wfn.org | Lutherans Help with Cleanup Efforts in Minnesota, North Dakota

[News News <news@ELCA.ORG>]

ELCA NEWS SERVICE

June 30, 2000
DAKOTA

LUTHERANS HELP WITH CLEANUP EFFORTS IN MINNESOTA, NORTH DAKOTA
00-167-MR

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Lutheran Disaster Response, a ministry of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and The Lutheran
Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS), is providing emergency assistance to
residents in northwest Minnesota and eastern North Dakota, after ten
days of heavy rain produced floods in both states.
     An initial $65,000 in grants was provided by Lutheran Disaster
Response to enable case management and counseling services in both
states, said the Rev. Gilbert B. Furst, director for Lutheran
Disaster Response.
     "Heavy rainfall began on June 19.  It compounded an already
full drainage system, to create an overland flooding problem," said
Furst.  He said the water spread overland across the countryside,
washing out roads, flooding homes, backing up raw sewage and drowning
crops.
     Hardest hit towns include Moorhead and Dilworth, located in
Clay County, Minn. More than 460 families living there were affected.
There is major crop damage in a 20-mile by 25-mile area in Clay
County, Furst said.
     More than 35 percent of the homes in Fargo, N.D., sustained
damage.  Families living in Grand Forks, N.D., were also affected,
Furst said.  Flooding in North Dakota has damaged houses that were
not affected by floods in the Red River Valley three years ago, he
said.
     "State emergency managers currently list more than 350 houses
affected by floodwater in Grand Forks County.  Approximately 1.5
million acres of farmland have been flooded," said Furst.
     Relief work conducted by those working for Lutheran Disaster
Response in Minnesota and North Dakota "will be a coordinated
effort," according to Furst.  Staff from the ELCA Eastern North
Dakota Synod, the ELCA Northwestern Minnesota Synod, the LCMS North
Dakota District and LCMS Minnesota North District will work together,
along with staff from Lutheran Social Services of North Dakota and
Lutheran Social Services of Minnesota.
     "Local volunteers are also assisting with emergency needs and
cleanup efforts," said Furst.

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