wfn.org | Lutherans Remember, Care For Disaster Survivors

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ELCA NEWS SERVICE

September 15, 2005

Lutherans Remember, Care For Disaster Survivors
05-172-MRC

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- This past Sunday Lutherans prayed and remembered
the loss of life from the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and from
Hurricane Katrina, which struck the Gulf Coast Aug. 28-29.  Lutherans
across the United States and Caribbean continue to offer their time,
prayers and resources to meet the needs of disaster survivors.
     "As congregations observed the anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist
attacks and came to grips with the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, we
remembered in prayer those whose grief is four years old and for those
whose grief is two weeks old.  It is good to recall our promises to
remember, care immediately after a disaster and (commit to) the long haul
of recovery," said Heather L. Feltman, director for Lutheran Disaster
Response.
     Lutheran Disaster Response is a ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America (ELCA) and Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS).
National and local staff of Lutheran Disaster Response are working to
provide immediate assistance to people displaced from their homes,
communities and work as a result of Hurricane Katrina.
     "Lutheran Disaster Response is coordinating volunteer efforts for
debris removal and cleanup in Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi," said
Feltman.  It is also organizing "tent camps" to house these volunteers,
and it is providing grants, emotional and spiritual care for survivors of
the hurricane, she said.
     As of Sept. 12 Lutherans donated more than $2.85 million to support
Hurricane Katrina relief and recovery efforts.	Donations are 100 percent
allocated for disaster response.
     Funds collected by the ELCA will be used for supporting hurricane
relief work, distributing hardship grants, providing emotional and
spiritual care for hurricane survivors and pastors, and equipping
volunteers "to respond at our shelter sites and in the beginning phase of
debris removal," according to Feltman.
     "Hardship grants are being provided for Lutherans and members of
communities affected by Hurricane Katrina.  An initial investment of
$500,000 was made to Lutheran Social Services of the South (Austin, Texas)
for community members in Texas and Louisiana," Feltman said.  Grants are
being distributed to Lutherans and others who need short-term assistance
for expenses such as rent or hotel, child care and any health-related
needs not covered under insurance or FEMA grants, she said.
     In New Orleans Hurricane Katrina destroyed Bethlehem Children's
Center, a ministry of Lutheran Social Services of the South.  The
hurricane also severely damaged Peace Lake Towers, a community for
low-income seniors, leaving hundreds of people homeless.  Lutheran Social
Services of the South is the lead agency in coordinating Lutheran Disaster
Response work in Louisiana and Texas.
     Volunteers removing debris "are asked to be entirely
self-sufficient," said Feltman.  "Management and coordination are needed
to ensure health and safety, as well as to (ensure) that volunteers are
mobilized where needed most," she said.  Lutherans have gained access to
hurricane-affected areas of Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi for debris
removal.
     "Emotional and spiritual care teams are already mobilized in
Louisiana and Mississippi," said Feltman.  "These teams, trained in
advance through undesignated gifts to ELCA Domestic Disaster Response and
Lutheran Disaster Response, meet and pray with pastors" and "help pastors
respond to the pastoral needs of their congregations.  All team members
have themselves experienced disasters and are trained pastoral counselors
and/or licensed therapists," she said.

ELCA Involved in Providing Shelter for Hurricane Evacuees
     "We have received many inquires on how (people) can offer their home"
or make other arrangements to provide shelter for survivors of Hurricane
Katrina, said Feltman.	"What a wonderful outpouring of hospitality," she
said.
     "State governors are calling on our Lutheran social ministry
organizations to support the extended hospitality these states are
offering to reduce the numbers of evacuees in Texas and Louisiana.  Local
congregations, in collaboration with their synods, are making hospitality
links," she said.

Lutheran Disaster Response Coordinators in Arizona and Wisconsin
     In a Sept. 11 report Feltman highlighted the work of Tracy
Gruenberger, Phoenix, coordinator for Lutheran Disaster Response.
Gruenberger told Feltman the first of several airplanes carrying survivors
of Hurricane Katrina arrived Sept. 10 in Phoenix.
     "We currently have staff located in the shelter at the Tucson
Convention Center."  Lutheran Disaster Response is "helping to educate
social-service providers and City of Tucson staff on disaster response,"
Gruenberger said.  "They are also assisting evacuees (to) break through
(procedural) road blocks and access services, providing emotional care and
partnering with others to cover costs for family reunification and work
with evacuees on long-term recovery."
     Scheduled to take place soon are two training information meetings
for congregations and community members to learn more about disaster
response and how they can best help survivors of Hurricane Katrina,
Gruenberger added.
     Feltman also highlighted the work of Jeff Carrigan, vice president,
Lutheran Social Services (LSS) of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan.  Carrigan
told Feltman that "LSS was asked by the American Red Cross to recruit
church groups to help staff at the Tommy Thompson Youth Center.  The
center is serving as the key receiving site for Hurricane Katrina
evacuees.  To date approximately 400 to 500 evacuees have been flown to
Milwaukee.  Groups of six or more volunteers are being asked to commit to
a six-hour shift for multiple days in a row.  Duties include providing
child care respite, managing the flow of evacuees to the registration
table, orienting them to the city of Milwaukee and assisting them with the
myriad of forms to be filled out."  Clothing and other personal care items
are being distributed, said Carrigan.
     "It is going to take all of us working together to bring help and
hope to those who were affected by the catastrophic storm," said Feltman,
who also serves as director for ELCA Domestic Disaster Response.

ELCA Colleges, Universities and Seminaries
     The 28 colleges and universities of the ELCA are responding to the
needs of survivors of Hurricane Katrina, particularly college and
university students who have been displaced by the hurricane.  Colleges
and universities are raising funds, planning student service trips and
making special efforts to serve students whose college educations have
been disrupted, including offering special breaks on tuition fees.
     Information on colleges and universities of the ELCA is available at
http://www.ELCA.org/colleges on the Internet.
- - -
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/katrina

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org
http://www.elca.org/news