wfn.org | LCMS News - Flood Loss at Campus for Abused Girls May Reach $2 million

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

LCMSNews -- No. 39
July 15, 2002

Flood loss at campus for abused girls may reach $2 million

Cleanup and rebuilding costs may run upwards of $2 million at a Lutheran 
campus for abused girls that fell victim to flooding earlier this month in 
Texas.

Very little of that amount is expected to be covered by insurance, 
according to Mark Minick, associate vice president for community/church 
relations with Lutheran Social Services of the South (LSSS).

Torrential rains of up to 30 inches in some places spawned floods 
throughout central and south Texas, killing at least eight people and 
causing tens of millions of dollars in property damage. All told, more than 
48,000 homes may have been affected by the flooding.  In some places, 
rivers crested as high as 28 feet above flood level.

The most widespread flooding was along a several-hundred-mile stretch of 
the Guadalupe River.

On July 4, 48 girls and 40 staff members were evacuated from the campus of 
the New Life Children's Treatment Center, located in Canyon Lake, just west 
of New Braunfels outside a flood plain between the Guadalupe River and the 
Canyon Dam.  The next day, the dam overflowed, resulting in 18 inches of 
water and mud over the New Life campus.

Minick said that LSSS, which owns and operates the center, aims to raise 
the $2 million needed to rebuild and clean up the buildings, a number of 
which are new.  Two buildings there were destroyed by the flood and two 
others were condemned. In addition, a new road must be built.

"This is the worst disaster this agency has suffered in the 121 years we 
have been in operation," said LSSS President and CEO Kurt Senske. "For the 
first time, we are placed in the position of asking for help to rebuild our 
own ministry."

The residents and staff of the New Life center are temporarily housed at a 
children's treatment center in Corpus Christi, which is about 300 miles 
from Canyon Lake.

Minick said that at least 30 Lutheran families have reportedly been 
affected by the flooding, but he expects that number to climb.

"It's way too early to know," Minick said. "We just don't have hard 
numbers." He indicated that is partly because many areas remain isolated by 
the floodwaters.

Minick also is coordinating flood-relief efforts in Texas for Lutheran 
Disaster Response, a cooperative ministry of LCMS World Relief and 
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Domestic Disaster Response.

Rev. Jon Goeke, former director of development for missions with the Texas 
District, also is gathering information for the district about the flooding.

He said that, "to our knowledge," no property of district congregations was 
flooded.  However, he said that among their members feeling the after 
effects are two families whose homes in New Braunfels and Seguin were 
condemned and a number of others in Kerrville, Abilene, Brownwood, San 
Antonio, Fredericksburg and Seguin whose homes have "significant water 
damage."

Donations for the New Life center may be earmarked "Rebuild New Life Fund" 
and sent to Lutheran Social Services of the South, P.O. Box 140767, Austin, 
TX 78714.

For broader flood-relief, contributions earmarked "Texas Flood" may be sent 
to LCMS World Relief, P.O. Box 66861, St. Louis, MO 63166-9810.  Or, call 
the credit-card gift line at (888) 930-4438.

****************************************

LCMSNews is published by the News and Information Division, Board for 
Communication Services, of The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod.  Please 
note that subscribers to LCMSNews will not be able to reach anyone by 
hitting the "Reply" button when viewing an LCMSNews release. Such replies 
will be deleted. However, if you have questions or comments about this 
LCMSNews release, contact Joe Isenhower via e-mail at 
joe.isenhower@lcms.org, or by phone at (314) 996-1231.

To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your e-mail address for LCMSNews, 
go to the following Web address: 
http://lists.lcms.org/mailman/listinfo/lcmsnews.

****************************************