To: [log in to unmask]
Dear friends in Christ,
ELCA Domestic Disaster Response and Lutheran Disaster Response (a
cooperative ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and The
Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod) are responding to continuing flooding in
northeast Iowa. Last week communities along the Cedar and Shell Rock
rivers were affected. Four counties have been declared federal disaster
sites, and seven have been declared state disaster sites. One person has
died, and at least 2,500 houses have been affected. The survivors are
mainly low income or elderly persons.
Lutheran Social Service of Iowa (Roger Gutmann, President) has been
responding through staff member, Carol Frederick. Efforts are being
coordinated with the ELCA Northeastern Iowa Synod (Bishop Steven Ullestad)
and The LC-MS Iowa East District (President Curtis Moermond), and with
local Lutheran pastors.
LDR funding has been provided to distribute emergency cash grants to
individuals, many who are without flood insurance. Damage assessments
continue through many small towns and rural areas. Local volunteers are
hard at work cleaning up mud and debris. Resources for children are being
distributed, and counselors have been deployed. We are also working with
the Iowa Interfaith Disaster Response Network, which will respond to unmet
needs.
This is the second time Iowa has been affected this year by record or
near-record floods. In May, flash flooding swept through thirteen
northeastern counties, as eight inches of rain raised the
already-overloaded Volga, Crane, and Turkey rivers.
Please remember in your prayers our brothers and sisters in Iowa who
continue to face the chaos of flooding and the heartbreak of loss. And
pray, too, for all who are responding to yet another Iowa disaster, that
they may be sustained and strengthened as they minister to others.
You can help immediately in Iowa by your generous gifts. Please send your
contributions to:
ELCA DOMESTIC Disaster Response - designated "Floods"
PO Box 71764
Chicago, Illinois 60694-1764
Credit card gift line: 1-800-638-3522
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 Wed, Aug 4, 1999, at 2:32 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
|