Disaster Response Article Archive
Lutherans respond to midwest storms
Lutherans are responding to another series of severe weather and tornadoes swept through the southern United States, impacting communities in Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Georgia. As many as 22 people lost their lives as a result of this most recent storm system.
Urgent volunteer opportunities in NEPa
In Northeast PA Lou and Kelly's house outside Hazelton was flooded three times from September 2004 to November 2006. Their home could not be salvaged after the last flood, and this family still has a mortgage to pay off and therefore cannot afford to buy another property. Lutheran Disaster Response is working with Lou and Kelly to build a simple structure that will be elevated 8 feet, and lift their future home out of the flood plain. If you have connections that can provide construction materials for free or at a reduced cost, or if you sense God leading you to volunteer or donate to assist this family, contact Linda Frey at 610-847-5775 or .
Reproducible Domestic Disaster Alert: U.S. Tornadoes is online
A reproducible "Spring 2008 U.S. Tornadoes" ELCA Domestic Disaster Alert is ready to place in Sunday bulletins and newsletters.
One family, three floods: Your help is needed
Lou and Kelly's house outside Hazelton was badly damaged by the creek that overflowed in September 2004 and June 2006.
Letter from Bishop Hanson
With a swiftness that we could not have imagined only weeks ago, the waters have brought chaos to a large area of the central United States.
Water pumps gifted to Lutheran Disaster Relief
Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR) in Southeast Pennsylvania is happy to announce the distribution of five completely outfitted Briggs & Stratton commercial power water pumps.
Prayers for Conshohocken fire victims
St. Mark's, Conshohocken, has offered the use of an apartment as well as food and clothing assistance to help the 375 persons displaced by a major fire in the town last week. Pastor Dick Olson has prepared a prayer petition that you can use in your congregation...
Lutherans respond to hurricanes
Members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) are responding in the aftermath of tropical storms and hurricanes, waiting to assess the damage of Hurricane Gustav and preparing for the remainder of the 2008 hurricane season. "We are in difficult days," said the Rev. Kevin A. Massey, director, Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR). Click the headline above to download a LDR hurricane response bulletin insert for your congregation.
Prayer and response to hurricanes
When Hurricane Katrina struck three years ago, Pastor Eric Shafer of Trinity, Lansdale was a churchwide staff member who spent Labor Day weekend manning the phones to take donations and calls for help that came to the ELCA because the church (unlike FEMA and the Red Cross) had live people answering calls. Read his thoughts about why and how to support ELCA Disaster Response.
Join LDR in rebuilding Gulf Coast in February
Spots have been reserved for Lutheran Disaster Response - Southeastern Pennsylvania for a special week of rebuilding in the Gulf Coast at Camp Victor, Ocean Springs, MS, February 8-14, 2009.
Join SEPA LDR trip to Ocean Springs
The opportunity is still open to join others from southeastern PA in traveling to Ocean Springs, MS for rebuilding post-Katrina. We will be staying at Camp Victor. Our goal is to have at least 50 people registered by January 6, 2008.
Prayers, support needed for Coatesville neighbors
Your prayers and action are needed to support our neighbors in Coatesville, where a state of emergency has been declared after a string of arson fires, the latest of which destroyed 15 homes and left 60 people homeless. Prayers and donations of cash and furniture are needed. Click here to learn how to help.
On the Gulf, much work to be done
A work team from Christ Lutheran Church, Kulpsville, is back at Camp Victor in Ocean Springs, MS, this week, continuing the more than three-year long process of rebuilding from Hurricane Katrina. Check out this article for journal entries from Lois Kadel, which will be updated as we receive them.
Bishop spends first day touring flooding sites
When she was elected nearly two months ago, Bishop Claire Burkat had no idea that her first day in office would involve lunch in a fire hall, prayer in a half-gutted kitchen and lots of mud. The Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod's new bishop spent July 1 with Lutheran Disaster Response leaders viewing the damage left by the latest rampage of the Delaware River and meeting victims and volunteers attempting to clean up after the flood waters receded.
In Pottstown, hope amid destruction
A forlorn child's train left stranded in the ceiling trusses in the parish hall at St. John's Lutheran Church in Pottstown shows the force of flood waters that inundated the basements of the church, parish house and parsonage.
Churches help Coatesville cope with fear
"We are coping as well as we can." wrote Pastor John Carlson of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church on Feb. 13. "The four most recent fires were set outside the city limits so it is no longer a 'city issue,' -- it is a community issue. Everyone is encouraged to put their front and back porch lights on at night -- and we're doing it."
SEPA Lutherans pack Camp Victor
About 60 SEPA Lutherans worked at Camp Victor, Ocean Springs MS the week of Feb 8-14.
Pray, give in response to Red River flooding
Communities along the Red River in eastern North Dakota and northwestern Minnesota are bracing for potentially record-breaking flooding. The National Weather Service predicts that flooding could surpass those of the 1997 disaster. Read on for a prayer petition you can use in your congregation and to learn how you can help.
Volunteer to bring hope to disaster victims
Our Synod's Lutheran Disaster Response team has a full slate of volunteer opportunities helping those affected by natural disasters. Read on to learn how you can help disaster survivors across the nation.
Preparing for pandemic flu
Right now we're seeing more anxiety than actual illness caused by the outbreak of swine flu. In any case, this is a good time for congregations to think about how to minister in the face of situations that might arise out of any pandemic, like suggested or mandated social distancing.
Liberty sponsors family Disaster Camp
Learn about how to prepare so that your family and congregation are ready as the fall approaches. In addition, participate in an exercise that will create an opportunity for everyone to better understand county plans for distributing medicines in the event of a pandemic. For ages 14 and above. Register by Aug. 12.
