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.
 
The floods have now been blamed for at least nine deaths in the Atlanta area and thousands of homes and businesses have been flooded.  Similar conditions can also been found to the north, near Chattanooga, Tenn.
 
Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue has declared a state of emergency for 17 of the state's counties, and today, a Federal disaster declaration was granted for four of those counties -- Cherokee, Cobb, Douglas, and Paulding -- with additional declarations anticipated in the coming days.
 
FEMA has deployed teams to perform preliminary damage assessments in the impacted areas, in an attempt to quantify the needs of those affected.  Voluntary agencies are already taking an active role in the response as well.  The American Red Cross is operating several shelters for residents who were evacuated from their homes.  Additionally, many faith-based organizations are active in providing meals and clean-up kits to those in need.
 
Lutheran Disaster Response, through our affiliate Lutheran Services of Georgia, will be helping to coordinate the response in partnership with the other members of the Georgia Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster, or VOAD.  Bob Tribble, LDR coordinator in Georgia, serves as president of the Georgia VOAD and has been a major player in organizing daily conversations between the many responders.
 
There will likely be a need for volunteers to help with the clean-up and rebuilding efforts in the coming weeks and months.  However, the most pressing needs at this time are for prayers for all those affected and the many first-responders who are already helping, and for gifts to support the long-term response to come.  To give now to this response, click here <http://edits.ldr.org/donate/flood.html> .
 
In service,
 
Rev. Kevin A. Massey
Director, Lutheran Disaster Response