Hurricane Irene is expected to affect our region as early as Friday night (Aug. 26).  Coming on top of near-record rainfall, flooding is a concern regardless of the storm's track. Lutheran Disaster Response urges congregations to make preparations now for the impact of the storm and to provide assistance and support in communities affected by flooding and storm damage. Following is an August 25 update from LDR-Eastern PA:

Greetings!

Hurricane Irene is expected to affect our region beginning as early as Friday night August 26.  While Lutheran Disaster Response-Eastern Pennsylvania is committed to providing assistance for long-term clean out, rebuilding, and chaplaincy, congregations are integral partners in this effort within their communities and may want to be of support if flooding should occur locally in the next few days. 

Pray for all who will be impacted by this storm. Include this petition in this Sunday's prayers:

Loving God, keep all in the path of hurricane Irene safe from wind and water. Strengthen those who respond the cries of those in peril. Comfort all who live in fear. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer. 

Prepare your congregation for what they can do to serve their communities should localized flooding occur:

1) Identify how your congregation will make decisions about what support to offer. (Decision makers could be council president, Men in Mission leadership, WELCA president, pastor?)

2) Be in conversation with first responders in your congregation, or by calling your local Emergency Management Agency (often the fire marshal) to see how your congregation might support efforts.

3) Offer hospitality to first responders in the form of water, food, or space for staging.

4) Offer hospitality to those who may be temporarily evacuated from their homes.  Such hospitality might be in the form of emergency shelter space, phones, computers, people to listen.

5) If local fire companies in your community could use support in the form of commercial grade pumps, LDR has 5 fully equipped pumps located across the region for pumping out basements. These can be loaned to fire companies for their use. Please contact Linda Frey (610-657-4730) for more information on the pumps.

6) Please inform us of any significant impact in your area.  Such impact might include evacuation of multiple families for several days, destruction or extensive damages to multiple houses or to churches, etc.

7) Remember, of course, that our concern is for all who struggle, not just for members of our own congregations.

8) Spread this hurricane readiness information as broadly as possible: http://www.fema.gov/hazard/hurricane/index.shtm 

Should damage be significant, Lutheran Disaster Response-Eastern Pennsylvania will work with other voluntary organizations active in disaster (VOADs) to assess needs and resources and facilitate long-term response in the affected communities.

Thanks very much for your partnership in this work!  Stay safe!

Julia and Ruth

Julia Menzo  215-430-1299  

Ruth Doty  610-770-9205 (office)   484-553-1162 (cell)  

Disaster Preparedness and Response Coordinators

Lutheran Disaster Response - Eastern PA is a ministry of Lutheran Congregational Services which is a Service of Liberty Lutheran