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Dear friends in Christ,
Many of you are asking how our brothers and sisters have fared in
Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida, now that Hurricane/Tropical
Storm Georges has passed into the Atlantic Ocean. I have been asking that
question on your behalf these past four days, as I contact persons living
in or ministering to these areas: LCMS District Presidents and ELCA Synod
Bishops, District and Synod staff, pastors and lay leaders, executives of
Lutheran social ministry organizations, church camp directors, affected
individuals, Church World Service representatives, and insurance fraternal
representatives.
Their answers are almost identical - it's a real mess, but not the
catastrophic destruction people experienced after Hurricane Andrew. The
problems were not caused so much by hurricane winds as by floodwaters.
Damage assessments continue in the affected areas. Initial reports
indicate that Lutheran church facilities have escaped major damage.
Pastors and members apparently have not experienced total losses of homes
or possessions.
FLORIDA is the most affected, especially in Big Pine Key and Marathon Key
(northern Key West). Ms. Judith Bunker (disaster coordinator for Lutheran
Family Services of Florida) describes the area as "pretty bad." Local
volunteers and cleanup crews are being coordinated and emergency supplies
provided. This morning Dr. Gary Harbaugh (Florida-Bahamas Synod Staff)
lead a "Equipping the Caregiver" workshop for the area pastors. Lutheran
Disaster Response will be involved directly, hiring a short-term local
coordinator for cleanup and repairs. Pastors and caregivers will receive
continued support, and care will be provided for survivors. Initial
reports from the Florida Panhandle area speak of moderate flooding and
power outages.
ALABAMA, LOUISIANA, and MISSISSIPPI have also been spared catastrophic
destruction. Southern District President Orval Mueller, after contacting
congregations, stated he was "pleasantly surprised" by the lack of
widespread damage. "There have been many miracles with this hurricane."
In many places water rose to 2 or 3 feet, ruining furnishings and
appliances. Pastors in Ocean Springs, Biloxi, Gulfport, and Mobile are
providing emergency assistance. But so far it appears that the resources
of the local areas are sufficient to respond to the circumstances. In
addition to direct support, LDR will support and participate in interfaith
recovery efforts.
It is estimated Hurricane Georges has caused $2 billion damage, making it
the fifth most expensive natural disaster in the United States. (By
comparison, in 1992 Hurricane Andrew produced over $15 billion damage).
The major focus of Lutheran Disaster Response will be Puerto Rico, where
there is widespread destruction and over 33,000 single-family homes were
destroyed.
You can help by:
-- Continuing to support the survivors with your strong and fervent
prayers.
-- Volunteering for cleanup and repairs. A volunteer staging area is being
prepared in Puerto Rico, near San Juan. I will inform you as soon as a
facility is ready and a phone number is accessible.
-- Your contributions will help the church to sustain a long-term response.
Please send your financial support to:
To contribute:
ELCA Domestic Disaster Response - "Hurricanes"
PO Box 71764
Chicago, Illinois 60694-1764
Credit card gift line: 1-800-638-3522
LCMS 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 Fri, Oct 2, 1998, at 4:37 pm)
Director, ELCA Domestic Disaster Response (Division for Church in Society),
Lutheran Disaster Response (A cooperative ministry of the ELCA and LCMS)
8765 W. Higgins Rd., Chicago 60631 PHONE: 773-380-2822 FAX: 773-380-2493
Visit our website: www.elca.org/dcs/disaster
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