wfn.org | Lutherans Continue Their Response To Domestic Disasters

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ELCA NEWS SERVICE

February 10, 2005

Lutherans Continue Their Response To Domestic Disasters
05-021-MRC

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR), a ministry of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and the Lutheran
Church-Missouri Synod, continues to help survivors recover from four
hurricanes that struck the Caribbean, eastern and southern parts of the
United States last year, and it continues to organize recovery operations
in states affected by flooding and snow storms this winter.
     Response to a disaster is often carried out by a local team providing
emergency supplies, offering pastoral care and counseling, coordinating
volunteer efforts in cleanup and rebuilding, and providing grants to
survivors of disasters. This response is often coordinated with other
interfaith and community efforts.
     According to Heather L. Feltman, director for LDR and ELCA Domestic
Disaster Response, recovery following Hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan
and Jeanne "is the largest FEMA disaster response in the history of our
nation, larger than" the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United
States.  FEMA is the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
     "Lutheran Disaster Response teams are deployed in over a dozen
eastern and southern states, helping [people] affected by the four
hurricanes we experienced this past summer," said Feltman.
     "In some states, assessments are still being carried out to estimate
and document the extent of damage to communities and to determine the
needs" of survivors, she said.	"Long-term recovery committees are being
formed and volunteers are being [called] to help families remove debris
and damaged materials from their homes."
     "Volunteers and monetary donations are critically important to enable
us to carry out the mission of Lutheran Disaster Response.  This response
effort will continue for months to come," Feltman said.
     "Relief work in the South and up to Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey
and New York from the hurricanes continues to be clean up, debris removal
and short-term maintenance, making houses livable, and helping people
relocate to temporary FEMA housing," said Johanna Olson, ELCA Domestic
Disaster Response.
     "Major construction is just beginning," said Olson, especially in
"places where recovery is further ahead, like certain parts of Florida.
Through [LDR and ELCA Domestic Disaster Response] affiliated social
ministry organizations and partners, we're providing volunteer
coordination, emotional and spiritual care, short-term unmet needs such as
paying heating and other utility bills, minor construction costs,
replacing damaged water heaters, cleaning homes, case management and
counseling services.  Camp Noah, a weeklong day camp for children who
survived disaster, is also being organized for this summer," Olson said.
     Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, a Minneapolis-based not-for-profit
financial services organization serving the ELCA and other Lutheran church
bodies, gave $345,000 to ELCA Domestic Disaster Response last month to
assist with hurricane relief and recovery efforts, reported Sue
Edison-Swift, associate director for interpretation, ELCA Department for
Communication.	The gift will help more families and individuals deal with
the devastation they face and continue down the road of recovery, she
said.
     "Unmet needs, like modifying a house trailer to be wheelchair
accessible, are financial burdens incurred as the result of a disaster
that is not covered by insurance or other agencies," Edison-Swift said.
"Covering unmet needs, [providing] spiritual and emotional care for
care-givers and receivers, working with children through Camp Noah and a
sustained, long-term response are hallmarks of Lutheran Disaster Response
efforts," she said.
     "Thrivent Financial for Lutherans also gave about $300,000 to ELCA
Domestic Disaster Response for hurricane response as part of
congregational matching grants," said Kathryn Sime, director, ELCA World
Hunger and Disaster Appeal.
     "Members of the ELCA have contributed $1.3 million to support the
hurricane response efforts of the church's Domestic Disaster Response,"
Sime said.  "Although these hurricanes are no longer in the news, our
response efforts continue in Florida, southeastern United States and
Caribbean," she said.

Flooding, Snow Storms in Arizona, Minnesota, Ohio and West Virginia
     "It's been difficult" in "southeastern Ohio, [which] has endured four
floods in the last 12 months.  Snow storms and flooding of the Ohio River
and its tributaries have compounded recovery efforts to flooding
[produced] by Hurricanes Frances and Ivan," said Feltman.
     "Since September, 9,133 individuals and families have applied for
FEMA assistance due to flooding from this past hurricane season," she
said.  "Households flooded by Hurricane Ivan and Frances have flooded
again due to snow and rainfall last month, especially hard-hit areas are
Belmont and Athens counties, where families are appealing to the
government to buy out their homes," Feltman said.
     "Lutheran Social Services of Central Ohio is providing emotional and
spiritual care to those impacted.  Water has not receded in some areas,
such as in Guernsey County.  FEMA has halted its preliminary damage
assessments due to high waters," she said.
     Lutheran Social Services of Central Ohio is also working in West
Virginia "in response to flooding there caused by Hurricanes Ivan and
Frances.  LDR and ELCA Domestic Disaster Response are also working with
the ELCA West Virginia-Western Maryland Synod, providing case management
and volunteer coordination" and participation in local, long-term recovery
organization, she said.
     Heavy, sporadic flooding has affected much of Arizona, said Feltman.
"Initial flooding took place in the first week of December, with heavy
rains impacting the northwestern to central parts of the state.  A second
wave of flooding occurred the first week of January, impacting the already
flooded areas and extending flooding into the eastern part of central
Arizona," she said.
     "Lutheran Disaster Response has responded with initial casework for
families requesting emergency assistance, and [it] is coordinating work
teams to provide cleanup.  FEMA is running preliminary damage assessments
to determine if there will be federal funds for individuals and families
impacted by the flooding," said Feltman.
     In Albert Lea and Austin, Minn., LDR is working with the Austin Area
Interfaith Disaster Recovery Group and Southern Minnesota Interfaith
Disaster Recovery Network to meet the needs of residents affected by
flooding.  LDR is also coordinating volunteers and administrative support
for the two recovery groups, said Feltman.  "Six counties have been
declared to receive individual and family assistance.  Roughly, 4,000
households are affected" in the Albert Lea and Austin areas, she said.
_ _ _

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