CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Lutheran Disaster Response, a ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, continues to organize recovery work this summer in California, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Texas, Washington, D.C., and West Virginia, after storms struck parts of these areas.
"As we move through the early days of the 2004 hurricane season, severe and devastating storms continue," said the Rev. Gilbert B. Furst, director, Lutheran Disaster Response.
Relief work continues in California, after wildfires killed 22 people and burned 989,000 acres across the state last fall. Lutheran Disaster Response is reaching out to elderly, poor and unemployed people and child survivors, said Furst. "A spiritual and emotional retreat was held in June to support pastors doing intense front-line ministry."
In Utica, Ill., tornadoes killed eight people and destroyed homes and businesses there, reported Furst. Nineteen tornadoes struck the town April 20. Lutheran Child and Family Services of Illinois, River Forest, and Lutheran Social Services of Illinois, Des Plaines, continue to assist Lutheran Disaster Response in recovery work there.
"After the clean-up crews have finished their dangerous and difficult work, the Red Cross has done its crucial emergency response coordination and the funerals are complete, many survivors face new trauma while still wounded and vulnerable," said Dave Roth, coordinator for the Illinois Lutheran Disaster Response team.
"We want to equip local communities to help with the healing, and we want to provide opportunities for the caring and capable persons in Lutheran congregations to participate in that. If the community wishes it, the Illinois Lutheran Disaster Response team will be involved in Utica for many months and perhaps years," said Roth.
In Iowa Lutherans continue to coordinate relief efforts in response to 17 tornadoes that damaged at least 1,400 houses in a 14-county area on May 25. Two people were killed by the tornadoes, reported Furst.
Lutheran Disaster Response in Nebraska, two ELCA congregations and the American Red Cross are responding to a microburst in Kimball, Neb., on June 26. The microburst damaged 14 mobile homes and left 47 people in need of shelter and food. No one was injured, reported Linda Janssen Gjere, director for communication, ELCA Nebraska Synod, Omaha.
"A microburst is a vertical down-force of wind that turns horizontal when it hits the ground, leveling whatever is in its path. The [microburst in Kimball] covered an area about the size of two football fields," Gjere said.
Lutherans also continue recovery work in eastern Nebraska, particularly in farming and residential communities, after damaging hail storms and tornadoes struck the state May 22-23. At least 158 homes were destroyed and 150 others damaged, Furst said.
Lutherans continue to repair and rebuild homes in Matagorda and Calhoun counties of southern Texas, which endured three floods, a tornado and damage from Hurricane Claudette last summer.
In Skagit and Snohomish counties of northwest Washington, Lutherans and other faith groups continue to organize recovery work after the Skagit River flooded last fall, destroying many homes in the state. Recovery work will continue through August, Furst said.
"On Memorial Day floods and mud slides washed out bridges and covered roads in southern West Virginia," Furst said. Twenty-four counties are declared a federal disaster. At least 135 homes were completely destroyed, and 443 sustained major damage, he said. "Some communities have experienced four or five major disasters in the last two years. Many low-income rural families with few resources for recovery are affected."
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DOMESTIC DISASTERS:
Editors: 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
