Kathy O’Day, LCC Director of Disaster Response, and our L.E.R.T. members responded to a request to assess the damage and help homeowners in the Chicago suburbs after strong storms over the weekend.

L.E.R.T. volunteers helped an LCMS congregation member cut and remove a tree that was split in half and fell across their front yard and the neighbor’s driveway. The homeowners appreciated the much-needed assistance at no cost and responding with such willing hearts of service.

LCC thanks the following L.E.R.T. volunteers for their hearts to serve: Bob Royce, Ken and Vicki Kiviranta from St. Peter, Schaumburg, and Jim Beckley from Prince of Peace, Palatine, Illinois.

The L.E.R.T. volunteers were happy to serve and show the mercy, compassion, presence, and proclamation of Jesus Christ to those in their congregations and communities affected by recent storms.

Last week, Tropical Storm Cristobal moved up from the plains and into the Great Lakes Region of Northern Illinois and Indiana. This caused microbursts of 60-80 mph intense wind gusts that resulted in many downed power poles, trees, and limbs in several communities surrounding Lutheran Church Charities.

This same team also helped a congregation member remove two trees that had large dangerous limbs, also known as “widowmakers”, hanging from the storm and a third tree left-leaning. Kathy O’Day received a thank you note from the homeowner after the team's work.

“Thank you for being there with the volunteers today. I certainly could not have done that work by myself (and lived). The team worked in sync and it was something to see. Again, our thanks and appreciation.”

LCC thanks the following Immanuel & Prince of Peace, Palatine, Illinois L.E.R.T. volunteers for their hearts to serve: Jim and Karen Beckley, Richard Habegger, Steve MacKay, Jason Stallard, and Dede Thut.

L.E.R.T. volunteers from St. John, Wheaton, Illinois helped one of their congregation members remove a tree that uprooted and fell on their garage during the storm utilizing the LCC boom lift.

LCC thanks the following St. John, Wheaton, Illinois L.E.R.T. volunteers for their hearts to serve: Steve Chester, Byron Heidorn, and Marty Johnson.

The homeowners were very appreciative for all of their hard work, and in addition to their thanks, sent each of the men home with chocolate chip cookies.

Everyone was happy to serve and show the mercy, compassion, presence and proclamation of Jesus Christ to those in their congregations and communities affected by this recent storm.

LCC never goes where we are not invited. We NEVER charge those we serve. We put boots on the ground within 24 hours (often fewer) from the time we get the invite.

Tropical Storm Cristobal moved up through the plains and into the Great Lakes Region of Northern Illinois and Indiana yesterday. Multiple storms went through the region with a possible tornado, outbursts of 60 - 80 mph wind shear and strong thunderstorms. There have been many reports of downed trees, power lines, roof, and home damage in many communities surrounding Lutheran Church Charities. Many more storms, powerful winds, and tornadoes are still possible today.

Lutheran Church Charities is making plans for Basic L.E.R.T. training and a Chainsaw Certification class as our Northern Illinois District churches are beginning to reopen in Phase 3 of the “Restore Illinois” plan.

The federal guidelines indicate that volunteers responding to a disaster should be trained and certified. Lutheran Church Charities provides LCMS training for Lutheran Early Response Teams (L.E.R.T.) through churches in the Northern Illinois District. Should a disaster strike, these teams would be put on call and may be asked to deploy in 72 hours or less to the disaster site. This training will prepare team members for credentialing and will focus on the safety, work, and ministry of Lutherans as Early Responders.

NEW: LCMS Disaster Response has developed new guidelines for youth participation so that L.E.R.T. training can now be offered to youth, ages 14 – 17, so they can also assist in general disaster response safely and under the guidance of their own youth leadership.
 
Trained and certified L.E.R.T. members are ready with willing hearts and hands to show the mercy, compassion, presence and proclamation of Jesus Christ to those suffering and in need after a disaster.
 
If your church is interested in hosting a L.E.R.T. training, or if you or someone you know is interested in becoming L.E.R.T. certified, please contact LCC's Director of Disaster Response, Kathy O’Day at 866-455-6466 to schedule or discuss further. If you live outside the Northern Illinois District, please contact your LCMS District Disaster Response Coordinator to schedule a training.

Several areas in Illinois and neighboring states have recently experienced the effects of heavy rain and flooding. Our LCC L.E.R.T. teams are ready to assist with pumps and providing flood buckets to affected residents as needed.

But we need your help!

If you reside in the Northern Illinois District, please consider assembling flood buckets that can be given to your church’s L.E.R.T. team or delivered to Lutheran Church Charities for distribution as needed. Lutheran Church Charities will supply the labels for the buckets after assembled.

If you live outside the Northern Illinois District, please contact your LCMS District Disaster Coordinator to see if they would like any flood buckets made for possible use in your area and to acquire labels.

Please CLICK HERE for Flood Bucket assembly instructions. You must call Kathy O’Day, LCC Director of Disaster Response, at 224-257-4372 to arrange a day and time to make a safe delivery of buckets. Again, we appreciate your help assembling flood buckets for the Northern Illinois District or for your hometown districts.

Help LCC Expand Our Disaster Response Services

The disaster response units arrived at Lutheran Church Charities yesterday. They include a professional Mobile Kitchen valued at $52,000, a Bunk House trailer valued at $36,000 that can sleep 12 and two 18’ refrigeration trailers valued at $21,000 each. When the volunteers picked up the units in North Dakota on Monday, they expressed how impressive and professional-looking they are and feel they will be a great addition to LCC's Disaster Response Ministry.

Each of these units will expand the services LCC Disaster Response will be able to offer when responding to a disaster in the Northern Illinois District or nationally as we are invited to serve in other states.

