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Dear friends in Christ,
It is difficult to put into words the sensation of walking into an
abandoned house next to the Tar River, abandoned ten months after being
flooded to the second floor. It is difficult to put into words the sad
silence of what was once someone's home, to describe the strong smell of
mold and mildew, to characterize hardwood floors no longer flat but bowed
and sunken like the waves that once covered them. It is difficult to be
here.
I am writing to you from North Carolina, where I am traveling with Carl
Miller (vice president, Lutheran Family Services in the Carolinas), who is
managing our Lutheran Disaster Response, and George Strunk, our LDR
coordinator. This is a difficult visit. On Monday we spent twelve hours
on disaster sites, visiting with survivors and responders. We drove past
abandoned mobile home parks, destroyed strip malls in small towns, and
walked on streets where most of the houses still stand in disrepair. It is
a difficult sight.
Now, ten months since Hurricane Floyd affected nearly 18,000 North Carolina
houses, destroying nearly 5,000, I am told that only ten percent have been
able to return to their homes. As of last week 1,255 FEMA mobile homes and
travel trailers are still occupied - trailers scheduled to be removed next
march, leaving homeless tenants. Many others are living with friends or
relatives, or in damaged houses.
This is a difficult visit, but it is not hopeless. We met with Dale and
Jean Peercy (LDR construction consultants). They just moved here from
Texas, where they worked thirteen months as part of LDR's flood recovery
efforts. Dale is presently working in Rocky Mount, through the Twin County
Interfaith. We met with the director, C. Michael Shaw, who coordinates the
efforts in Nash and Edgecombe counties (including the towns of Tarboro,
Princeville, and Rocky Mount). "This flood has brought us people
together," he said. "We're working together now as a team." There is
strong interfaith cooperation here.
In Princeville we met with Hanna Dozier. She, her husband, and her
daughter are still not back in their house. Thirteen volunteers from
University Christian Church, Fort Worth, Texas, are working in her house
this week. "The volunteers are a real blessing for us," she told me. It
is difficult, but not hopeless.
In Greenville, Jean Peercy is overseeing one hundred and fifteen volunteers
this week. She pointed out four mobile homes (names "Matthew, Mark, Luke,
and John") prepared by the United Methodists to house volunteers. Jean is
working with United Methodist coordinator Cliff Harvell, who is overseeing
operations in Pitt and Beauford counties.
In Greenville, at a place one mile from the Tar River, the water reached
two-thirds up the first story of houses. Entire blocks of houses stand in
disrepair. One family was busy hauling moldy insulation and wallboard to
the curb. Across the street the pastor of the West Park Church of Christ,
Portsmouth, Virginia, and forty-four of his members, were busy repairing
walls and ceilings. It is difficult, but not hopeless.
George Stunk reports that Lutherans have sent in fifty-one teams of
volunteers so far. In a meeting today of the local steering committee
(LCMS District and ELCA Synod staff, Aid Association of Lutherans and
Lutheran Brotherhood representatives, local pastors and LDR staff), it was
reported that over $250,000 of direct cash grants and assistance has been
provided. With the addition of the Peercys, volunteers can be used
effectively and efficiently. There is strong cooperation with other
national denominations. "Camp Noah" is being offered right now for
children affected by this disaster.
There is tremendous need here, and this recovery will take a long time. It
is difficult, but not hopeless. For we are people of faith, and we can see
beyond the death scenario of Good Friday to the empty resurrection cross of
Easter. We are committed to be here for the long haul. We are committed
to offer help and hope in this difficult situation.
As the faith community continues to respond, please offer your continuing
prayers and support for those who have survived this disaster and those who
are helping.
To volunteer: Call George Strunk, 1-888-336-4250.
To contribute:
ELCA DOMESTIC Disaster Response - "Hurricanes"
P.O. 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
Yours in Christ,
Gil Furst
GILBERT B. FURST (written on Tue, Jul 25, 2000,10:36 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
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