wfn.org | ELCA Helps Virgin Islands Residents in Disaster Preparation

[News News <NEWS@ELCA.ORG>]

ELCA NEWS SERVICE

June 15, 2000

ELCA HELPS VIRGIN ISLANDS RESIDENTS IN DISASTER PREPARATION
00-163-MH*

     CHICAGO (ELCA)   The U.S. Virgin Islands may be affected heavily
during this year's hurricane season, said the Rev. Gilbert B. Furst,
director, Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR) and Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America (ELCA) pastor.  Furst recently visited the islands,
where LDR has been helping people get ready for the possibility of
hurricanes.
     LDR is a cooperative ministry of the ELCA and The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.
      Furst, who traveled around St. Croix with Chris Finch, president
of Lutheran Social Services-Virgin Islands (LSSVI), said "small grants
have been provided to key LSSVI employees who must spend the days
immediately prior to a hurricane preparing human-care facilities and to
be at work during and after an actual storm."
     The grants may be used to help purchase emergency supplies, tools
or mitigation devices that would help solidify homes, he said.  The
grants were provided by the ELCA Domestic Disaster Response on behalf of
LDR, Furst said.
     In addition to the grants, every Lutheran pastor on each of the
islands will receive hand-held short-wave radios and communication
training.  Pastors will use short-wave radios for communication and
coordination in case a hurricane disrupts telecommunications, he said.
     LDR and LSSVI are also working with Project Impact of the Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to prepare a disaster manual for
families.  The manual will explain how to protect homes properly, how to
stay mentally healthy and how to care for children affected by a natural
disaster.
     In an effort to improve hurricane readiness, there will be a new
program on St. Croix, mainly to help low-income, elderly, physically and
mentally impaired, and single-parent homeowners, Furst said.  Relief
workers will fasten walls to rafters and studs to foundations, he said.
The workers will also repair minor damage from previous hurricanes.
     Furst recalled how thankful Virgin Islands residents were for
LDR's ministry.  He spoke to a woman named Maria, a resident of St.
Croix, who deeply appreciated the efforts of LDR and LSSVI.  "Thank God
for the Lutherans," she said.  "Thank God for Lutheran Social Services."
      "Let us remember those who are still recovering from last year's
storms; let us hold in our prayers those who may be affected this year;
and let us continue to reach out to our brothers and sisters in their
times of need, even as God has reached out in love to us," Furst said in
a message to members of the ELCA.
-- -- --
     More information on disaster response efforts can be found on the
ELCA's Web site at www.elca.org/disaster.

     [*Michael N. Hoffman is a junior at the University of Kansas,
Lawrence, Kan.  This summer he is an intern with ELCA News and
Information.]

-- -- -- --
DOMESTIC DISASTERS:

Editors: When listing organizations receiving funds for aid to survivors
of major disasters inside the United States, Puerto Rico or the U.S.
Virgin Islands, please include:

Lutheran Disaster Response
P.O. Box 71764
Chicago, IL  60694-1764
800-638-3522

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html