Lutherans Continue Damage Assessment After Hurricane Jeanne

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Lutheran Disaster Response, a ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, continues to conduct damage assessment and coordinate relief efforts in Florida, after Hurricane Jeanne clobbered the state Sept. 25-26. It also continues to organize recovery efforts in several other U.S. states and territories devastated by hurricanes and storms in the past six weeks.
"Government relief agencies and other organizations are responding to the [overall] recovery effort at a scale never before seen in the nation's history," said Heather L. Feltman, director, Lutheran Disaster Response and ELCA Domestic Disaster Response. Hurricane Jeanne is the fourth hurricane in a six-week period.
The United States "has not seen the impact of four hurricanes in a single hurricane season since 1886," Feltman said.
"This is the largest FEMA recovery response in the history of our nation," said Feltman, "and huge for Lutheran disaster efforts as well. We need monetary gifts to sustain and continue our response and ministry efforts."
As of Sept. 28 "we've received $300,000 from members, congregations and synods of the ELCA in response to the hurricanes and storms in the past six weeks," said Kathryn Sime, director of the ELCA World Hunger and Disaster Appeal. "These funds will be used for emergency and short-term needs, as well as our long-term response" in areas affected by hurricanes and storms, she said.
"Given the immediacy of these disasters, we're still assessing the full scope of needs of communities affected by hurricanes and storms. We know that these needs, now and in the future, will be extensive, given the devastation. While these needs can be overwhelming I'm confident that, as a church, our capacity to provide help and hope is even greater. I'm grateful for the generosity [of] our members in the past few weeks," said Sime.
Hurricane Jeanne "inflicted damage on many Florida neighborhoods and congregations still reeling from earlier storms. Serious structural damage and flooding compromised many buildings. People, including caregivers, are weary and overwhelmed," Feltman said. Many people continue to "stand and wait in long lines for basic-need essentials," she said.
"There is a wide area of devastation from Pensacola to the southern coastal area of Florida," Feltman said. Millions of people in that area are living without power.
The Lutheran Disaster Response team in Florida has distributed food and supplies, reported the Rev. Thomas Weitzel, director of communication, ELCA Florida-Bahamas Synod, Tampa, Fla.
About "700 people have volunteered" in recovery efforts, "working 3,500 hours," he said. "Help sites have been established in four areas in Florida, and counseling sites for [clergy] and families have been established in six areas," Weitzel said.
In the Bahamas, the main need for survivors of hurricanes is food, Feltman said. "The infrastructure there is sporadic, and there is re-flooding."
"The U.S. Virgin Islands reported minimal flooding and minimal damage. Puerto Rico has reported moderate damage and flooding. Clean-up kits are being distributed across the island," Feltman said.
Other states are preparing for impact from Jeanne, Feltman said. Georgia was expecting eight to 10 inches of rain Sept. 27, she said.
"Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Washington, D.C., Pennsylvania, Maryland and Ohio have all seen devastating flooding due to hurricanes this season. Federal emergency declarations continue to be made daily in these states," she said.
In Pennsylvania, 41 out of 67 counties in the state were declared federal disaster sites Sept. 24, according to Robert W. Fisher, director of communication, ELCA Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod, Norristown, Pa. Recovery efforts continue there, after Hurricane Ivan produced heavy rain and flash floods, he said. The Delaware River crested, causing extensive flooding in communities up and down the river.
Fisher said Pennsylvania continued to be "hard hit" Sept. 28 with tornadoes, heavy rain and flash floods produced by Hurricane Jeanne, now a tropical depression.
"Lutheran Disaster Response and ELCA Domestic Disaster Response continue to be involved in all levels of the recovery phase," Feltman said. Damage assessment and coordination with other disaster relief organizations continue after each hurricane, she said. Lutheran "coordinators assist people with FEMA paperwork and other issues as requested. Mental health counselors and spiritual care counselors help those in affected communities. A process for assisting with unmet needs and case management has been established through Lutheran Disaster Response affiliate agencies."
Prayers and monetary donations are most important at this time, Feltman said. "Funds go to where help is most needed after Hurricane Charley, Hurricane Frances, Hurricane Ivan and Hurricane Jeanne, and those storms, named and unnamed, that might still do damage. All gifts, 100 percent, designated for specific responses are used for the immediate and long-term response following [these] disasters," she said.
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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