Title: Lutherans Conclude Recovery Efforts in Eastern North Carolina
ELCA NEWS SERVICE

June 14, 2001

LUTHERANS CONCLUDE RECOVERY EFFORTS IN EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA
01-161-MR

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Lutheran Disaster Response will conclude its
recovery work this summer in eastern North Carolina, more than one year
after Hurricane Floyd struck the state.  Lutheran Disaster Response is a
ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and The Lutheran
Church-Missouri Synod.
     Hurricane Floyd killed 52 people in an area from the Bahamas to
New England, causing destruction in eight states in September 1999.
Just in eastern North Carolina, the hurricane killed 51 people,
destroyed 7,000 homes and damaged 56,000 others, said the Rev. Gilbert
B. Furst, director for Lutheran Disaster Response.
     "From the beginning, Lutheran Disaster Response has worked with
Lutherans and other faith partners, providing financial and volunteer
support," Furst said.  "Faith communities have provided disaster
response services -- spiritual people offering help and hope for the
poor, elderly, infirm or vulnerable," he said.
     In Greenville, Goldsboro and Rocky Mount, N.C., more than 4,000
volunteers from several denominations came to provide relief assistance,
Furst said.  "More than 100 Lutheran teams came from 21 different
states.  Lutheran Disaster Response, through its church and coalition
partners, has contributed more than $1.6 million to 17 counties in
eastern North Carolina.  The spiritual village has enabled hundreds to
return to their homes," he said.
     Furst, four staff members from the ELCA Division for Church in
Society and members of the Lutheran Disaster Response board visited with
hurricane survivors, volunteers, religious leaders and others May 20-23.
Lutheran pastors from Greenville, Goldsboro and Rocky Mount shared plans
with the group regarding the development of homes and families, and
outreach to poor and single-parent families, Furst said.
     "As disaster response work concludes, broad systemic issues
present before Hurricane Floyd continue," Furst said.  Issues to be
addressed include poverty, illiteracy and community development, he
said.
     Linda Stewart, Greenville Interfaith Fellowship Team, noted that
the economic base in Greenville had deteriorated before the hurricane
brought flooding.  "People struggling before the flood can't make it
now," Stewart told the group.
     Barbara Stiles, director, Wayne County Long-Term Recovery
Organization, Goldsboro, told the group that building repairs are
nearing an end.
     "There are deplorable living conditions, not due to [Hurricane]
Floyd," Stiles said.
The challenge is how to help people in these situations, she said.
     "A city council member and the assistant city manager [of
Goldsboro] described plans to improve the infrastructure, clean debris
and do hazard mitigation," Furst said.
     "Hundreds of flood-destroyed homes are not demolished.  Many
survivors still live in FEMA trailers.  Respiratory ailments are a
problem.  The death toll among the elderly is rising," said Furst.
     "Until the end of August, Lutheran Disaster Response will continue
to work closely with United Methodists, the Reformed Church in America,
the Church of the Brethren, the Christian Reformed Church and other
denominations providing skilled volunteers," Furst said.  "Then the
disaster response phase will be ended, and other church programs and
ministries will provide assistance and support," he said.
     "I returned from North Carolina with a deep sense of gratitude for
the spiritual village," Furst said.
     "Hundreds of survivors are being helped.  Thousands of volunteers
have come to offer tens of thousands of work hours.  Hundreds of
thousands of grant and assistance dollars have been provided.  And, I
believe, millions of prayers have been offered.  As disaster response
efforts conclude, the church will continue to be present with new
initiatives for the next steps forward, offering new ways to raise
people with help and hope in the name of Jesus Christ," Furst said.
-- -- --
DOMESTIC DISASTERS:

Editors: When listing organizations receiving funds for aid to survivors
of major disasters inside the United States, Puerto Rico or the U.S.
Virgin Islands, please include:

               ELCA Domestic Disaster Response
                       P.O. Box 71764
                   Chicago, IL  60694-1764
                        800-638-3522

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask]
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html