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Dear Christian Friends,
Lutheran Disaster Response, a cooperative ministry of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America and The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, is
responding to a devastating F-4 level tornado that affected Hoisington,
Kansas, last Saturday (April 21). In this central Kansas community of
2,975, one person was killed and 28 were injured. Preliminary assessment
indicates 182 homes were destroyed, 52 sustained major damage (and not
repairable), and 392 had minor damage. Both LCMS and ELCA church
facilities sustained minor damage.
Community damage assessments continue as Governor Bill Graves prepares to
request a presidential disaster declaration. Federal Emergency Management
Agency Director Joe M. Allbaugh will be present today for a firsthand look.
Lutheran Social Service of Kansas/Oklahoma (Bernice Karstensen, President)
is managing the LDR response through the Rev. Christine Iverson (Lutheran
Disaster Response coordinator for Kansas and Oklahoma). Bishop Charles
Maahs (ELCA Arkansas-Oklahoma Synod) and the Rev. Rocky Mease, chaplain for
the LCMS Kansas District) have been on hand to provide pastoral care and
support. An initial $10,000 grant has been provided by LDR to assist with
emergency needs, and for cleanup and initial recovery efforts.
Pastor Iverson and Ms. Karstensen met with 32 ELCA and LCMS pastors, and
insurance fraternals AAL and Lutheran Brotherhood leaders. A local
steering committee of area Lutheran pastors and insurance company
representatives is functioning. Lutheran efforts will be coordinated
through an emerging interfaith response.
Your prayers for the safety and well being of those affected are important.
And your donations helps the church respond, letting the disaster survivors
know they are not alone - that God still loves them, and that God's people
will offer help and hope.
Only local volunteers are being used to provide initial cleanup efforts.
Persons from outside the area will be needed in the near future, when
repair and rebuilding efforts begin. At this point you can call
316-686-6645 (LSS-Kansas/Oklahoma) to provide information if you are
interested in volunteering.
Send contributions to:
ELCA DOMESTIC Disaster Response - "Hoisington Kansas Tornado"
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
Yours in Christ,
Gil Furst
GILBERT B. FURST (written on Thu, Apr 26, 2001, at 11:10 am). 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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