CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Lutherans in Florida are standing by to
respond after severe thunderstorms and tornadoes swept through
central Florida, killing 19 people Feb. 2. The storms prompted
Florida Gov. Charlie Crist to declare a state of emergency for
Lady, Seminole, Sumter and Volusia countries, according to CNN.
According to James Wells, president and chief executive
officer, Lutheran Services of Florida, Inc., Tampa, state
officials have asked that no one enter the affected areas and
"state officials have it under control." Lutheran Disaster
Response coordinators remain on stand-by until search and
recovery efforts are completed, he said, adding that about 700
homes across three or four counties in central Florida have been
damaged and/or destroyed. There have been no reports of severe
damage to ELCA church buildings as of Feb. 2.
Adam J. Bost, communication specialist, ELCA Florida-Bahamas
Synod, Tampa, said 13,000 homes were without power. "Churches
that are in good condition have been asked to serve as locations
for food and medical distribution, (and provide space for)
emergency childcare and counseling from outside agencies," he
said.
Some clean up has begun to allow emergency personnel to
reach damaged areas, but "it is hard for anyone to see the full
extent of the damage because it is hard to move around in those
areas," said Bost.
Lutheran Disaster Response is a ministry of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America and Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.
- - -
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/ddrgive
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org
http://www.elca.org/news
ELCA News Blog: http://www.elca.org/news/blog
- - -
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
