A new situation report highlighting the ELCA’s response to Hurricane Sandy in the Caribbean and northeastern US is now available. Please help us share this update with your congregations and communities.
Hurricane Sandy Situation Report #1 (pdf)
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Gifts to ELCA Disaster Response allow the church to respond domestically and internationally in times of need. Donate now.
Greetings!
Our thoughts, prayers and best wishes go out to all those who were affected by Hurricane Sandy and the violent storms it caused. We grieve with those who lost loved ones and homes.
We at Lutheran Disaster Response are in contact with synods and affiliate organizations in areas impacted by Sandy. We have heard that congregations were damaged by the storm but we are waiting to share the information until we have a more complete list.
Yesterday afternoon we hosted a conference call with our LDR network coordinators to hear reports of the damages in their area and to begin planning how we will respond to the needs. In the midst of the reporting of affects from Sandy we also heard stories of Lutherans already doing important work, helping to clean up, providing pastoral care, feeding and sheltering those affected. It was a strong reminder that whenever Lutherans respond, that is Lutheran Disaster Response!
As we move through this phase of immediate relief and into the long-term recovery, please continue to check back and to share this information with your friends and family! As a church called to serve, the ELCA through Lutheran Disaster Response will continue to be present, for as long is as needed.
Gracious God, you are our refuge and strength, a very present help in time of trouble. In the wake of Hurricane Sandy reveal your presence to those in the Caribbean and the eastern region of our country so that all may know your healing, hope, and love. As one community on earth bound together by your grace, inspire us to pray, serve, and help all those who suffer. Amen
Pastor Michael Stadie
Program Director, Lutheran Disaster Response
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Gifts to ELCA Disaster Response allow the church to respond domestically and internationally in times of need. Donate now.
In late August and early September 2011 Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee hit the US east coast bringing strong winds and heavy rains. The storm systems came on back-to-back weekends (Irene on August 27-29 and Lee on September 3-5), causing many areas to be overrun with flooding. This was especially true in the northeast as Lee sat over the region from eastern Pennsylvania to New Jersey and Upstate New York dumping over a foot of rain on an already saturated area. Some rivers reached 17+ feet above flood level.
One year later, we look back on these disasters and remember those who were affected. It has been a long road with bright spots and bumps along the way. As a way of remembering these people and those who work on their behalf we would like to share with you updates from our affiliates who have being helping in the response.
New Jersey – Lutheran Social Ministries of New Jersey
In the aftermath of Hurricanes Irene and Lee, Lutheran Social Ministries of New Jersey – with a $30,000 grant from Lutheran Disaster Response – positioned a temporary disaster recovery coordinator to work primarily in northern New Jersey. Kathryn “Trink” Schwartz served out of Morris County from November 2011 to May 2012. One of Trink’s major roles was to bring county leaders together to create a functioning long-term recovery committee. The Morris County Disaster Recovery Committee has been active since the spring and continues to care for ongoing unmet needs in the area.
With additional support from LDR, LSM/NJ created 100 flood buckets. During a fall 2011 youth event, middle-school students from the New Jersey Synod assembled the buckets, which are now strategically placed in churches throughout the state for use in future disasters. In addition $16,000 in LDR unmet needs grants have been distributed.
Upstate New York – Upstate New York Synod
During the latter part of 2011 and continuing through 2012, the Lutheran Disaster Response team for the Upstate New York Synod had the opportunity to experience, first hand, how their Synod comes together when people are in need. Irene and Lee struck 33 counties within New York State. These areas have been declared federal disaster areas. Congregations and individuals across the Synod responded in many different ways. Congregations helped and still continue to assist by feeding, providing shelter and sending work teams to the affected areas. Over 200 flood buckets were assembled by various congregations in the Synod and were distributed to persons in the affected areas. The Synod’s LDR team sponsored long term recovery training for five communities across upstate New York in the fall of 2011.
The focus of the Synod has been the Schoharie County area. Mud and muck have been cleaned out of homes and businesses. Rebuilding has started and still continues. Through the collaborative efforts of many faith based organizations and Schoharie Area Long Term, Inc. (SALT) the needs of hundreds of individuals that were displaced by the disaster have been facilitated. National LDR provided $75,000 to support SALT and our local Leadership Team’s efforts in responding to initial needs and in the first year of long term recovery. Individuals and congregations across our Synod raised another $36,000 including a $5,000 challenge grant from Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. These dollars enabled SALT to purchase construction material to aid in the rebuilding of five homes in Schoharie County. Additionally, dollars were provided to two Lutheran congregations whose buildings were significantly damaged by the storms and supported several work teams from congregations including a spring break high school team organized through the collaborative efforts of Vanderkamp (www.vk.org/), an outdoor ministry in Cleveland, NY and King of Kings Lutheran Church in Liverpool, NY.
