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To: [log in to unmask] Dear friends in Christ, Lutheran Disaster Response, a cooperative ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, is responding to a series of deadly storms, tornadoes, and floods that affected sixty-eight counties in southern Illinois between April 21 and May 23. During these weeks numerous tornadoes struck, damaging or destroying hundreds of houses, causing at least two deaths and dozens of injuries. As of June 28, FEMA has provided a disaster assistance of $10.3 million for approved grants and low-interest loans to many of the 3,419 Illinois residents who have already called to apply. Lutheran Child and Family Services of Illinois (Gene Svebakken, Executive Director) will manage LDR efforts. David Roth is serving as the LDR-IL disaster response coordinator. LDR is working in coordination with the Centralia-based Long-Term Recovery Committee, which is active in the south-central counties of Bond, Jefferson, Marion, and Wayne. At least sixty families in this area have "severe recovery needs," reports LCFS-IL regional vice president Robin Hensley. Church World Service reports that "families in this area of southern Illinois are very low income and the economy has had major set backs in the last couple of years due to the closing of coal mines and one major industry. The number of uninsured in the area is very high and the ability of folks to qualify for SBA loans is low. Reports indicate that many of the communities do not have the resources available to meet national flood insurance requirements; therefore residents in these communities do not get federal assistance even when there is a declaration." As LDR responds to hurting people whose disaster never made the headlines, the church will be present to write the rest of the story. Your prayers will sustain those who are affected. Your donations will help the church offer God's help and hope. Yours in Christ, Gil Furst GILBERT B. FURST (written on Wed, Jul 3, 2002, at 3:16 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