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Dear friends in Christ,
Lutheran Disaster Response is responding to major damage caused by
Hurricane Floyd in eastern North Carolina, where 66 counties are declared
disaster areas by FEMA. Even now floodwaters continue to isolate
communities and compound problems. Several rivers (Cape Fear, Neuse,
Lumber, and Tar) will not crest until early next week. The towns of Rocky
Mount and Goldsboro/Kinston have massive damage -- and Belhaven,
Greenville, Tarboro, Washington, and Wilson have experienced severe
flooding. Because of the flooding, exact damage assessment is impossible.
Flyovers and satellite information indicate 30,000 houses may have been
impacted. Several dams have been breached, and a 5-million gallon mercury
holding pond is threatening the Wilmington water supply. State officials
estimate over 100,000 hogs, 2.4 million chickens, and 500,000 turkeys
drowned, posing a threat of disease. There are at least 37 known North
Carolina fatalities. One pastor, returning to his flooded community, found
a twelve-foot mound of dead hogs near his mailbox.
The LDR response is being coordinated through Lutheran Family Services in
the Carolinas (Vice President Carl Miller is managing our response), along
with the North Carolina Synod (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America) and
the Southeastern District (Lutheran Church Missouri Synod). $10,000 has
been made available for emergency grants to provide immediate financial
assistance to individuals. An initial grant of $20,000 will be used to
employ a LDR Coordinator and a Volunteer Coordinator (who will be part of a
Church World Service interfaith coordinated response).
Yesterday afternoon the North Carolina LDR Committee met to strategize.
Many partners were involved: LFS-C vice president Carl Miller, Dr. Jane
Mitcham (North Carolina Synod staff), Pastor Timothy Fangmeier
(Southeastern District staff), Charles Moeller (LDR disaster consultant),
and representatives of the insurance fraternals (Aid Association for
Lutherans, and Lutheran Brotherhood).
In New Jersey, Lutheran Disaster Response is responding to hurricane-caused
flood damage in Bound Brook, Manville, and other Somerset County
communities. Ms. Lynn Askew (LDR Team member) is working with Lutheran
Social Ministries of New Jersey (Roger Arnholt, President), the New Jersey
Synod (ELCA), the New Jersey District (LC-MS), and Church World Service.
Several Lutheran congregations are serving as collection points and
distribution sites. A $5,000 LDR grant will support this coordinated
effort.
You can help by your prayers for those whose lives have been made chaotic
because of this storm. Your prayers are as powerful as any wild hurricane
winds or raging flooding rivers.
You can help by volunteering for the major cleanup that will be needed. I
will keep you posted as soon as there is information on when and how
volunteers can be helpful. At the moment no volunteers can be used,
because of the high floodwaters and the unsafe health conditions.
You can help by sending contributions to:
ELCA DOMESTIC Disaster Response - "Hurricanes"
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
Hurricane Floyd produced an extraordinary disaster, causing destruction in
eight states, killing at least 54 people from the Bahamas to New England,
and producing an enormous impact in North Carolina. But we worship a
resurrected Lord who is always present with his people. Those who are
suffering will be supported by his grace. Those who are responding will be
his enfolding arms and healing hands.
In Christ,
Gil Furst
GILBERT B. FURST (written on Thu, Sep 23, 1999, at 9:08 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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