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Greetings:

As we come to the end of a tumultuous year of worldwide and domestic
disasters, we are astonished by disasters' immediate devastation.  But
rarely do we see or hear of their long-term effect.  I want to share with
you updates on the flooding crisis affecting communities surrounding Waubay
Lake in South Dakota and Devil's Lake in North Dakota.

WAUBAY LAKE BASIN, SOUTH DAKOTA

The problem is water claiming land.  140 miles north of Sioux Falls, a
system of expanding lakes and emerging groundwater pools from the Blue
Dog-Rush-Waubay Lake Basin is causing flooding and the loss of thousands of
acres of farmland.  The waters are consuming the life and economy of Day
County.  Of 700,000 acres of tillable land, 300,000 acres under water.  The
communities of Webster, Grenville and Waubay have lost 7 million dollars in
farming revenue for 1998.  Since 1993 it is estimated farmers have endured
a crop loss between 15 and 25 million dollars.

The economic impact upon these communities compounds.  Crop loss means less
work at the grain mill.  It means less being bought and fewer bills being
paid at the hardware, lumber and grocery stores.  Loans loom larger at the
bank.  This also means a significant revenue loss for the county
government, slowly leaving it incapable of dealing with the crisis.  As of
January 1, Day County will no longer have a county ambulance service,
nutrition programs, services for the handicapped or an extension office.
The county can no longer afford these programs because it is not receiving
sufficient income to sustain the services, in addition to constantly
maintaining and building up main roads.  "It's like a cancer.  It just eats
away slowly.  That's the hard part - the slowness.  People can't understand
it," said Gary Troester, Day County agricultural agent.  As a part of the
extension office, he will lose his job come January.

There is no natural drainage for this basin system.  It is estimated the
water levels were at this height in the 1870s. Little can be done.  A
farmer said to me, "This is not a disaster.  You won't be rebuilding.  The
lake is re-claiming its basin.  You can't do anything to help us."

Rev. Terrill Sorensen tells his congregation that people have defined
themselves with things that are like Ezekiel's bones, now dried up and
gone.  He reminds them that Israel's hope was never in the land or in the
temple, but in God.

For further information about this crisis, please call the LDR Coordinator
of SD, Rose Kormann of Lutheran Social Services of South Dakota at
1-800-568-2401.

DEVILS LAKE/SPIRIT LAKE RESERVATION, NORTH DAKOTA

The region continues to flood.  Lutheran Disaster Response, with LSS of
North Dakota, has established an office in the area and is currently
assessing needs.  A disaster resource information packet will be
distributed to agencies and churches in the Devils Lake area.

In the Spirit Lake Reservation, LDR is providing assistance with housing.
Eighty-five construction assessments to flood affected homes have been
completed and referred.  LDR also provided labor and materials to complete
repairs to some homes.

Emotional well being is also being addressed.  LDR assisted in coordinating
a wellness conference for spiritual leaders in the community.  A "Family
Fun Day" was organized to promote health and wellness.  350 people
attended.  To reach out to children and provide activities, a motor home
was supplied with recreation equipment, board games and toys and traveled
throughout the reservation for six-months.

For further information, please call the LDR Coordinator of ND, Bonnie
Turner of Lutheran Social Services of North Dakota at 1- 800-950-2901.

To help the continuing response to the Dakotas, please send your
contributions to:

ELCA Domestic Disaster Response
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

Johanna Olson


JOHANNA OLSON (written 10:29 am Fri, Dec  4, 1998)
Assistant for ELCA Domestic Disaster Response (Division for Church in
Society); Lutheran Disaster Response (a cooperative ministry between the
LCMS and ELCA); 8765 West Higgins Rd., Chicago, IL 60631; tel. 773-380-2822
fax 773-380-2493