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Dear friends in Christ,
Last year Bishop Ralph Dunkin (ELCA West Virginia-Western Maryland Synod)
was reflecting on July 2001 floods that had devastated major areas of West
Virginia and Virginia. "The need is very real and it will not go away
quickly," he said. "As with most disasters they strike the poor the
hardest. Your prayers and gifts are definitely needed."
Last week, on May 2, five inches of rain in less than one hour poured down
in the same areas. Devastating floodwaters again have passed through
portions of McDowell, Mercer, Mingo, and Wyoming counties in West Virginia,
and though Buchanan and Tazewell counties in southwest Virginia. In some
places there was greater destruction than last year. The American Red
Cross reports "at least six people were killed, 10 remain missing, and some
2,300 homes were damaged."
Once again this is not a "Lutheran" disaster. Few Lutherans were directly
affected. Once again it is a "poor persons" disaster. Lutheran Disaster
Response (the cooperative ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America and The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod) is responding in West
Virginia through the West Virginia Council of Churches. A grant has been
sent to help continue interfaith efforts for long term recovery.
In Virginia, Pastor Steve Ridenhour, Conference Dean, visited Hurley, a
small coal-mining town that sustained great damage and two deaths. He
tells me there is much chaos in the area. Ken Ruppar, LDR contact pastor,
is helping assess the extent of the Virginia impact to determine how LDR
can most effectively do response ministry in isolated and impassible areas.
LDR is committed to work closely with other responding faith communities.
Lutheran Family Services of Virginia (Ronald Herring, President) is
managing LDR efforts in Virginia. Tina Parcell, serving as coordinator, is
working with the ELCA Virginia Synod (James Mauney, Bishop) and LCMS
Southeastern District (Arthur Scherer, President).
At the moment only local volunteers can be utilized. In some areas it
appears rebuilding will not be an option. LDR will provide counselors to
help residents work though the traumatic experience of losing possessions,
homes, and loved ones.
Please continue your prayer for those affected and those helping in this
response.
To contribute:
ELCA DOMESTIC Disaster Response - "West Virginia/Virginia Floods"
PO 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
P.O. Box 66861
St. Louis, MO 63166-9810
Credit card gift line: 1-888-930-4438
"Your prayers and gifts are definitely needed."
In Christ,
Gil Furst
GILBERT B. FURST (written on Wed, May 8, 2002, at 3:43 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
