It has been more than a week since the multiple tornadoes hit Oklahoma and adjacent states. The destruction in the City of Moore is indeed heart wrenching. But the impacts of tornadoes on May 19 and 20 around Oklahoma City are much more widespread.  The website of the State of Oklahoma has very helpful maps and information about the tornadoes: http://www.ok.gov/okstrong/Impact_Maps/index.html.   

Let us not forget that just a few nights prior, on May 15, a series of tornadoes devastated Granbury, Texas, 30 miles southwest of Fort Worth. The powerful storms left six dead and nearly 120 homes destroyed. Some of these homes were built by Habitat for Humanity.

The nature of media cycle and perhaps the nature of human attention always make us focus on high profile disasters and their developments within a short period of time afterward. Very soon, the tornadoes in May will become distant memories in our collective memory. And yet, for the thousands of individuals and families in Oklahoma, Texas and other states impacted by the string of tornadoes in May, the recovery process has just begun.

In the last few months, I have the opportunity to visit the long term recovery work of Lutheran Disaster Response in various states for individuals and families impacted by events that are no longer on the nightly network news – the tornadoes in Alabama in 2011 and 2012, the flood in Duluth in 2012, Hurricanes Lee and Irene in 2011,….. The one thing I have heard from the impacted residents as well as workers who assist them is “We are forgotten!”

Let us continue to keep ALL who are working very hard to put their lives together after disasters in our prayers. May God’s strengths, comfort and hope be with them through the many peaks and valleys in their recovery process.  Let us work hard together so that they will not be forgotten!

To see a listing of the places where Lutheran Disaster Response is actively responding to a disaster, please check out our website where you will see where we still have volunteer opportunities.

Lutheran Disaster Response webpage: www.elca.org/disaster and click on the volunteer button.

Donation Webpage: https://community.elca.org/page.aspx?pid=840

Moore, Oklahoma is a town with more than 56,000 people.  According to the FEMA report today (May 23), 24 people were killed and more than 300 injured by the EF-5 tornado that touched down Monday.  In addition, more than 1,100 houses were destroyed and about another 200 have sustained damage, with many many more being impacted.  What it means is the life of thousands of individuals have been changed in an instant by this monstrous storm.

 So, you may wonder, “How Can I Help?”

 We want to offer some suggestions that are true for this and all other disaster areas:

• Do not rush to the impacted area to volunteer right away. If you are a trained “first responder,” be sure to connect with a major organization that could use you before you go. In the chaotic aftermath of a disaster, your presence in these areas will create more problems for the very community you want to help.
• Affiliate with an organization that has proven records and capacity to organize volunteers. Follow their rules and protocols.
• Do not donate “stuff” unless they are requested specifically by an organization that has the proven capacity to manage them.  Do not donate used clothing and household items!
• Do not donate to an organization because they have an “attractive sounding” name.  Frauds are common after disasters. Make sure the organizations you support have the proven record and capacity to use your money wisely.

Here are two useful links:

https://okvoad.communityos.org/cms/home

http://money.howstuffworks.com/10-worst-things-donate-after-disaster.htm#page=1

As you consider the question of “How can I help?” we want to invite you to join the work of Lutheran Disaster Response to help those impacted by this disaster in months and even years to come. Thank You.

Donation Webpage: https://community.elca.org/page.aspx?pid=840

Lutheran Disaster Response webpage: www.elca.org/disaster

The deadly tornado that hit Oklahoma on May 20, as well as the string of tornadoes that struck Texas, Kansas, Illinois and Iowa the last few days, have changed many lives in significant ways. Let us keep all those who have been impacted as well as those providing rescue and relief services to survivors in prayer, trusting God’s hope and strengths will be with them.

Since yesterday afternoon, we have been working very closely with many within in our network to prepare for a multiyear response to this disaster. We want to salute all who are involved in the emergency, rescue and relief work immediately following this terrible disaster. At Lutheran Disaster Response, we are committed to assisting the most vulnerable ones to recover and to find hope and healing over the long haul. We will be among the last to leave the areas, long after the limelight of media have faded. We ask you to join us in our mission.

In days and months ahead, we will use this forum to share with you information and stories relevant to this event. For now, we want to share with you the following links:

Worship Resources: http://www.elca.org/Growing-In-Faith/Worship.aspx

Lutheran Disaster Response webpage: http://www.elca.org/Our-Faith-In-Action/Responding-to-the-World/Lutheran-Disaster-Response.aspx

Donation Webpage: https://community.elca.org/page.aspx?pid=840

E-Alert: http://www.elca.org/Our-Faith-In-Action/Responding-to-the-World/Lutheran-Disaster-Response/eAlert.aspx

 ELCA News Release: http://www.elca.org/Who-We-Are/Our-Three-Expressions/Churchwide-Organization/Communication-Services/News/Releases.aspx#&&a=5296