The work is far from done. Volunteers continue to be needed in the Schoharie County area as well as other locations in NY. Learn about volunteer opportunities through SALT at www.saltrecovery.org/.
Southeastern Pennsylvania – Liberty Lutheran Services
Liberty Lutheran Services’ Lutheran Disaster Response in eastern Pennsylvania program has been engaged in southeastern Pennsylvania, including the city of Philadelphia, since the event happened. Early on, they took leadership for the VOAD (Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster) training teams in cleaning out houses safely. LDR-Eastern PA then organized groups, which included volunteers from Americorps, TzuChi, churches and individuals, to do the cleanouts. Once it came time to move to long term recovery, Liberty Lutheran Services helped form the Montgomery County Resource and Recovery Committee. LDR has been participating in case management, damage assessment, and repairs. Throughout the process the agency has helped scores of homeowners to clean out, rebuild, or simply come to peace with the flooding they experienced.
Northeastern Pennsylvania – Lutheran Congregational Services
10 of the 14 counties served by Lutheran Congregational Services in northeastern PA were declared Federal Disaster Areas following Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee. Over 100,000 people applied for FEMA assistance. Long Term Recovery Groups formed in Bradford, Susquehanna, Luzerne, Schuylkill, Wyoming and Berks Counties. Even now a year later some properties have not been touched and these groups are seeking volunteers to muck and gut alongside putting houses back together.
To offer your services contact: Dianne Fox, Volunteer Coordinator at dianne@lutherancongregationalservices.org or 610.428.4598.
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Gifts to ELCA Disaster Response allow the church to respond at home and globally in times of need. Donate now.
The Daily Review newspaper out of Pennsylvania had a great article about Lutheran Disaster Response (how our domestic disaster response program is known) bringing a Camp Noah program to the area to help following the flooding of Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee last August and September. Though its actually about the possibility of bringing the camps, it does give a great overview of what the program is for from an outsiders view.
I’d recommend giving it a read: Camp for disaster-affected children may come to Valley
You can also learn more about Camp Noah here: Camp Noah
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Gifts to ELCA Disaster Response allow the church to respond at home and globally in times of need. Donate now.
The following update is from Vern Hall, the Schoharie Basin Team Leader for Lutheran Disaster Response, of the situation in Upstate New York. The area was hit hard by Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee in August and September 2011 respectively leading to heavy rains and intense flooding. The update is also a good reminder that disaster response work is about the long-haul and even when national and regional attention fades the work still needs to be done.
On February 20, 2012, I had the pleasure of meeting with 60+ volunteers from Lutheran congregations in Columbia County in the flood-devastated town of Prattsville in the Schoharie Basin. They were a continuing part of the Lutheran volunteer presence in the area. On the 28th, 6 months into the recovery effort, there was a gathering of Remembrance, Hope and Recovery in the town of Schoharie. It occurred at 6:30PM, after sunset and the town was dark from the many still empty and unrepaired homes; still empty, because 6 months is not enough time, not enough money, and not enough workers to tackle the job of recovery. Not all the money from FEMA has arrived. Many still wait to hear from insurance providers. And people are simply exhausted. Preliminary estimates are that it will take at least $30,000,000 to recover to a new normalcy. Less than $2,000,000 has been raised. Interest has waned and those not affected wonder why the job is not yet done.
The Green Shirts – Christian Reformed World Relief Committee (CRWRC) are arriving March 7th to begin their assessment and that job is estimated to be finished by the end of March. At that time, our Long Term Recovery Group, SALT (Schoharie Area Long Term, Inc.) will have definitive answers as to just how much more will be needed. Disaster Case Management teams will begin receiving clients and referring them to the Unmet Needs/Financial Assistance Committee for resolution. Currently, there is not anywhere near enough funds to do the job. It is estimated that it will take at least 3-5 years to bring us to the new normalcy. Help will be needed from our friends and neighbors, our brothers and sisters in Christ. The faith community is playing a large role in the recovery and has done so since the floods happened. Several churches themselves were devastated, but rebuilding is going on. Hope springs eternal. Our faith makes us strong.
We are hopeful that other Lutheran congregations will continue to help us in the recovery to the new normalcy. Volunteers and yes, funding. And, it is not only in the Schoharie Basin that the troubles lie. The Binghamton area and areas along the Mohawk were also hit and will also need our help. Lutheran Disaster Response is stretched thin, even with help from the National church. More is needed and for a long period of time. Keep us in your prayers and remember us with your continued contributions. Donations should be channeled through Lutheran Disaster Response. Volunteers can contact SALT and they will be directed to where the need is.
– Vern Hall, Schoharie Basin Team Leader for Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR)
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Gifts to ELCA Disaster Response allow the church to respond at home and globally in times of need. Donate now.