Title: ELCA Responds to Winter Storms and Flooding ELCA NEWS SERVICE - NEWSBRIEF March 12, 1997 ELCA RESPONDS TO WINTER STORMS AND FLOODING The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has responded to the tragic winter storms in the upper Midwestern and Pacific Western states. ELCA Domestic Disaster Response provided about $20,000 in emergency assistance through social ministry organizations in Minnesota, North and South Dakota, northern California, Washington, Oregon and Idaho. "Isolation of many small towns and rural communities in the upper Midwest states caused severe shortages in food pantries. Buildings and corrals have collapsed under the weight of snow, and in some areas there is no dry land. Cattle loss is placed at 100,000 and more are buried under the snow, which will not only cause pollution problems but add to the financial, emotional and mental loss for farmers and ranchers," reported the Rev. Gilbert B. Furst, associate director, ELCA Domestic Disaster Response. Personal and financial counseling services are being established through Lutheran social ministry organizations in Minnesota, North and South Dakota, many of them deployed to the rural areas, said Furst. Massive rains in northern California, Nevada and Idaho flooded businesses, thousands of homes and tens of thousands of acres of farmland. Social ministry agencies in Washington, Oregon and northern California have provided emergency disaster funds to meet immediate needs of people. For information contact: Ann Hafften, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask] http://www.elca.org/co/news/current.html