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Dear friends in Christ,
Lutheran Disaster Response, a shared ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America and The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, is responding to
a "no name" disaster that struck in south Florida at the beginning of
October. On October 3 and 4 severe storms and torrential rains produced
over 15 inches of recorded rainfall in less than 15 hours. Broward,
Collier, Miami-Dade and Monroe counties were declared federal disaster
areas. 93,000 houses were surrounded by water, and over 1,000 houses and
apartments were destroyed (and another 1,100 heavily damaged).
Lutheran Services of Florida will mange LDR efforts, in coordination with
the Florida-Georgia District (LCMS) and the Florida-Bahamas Synod (ELCA).
Ms. Judith Bunker, LDR Florida coordinator, reports that this is a "poor
person's" disaster. Many of the affected are multi-lingual (English,
Spanish, Creole). Hundreds of south Florida farm workers were stranded by
the floodwaters, trapping some in their houses for two weeks. Washed-out
crops have financially stranded the rest.
LDR has provided an initial $10,000 for case management through local
interfaith efforts. In addition to the District and Synod, partners in
this response include Lutheran insurance fraternals (Aid Association for
Lutherans and Lutheran Brotherhood).
Although this "no name" disaster in Florida barely made national news,
recovery will take a long time. Your prayers will uphold the thousands
affected by these floods, and support those who are putting together
responses of assistance. And your contributions will enable the church to
continue to offer help and hope, both in these immediate stages and for the
long haul.
To contribute:
ELCA DOMESTIC Disaster Response
PO Box 71764
Chicago, Illinois 60694-1764
Credit card gift line: 1-800-638-3522
Credit card gifts via the web: www.elca.org/disaster
LC-MS World Relief
P.O. Box 66861
St. Louis, MO 63166-9810
Credit card gift line: 1-888-930-4438
In Christ,
Gil Furst
GILBERT B. FURST (written on Mon, Oct 30, 2000, 4:07 pm). Director for
ELCA DOMESTIC DISASTER RESPONSE (Division for Church in Society) and
LUTHERAN DISASTER RESPONSE (a cooperative ministry of the ELCA and LC-MS)
8765 W. Higgins Rd., Chicago 60631 PHONE: 773-380-2822 FAX: 773-380-2493
Please visit our website: www.elca.org/dcs/disaster
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