ELCA NEWS SERVICE
January 26, 2004
Lutheran Disaster Response Continues in 10 U.S. States
04-010-MR
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The director of Lutheran Disaster Response
called 2003 "a year of superlatives" when describing the nature
of disasters as "worst, largest, most intensive, highest and most
widespread." Lutheran Disaster Response, a ministry of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and the Lutheran
Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS), responded to 19 new disasters;
recovery work continues in 10 sites.
"It was a year of unusually intensive and deadly disasters,
affecting large numbers of vulnerable people from coast to coast.
Many disasters attracted media attention because they were
'sensational' while others were largely ignored," said the Rev.
Gilbert B. Furst, director of Lutheran Disaster Response.
ELCA Domestic Disaster Response and Lutheran Disaster
Response have funded and continue to fund recovery work after ice
storms, fires, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes and other disasters
struck the United States and Puerto Rico.
Disaster response continues in Arizona, where drought
conditions in the Southwest led to widespread and destructive
fires there and in Colorado. New fires broke out in June, north
of Tucson, Ariz. It was estimated that the blaze caused more
than $5.5 million in damage, destroying approximately 327 homes
and businesses, with another 115 sustaining either minor or major
damage, said Furst.
Fire "ripped through" Southern California last October and
burned more acres and damaged more buildings than any other fire
in the state's history, Furst said. Fires killed 22 people and
destroyed 3,600 homes.
In the first 10 days in May more than 410 tornadoes were
reported in the central part of the United States, said Furst.
Disaster response continues in Mississippi, Missouri and
Tennessee.
"The third year of long-term response to the terrorist
attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, has begun," said Furst. As of last
month, the responses in New Jersey and Washington, D.C., were
concluded. Response in New York continues, he said.
Lutheran Disaster Response-New York (LDR-NY) "continues to
coordinate multiple organizations providing assistance for unmet
needs. As of June United Methodists, Episcopalians and Lutherans
provided more than $1 million for unmet needs in lower Manhattan.
A newly revived interfaith [group] now brings new partners to the
table including Church World Service, United Church of Christ,
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and the Orthodox community," said
Furst.
In regards to disaster response in New York, "LCMS withheld
designated funds for more than a year due to documentation
questions about how the churches work together" there, Furst
said. "Although LCMS helped to provide funds for the Lutheran
Disaster Response Sept. 11 responses in New Jersey and
Washington, D.C., LCMS provided no funding for LDR-NY in 2003,"
Furst said.
"The churches have provided about $9.5 million so far" for
Sept. 11 disaster response, said Furst.
Disaster recovery efforts continue in Ohio, after heavy rain
caused rivers and creeks to flood several areas across the state.
Six counties were declared "a state of emergency," Furst said.
More than 3 million people were affected when floods struck
central Texas in the summer of 2002. Lutheran Disaster Response
continues to support relief work in the state, Furst said.
Federal disaster declarations were issued for Delaware, the
District of Columbia, Maryland, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and
West Virginia when Hurricane Isabel struck in September.
Lutheran Disaster Response "is present and active" in relief
efforts in these places.
Resources have been developed to help Lutheran Disaster
Response volunteers and survivors of disasters cope and prepare.
"Meeting God in the Ruins" is a journal booklet for volunteers.
The booklet is designed for volunteers "to reflect on their
experiences and issues of poverty and justice," Furst said.
A resource for congregations called "Disaster and Disability
in a Land of Faithfulness" was developed to "include persons with
disabilities in congregational disaster preparedness," he said.
Also available are "legal documents" that entail "best practices"
for disaster response. The documents were distributed to more
than 40 social ministry organizations. "These documents
regularize such things as preparedness, insurance for volunteers,
and standards for receiving and accounting for grants," he said.
Response to a disaster is often carried out by a local team
providing emergency supplies, offering pastoral care and
counseling, coordinating volunteer efforts in relief and
rebuilding, and providing grants to survivors of disasters. This
response is coordinated with other interfaith and community
efforts.
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
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask]
http://www.elca.org/news
