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Dear friends in Christ,
"This is the worst tornado since 1926," Mary told me. I spoke with her
yesterday in the middle of La Plata, Maryland, where two weeks ago a
category 4 tornado cut a path of destruction 24 miles long and a quarter
mile wide. In this town of 6,000, 38 homes and 27 businesses were
destroyed, and 145 structures sustained major damage. As we talked Mary
watched her daughter's furniture being loaded into a van to be stored. The
old two-story house behind us was torn open on one side, and looked like a
big dollhouse. All around us houses had similar or worse damage.
Some are calling this the worst natural disaster in Maryland's history. In
Charles, Dorchester, and Calvert Counties 860 houses and 194 businesses
sustained damage. There were six deaths and nearly 100 injuries. The
damage is estimated to be at least $100 million. But the recovery has
already started. Large areas of the business district have been cleared
out. Most of the debris and twisted trees throughout the area, so evident
immediately following the tornado, have been removed.
A young couple told me they've lived here only twelve years. We stood
before their house, not habitable at the moment: it has no roof, and the
windows are gone. "It is a big challenge," the wife told me. "A lot of
people are offering help, but we don't know if they will follow through."
Lutheran Disaster Response, a cooperative ministry of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America and The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, is
responding through Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area
(Mark Cooper, president). David Pearcy (LDR disaster coordinator) is
working closely with the ELCA Metropolitan Washington D.C. Synod (Ted
Schneider, Bishop) and with the LCMS Southeast District (Arthur Scherer,
President), as they bring together members and congregations to provide
support for the response.
Today David and I met with Pastors Eric Peterson, Dale Skurla, and Craig
Endicott; Bill Meier, a coordinator of needs and volunteers; and Sr. Sally
Hiller (Southeast District staff). One pastor described how well the local
people are working with federal, state, county, and city agencies. Over
the last two weekends their congregations coordinated over 1,500 local
volunteers who helped clean up debris and remove fallen trees. There is
concern for traumatized children and for adults struggling with issues of
loss and grief.
As I write this report, immediate needs and damages are still being
assessed. LDR is developing ways to address children's' issues, provide
resources for survivors, participate in an unmet needs committee, and
prepare for long-term implications. LDR is working with local faith
partners, and is committed to being a partner in a coordinated interfaith
response.
At the moment only local volunteers are being used. No outside volunteers
can be utilized. I will inform you when outside volunteers will be
helpful.
Last week I was in Hoisington, Kansas, with Bernice Karstensen (Lutheran
Social Services of Kansas/Oklahoma president), Christine Iverson (LDR KS/OK
coordinator), Foster McCurley (Lutheran theologian and Old Testament
scholar) and Alan Weitzman (grief counselor). Thirteen months ago a
category 4 tornado ripped through this community of 3,000, destroying 182
homes and killing one person. Foster and Alan met with pastors and
community members, provided help in dealing with grief and loss from a
Biblical perspective. We spent two days in Hoisington, a community that
has made great strides in recovery. There is a "resurrection" quality in
this Kansas town.
I was able to share their "resurrection" scenario with the people of
LaPlata, who are still in "Good Friday." I was able to say with assurance,
"The destruction at your feet is not God's final answer. God has a future
for you, and will not abandon you. And God's people will stand by you for
the long haul to recovery."
Your prayers sustain the survivors of this killer tornado, who are only in
the early stages of recovering from their experience of chaos, fear,
splintering trees and twisting houses. And your contributions enable the
church to provide help and hope to those whose lives are forever changed.
You can help by sending contributions to
ELCA DOMESTIC Disaster Response - "Maryland Tornado"
P.O. 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 - "Maryland Tornado"
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 Wed, May 15, 2002,11:12 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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