July LDR task force update
The Lutheran Disaster Response-SEPA July update includes the Pandemic Exercise and Awareness Event, Oktoberfest, and VOAD (Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster) Basic Training coming in September.
August 2009 LDR Update
Learn how LDR is at work: Lutherans respond to Aug. 2 flooding; Oktoberfest 2009 supports LDR planning and response efforts; LDR resolution passes Churchwide Assembly.
LDR hosts Oktoberfest
St. Paul's Lutheran Church Glenside in cooperation with Living Word Lutheran Church, Roslyn, are hosting an Oktoberfest event on Sept. 26, 4-7 pm at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Glenside, to benefit Lutheran Disaster Response here in Southeast Pa.
September is National Preparedness Month
September is National Preparedness Month, a helpful reminder that all of us could be better prepared for the unknown and the unthinkable. This year, Lutheran Disaster Response encourages you to be the ReadyChurch, and it takes all of us working together.
Update on Georgia Floods
Dear sisters and brothers in Christ, Nearly a week of constant and torrential rains in the southeastern United States, residents of Atlanta and the communities to the west of the city have quite a mess on their hands.
5 days, 4 disasters, 1 way to help now
This has been a turbulent and frightening week for the people of Asia. A typhoon, a tsunami and an earthquake have struck since Saturday, and another storm is expected to affect the region tomorrow. Click through to give a gift to Lutheran World Relief's Asia Disasters fund to provide food, water and other life-saving assistance.
H1N1 Flu Resources for Congregations
With President Obama's October 24, 2009 Emergency Declaration for H1N1 Flu, and with notable evidence of flu in our schools and communities, consider these resources for congregations.
New LDR mission opportunities
Take a look at several new opportunities to volunteer with Lutheran Disaster Response in Southeastern Pennsylvania.
Lutherans respond to Haiti earthquake
A magnitude 7.0 earthquake rocked the island country of Haiti on Tuesday, January 12. ELCA Disaster Reponse partners have survived the quake and are already working to serve the people of Haiti. Your help is needed today to bring immediate relief and continued hope for our brothers and sisters in Haiti.
LDR trip to Mission Starfish in March
Liberty Lutheran Services and Lutheran Disaster Response-SEPA will be organizing teams from across Southeast Pa to travel to Ocean Springs MS from March 13 to March 20, 2010 to continue rebuilding in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.
Prayers for Haiti disaster
News reports from Haiti tell of severe destruction and loss of life. The capital of Port au Prince is reported to be devastated, and a Hatian official told the UN that at least 100,000 are dead. Remember the people of Haiti in your congregation's prayers this Sunday. Click for a resource prayer and more information.
LWR takes text donations for Haiti; Thrivent matches
You can text LWR to 40579 to donate $10 to the organization's Haiti relief efforts. And if you are a Thrivent Financial for Lutherans member, the company will match your donations with $1 for every $2 donated. ELCA Disaster Response is taking donations at http://www.elca.org/haitiearthquake.
Medical volunteers needed in Haiti
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is requesting physicians of specific specialities to deploy with the National Disaster Medical Assistance teams to Haiti. The need is for trauma surgeons, orthopedists, anesthesiologists, and others with experience in treating crush injuries. Volunteers must be able to serve for at least 2 weeks, and be willing to live and work in spartan conditions.
Ocean Springs journal: Still so much to do
Once again a team from Christ Lutheran, Kulpsville, is in Ocean Springs, MS. Lois Kadel is keeping a journal of the group's activity as the group works, even with their eyes and hearts fixed on Haiti. Now is the time to join a SEPA-LDR trip to Mission Starfish (formerly Camp Victor) in March -- your interest needs to be noted by Jan. 24.
Looking to volunteer in Haiti?
ELCA Disaster Response is receiving an outpouring of offers to serve as volunteers in Haiti. As of today, Disaster Response is telling people interested in volunteering that, “due to the instability of the current situation in Haiti, volunteers may not be needed for six months or more.” You can read the full message and sign up to learn more and be notified when volunteers are needed at the ELCA website at http://tinyurl.com/elcavolunteer
Train as a volunteer disaster chaplain
Liberty Lutheran Services and the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia are sponsoring a Volunteer Disaster Chaplain Training Course on March 15-16 at the Seminary. This two-day training prepares faith leaders or spiritual care providers to volunteer as disaster chaplains in mass care settings or to serve as disaster chaplains within their house of worship, religious community or professional institution.
LDR Haiti Response Briefing
Congregations and individuals continue to respond in unique ways throughout Southeast Pa in response to the January 12, 2010 earthquake in Haiti. Lutherans are raising funds, sending health kits, addressing immigration issues for Haitians, organizing Disaster Chaplaincy training, and more. Read on for details.
ELCA aids Mississippi tornado victims
Lutheran Disaster Response has issued an emergency grant of $10,000 to seed relief efforts after a massive tornado touched down and traveled for more than 100 miles across the Southeast, leaving at least 12 people dead and hundreds of homes destroyed.
Pakistan floods: The Critical Hour
The recent flooding in Pakistan, alone, is a devastating disaster. But piled atop the hardship of the past five years, the situation for many families in Pakistan is nothing short of dire. Click the image to read how Lutheran World Relief is responding to bring comfort to those affected.
Join the LDR ReadyChurch initiative
With the hurricane season in full swing and ongoing disaster responses in more than half of the U.S., there is no better time than now to think about how prepared (or not) we are for natural disasters. Disasters can happen at any time and place, often without warning, and it is vital for everyone to prepare ourselves for the possibility that a disaster could affect you.
