wfn.org | Lutherans Manage Recovery after Tornadoes, Forest Fires

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ELCA NEWS SERVICE

July 2, 2003

Lutherans Manage Recovery after Tornadoes, Forest Fires
03-140-MR

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Lutheran Disaster Response, a ministry of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and the Lutheran Church-
Missouri Synod (LCMS), is organizing recovery efforts after tornadoes
struck Minnesota and Nebraska, and after forest fires broke out in parts
of Arizona this month.
     Zion Lutheran Church, Buffalo Lake, Minn., lost half of its roof
and may have sustained other structural damage after a tornado cut
through the city June 24, said the Rev. Gilbert B. Furst, director of
Lutheran Disaster Response.  Zion is a congregation of the ELCA.
     "Because the building is too large to cover with tarps, church
members and others spent time June 25 removing pews, furnishings and
anything else that is salvageable.  At this point, no decision has been
made about where the people of Zion will meet for worship and other
church activities," said Melanie Josephson, director for disaster
response, Lutheran Social Services of Minnesota, St. Paul.  She said the
church's parsonage also sustained damage but the pastor and family are
all safe.
     Josephson reported that Buffalo Lake officials estimate that the
tornado destroyed five homes and damaged 65 others in the city.  "It
does not appear that the area will receive federal disaster
designation," she said.  Disaster response for the Lutheran community
will be coordinated by Lutheran Social Services of Minnesota and the
ELCA Southwestern Minnesota Synod, Redwood Falls.
     On June 22 tornadoes struck the Coleridge and Deshler, Neb.,
areas, said Furst.  Curtis D. Papenhausen, 70, a member at Immanuel
Lutheran Church, Coleridge, died as a result of the storms.  Funeral
services were held June 27 at Immanuel, a congregation of the ELCA.
     In Deshler, home to 879 people, damage assessments have shown nine
homes were destroyed, 15 have major damage and 39 have minor damage,
Furst said.
     The tornadoes produced "considerable floods" in Hubbell, Neb., he
said.
     Lutheran Disaster Response's relief efforts are being managed
through Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska, Omaha.  "Initial concerns
are for the coordination of local volunteers, clean up efforts and
pastoral care," Furst said.  "Two Lutheran church facilities are being
used by the American Red Cross for shelter and food distribution."
     Forest fires broke out north of Tucson, Ariz., June 17, said
Furst.	"Since then more than 300 structures in the small town of
Summerhaven have been destroyed, over 100 of them permanent homes of
local residents," he said.
     As of June 25, the blaze was only 25 percent contained, Furst
reported.  There are some "hopeful signs" that the fire is running out
of fuel, he said.
     Lutheran Disaster Response's recovery efforts are being managed
through Lutheran Social Ministry of the Southwest, Tucson.  Initial
relief efforts include counseling, job coordination and case management.
Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, based in Minneapolis, is providing
funds to support the recovery response, said Furst.
-- -- --

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

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John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
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