensive flooding and left hundreds of thousands of people
without power. Federal disaster declarations were issued for
seven states.
Furst said disaster response is now in the "relief" stage,
which is "about securing infrastructure." Long-term recovery,
such as case management and reconstruction, is still being
projected. "Clean up crews are needed. There remains a lot of
cleaning and mucking out to be done," he said.
"To help people affected by Hurricane Isabel, go to your
bank account, not your closet or food pantry," said Rick
Augsburger, director of emergency response, Church World Service.
"Cash is always preferred over material donations. With
cash donations, organizations responding to disasters can quickly
acquire exactly what is needed based on damage assessments," he
said. "Cash also can purchase goods and services in the disaster-
stricken community and thus boost its economy at a critical
time," Augsburger said.
The ELCA, including Lutheran Disaster Response, participates
in the work of Church World Service, said Furst. "Faith groups
typically help disaster survivors develop their own recovery
plans and work with them to get assistance they need to fully
recover. They also send volunteers to disaster sites to repair
and rebuild homes," Furst said, adding that money is allocated
"to support long-term recovery and rehabilitation."
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DOMESTIC DISASTERS:
Eidtors: When listing organizations receiving funds to aid
survivors of major disasters inside the United States, Puerto
Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands, please include:
ELCA Domestic Disaster Response
P.O. Box 71764
Chicago, Illinois 60694-1764
Credit card gift line: 1-800-638-3522
Credit card gifts via Internet: http://www.elca.org/disaster
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org
http://www.elca.org/news
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About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 2.8 million members in more than 8,500 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands.," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.
For information contact:
Candice Hill Buchbinder
Public Relations Manager
Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org
