Title: El Nino Struck an ELCA Seminary ELCA NEWS SERVICE May 15, 1998 EL NINO STRUCK AN ELCA SEMINARY 98-17-110-MR CHICAGO (ELCA) -- El Nino's strong winds and heavy rains caused a major mud slide at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary in Berkeley, Calif. One of eight seminaries of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, PLTS will need to raise $250,000 to repair the damage sustained on campus. The winter mud slide took out the east side of the hill along the roadway that travels through the seminary's campus. Students worked to sandbag and cover the hillside to save the entire roadway. "If the roadway deteriorates, then the buildings above it are in danger," said Liz Meyer, PLTS business manager. Founder's Hall, which houses the office of PLTS President Timothy F. Lull, sustained significant damage when a three-foot diameter section of a Monterey Pine split off and crashed through the roof and walls. Repairs are being made to the roof, walls and floor, in addition to replacing the carpet and furnishings. The seminary's off-campus apartments located in Berkeley Flats, an area at the bottom of the Berkeley hills, also required emergency action in order to prevent flooding in a number of apartments. Heavy rains have caused flooding in four apartments. An emergency drainage system and five large sump pumps were installed to prevent water from doing major damage to the ground floor apartments. PLTS has established the El Nino Campus Repair Fund for donations to cover the cost of the damage. The damage to the president's office is covered by insurance. "Throughout its almost fifty year history PLTS has had to depend on its friends, congregations and synods of the ELCA for annual support and help in times of opportunity or disaster," said Lull. "We have not been able to accumulate the resources that allow a school to make extensive repairs for something like the El Nino damage." PLTS is also actively pursuing state and federal disaster funds for which it might be eligible. For information contact: Ann Hafften, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask] http://www.elca.org/co/news/current.html