It cost $6,700 to make repairs and purchase tires for each of these units to make them safe for long-distance hauling and cover travel expenses of four Lutheran Early Response Team (L.E.R.T.) volunteers.
 
Please prayerfully consider a donation to LCC Disaster Response Equipment Maintenance & Fuel Expense Fund so that we may continue to show the mercy, compassion, presence and proclamation of Jesus Christ to those suffering and in need.

Lutheran Church Charities thanks Ed Boerman, Steve & Jodie Chester, Lark & Terry Sanders and Pete & Christel Springmire for volunteering to make the long trek to North Dakota to haul these units to Lutheran Church Charities.
 
Our L.E.R.T. teams are especially excited to be able to have a professional mobile kitchen to utilize to serve meals to volunteers and disaster-affected communities.

Kathy O'Day, LCC Director of Disaster Response, received a note of thanks from Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS) Mid-South District for the financial support LCC provided to help those affected by the tornadoes in East Tennessee.

Thank you for the witness you have made. With contributions such as yours, we will be able to help our hurting communities with emergency food, clothing, shelter and other basic necessities. We appreciate your reaching out at a critical time of need with special assistance and concern, Your generosity will impact positively so many lives that have been disrupted and will certainly be a blessing to them.
 
May God continue to richly bless Lutheran Church Charities for the wonderful work you and your volunteers perform all over the country.
 
Please keep our brothers and sisters in your prayers as they prepare to rebuild following this tragedy.
 
In Christ,
 
Angela Fowler
Executive Director for Business and Finance

Lutheran Church Charities has graciously accepted a donation of four Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS) Disaster Response units used by Our Savior Lutheran Church in Minot, North Dakota in the Hope Village Camp. They operated the units for families to live at during the several year rebuilds after their town was totally destroyed by massive flooding. These units include a professional Mobile Kitchen valued at $52,000, a Bunk House trailer valued at $36,000 that can sleep 12 and two 18’ refrigeration trailers valued at $21,000 each.

It will cost $6,700 to make repairs and purchase tires for each of these units to make them safe for long distance hauling and cover travel expenses of four Lutheran Early Response Team (L.E.R.T.) volunteers.
 
Please prayerfully consider a donation to LCC Disaster Response Equipment Maintenance & Fuel Expense Fund so that we may continue to show the mercy, compassion, presence and proclamation of Jesus Christ to those suffering and in need.

Lutheran Church Charities thanks Ed Boerman, Steve Chester, Marty Johnson and Mike Kostecki for volunteering to make the long trek to North Dakota to haul these units to LCC next week.

Each of these units will expand the disaster response services LCC Disaster Response will be able to offer when responding to a disaster in the Northern Illinois District or nationally as we are invited to serve in other states. Our L.E.R.T. teams are especially excited to be able to have a professional mobile kitchen to utilize to serve meals to volunteers and disaster-affected communities.

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church with Pastor Harry Sheets and First Lutheran with Pastor Joshua Woodrow in Chattanooga, and First Lutheran with Pastor Robert Seaton in Cleveland have reported that their churches sustained minor damage. Both pastors in Chattanooga have minor damage to their homes compared to others in their neighborhood with destroyed homes. Two congregation member families have totally lost their homes and vehicles. Many other congregation families have sustained major and minor damage, lost vehicles and are displaced from their homes. Power still has not been restored to all areas.

The Chattanooga Times Free Press reports that in Southeast Tennessee there are more than 6,200 homes and commercial buildings damaged or destroyed and 1,300 cars in need of repair, according to initial insurance claims filed.

Because of COVID-19 shelter in place national mandates, Lutheran Church Charities cannot send chainsaw teams to respond at this time, as we have recently before in this district. But, we are being asked if our donors can continue to provide financial assistance so that the Mid-South District and these three churches can help many families move forward in their recovery process as they await insurance and FEMA assistance. This is a very difficult time and these local LCMS churches are standing with their members and community to provide that beacon of hope and a helping hand as they are able.

LCC never goes where we are not invited and we NEVER charge those we serve.
 
Please prayerfully consider a donation to the LCC Disaster Response Fund so that we may continue to show the mercy, compassion, presence and proclamation of Jesus Christ to those suffering and in need.

Please pray for those affected by the many tornadoes that have occurred and for the safety of all of our LCMS churches, first responders and local volunteers serving all devastated communities.

                                        Multiple Deaths, Many Traumatic Injuries, School & Nursing Home Damaged

Kathy O'Day, Lutheran Church Charities Director of Disaster Response, was contacted by Dr. Rev. Roger Paavola, LCMS Mid-South District President shortly after one of the many tornado outbreaks that occurred on Easter Sunday touched down in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
 
Dr. Rev. Paavola reports that this is the fifth tornado that has struck somewhere in his district in the last three months. Three churches are located in the affected Tennessee area. Good Shepherd Lutheran Church with Pastor Harry Sheets and First Lutheran with Pastor Joshua Woodrow in Chattanooga, and First Lutheran with Pastor Robert Seaton in Cleveland. They report that the churches did not sustain damage, but several congregation members and their families have totally lost their homes or have sustained major and minor damage.

Currently there are 3 deaths in Chattanooga and 17 hospitalized with traumatic injuries. They have identified 150 homes and businesses, including the elementary school and nursing home, that have been damaged or destroyed, but expect this number to increase as assessments are completed. In Cleveland, 76 homes have been damaged or destroyed.

Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke stated in a press conference that an EF-3 tornado damage with winds estimated around 145 mph struck Easter Sunday night at 11:38pm. It was on the ground for 4 miles and was ½ mile wide. According to both the Mayor and Chattanooga Police Chief David Roddy, they do not want people to come to Chattanooga; let them get to the next stage of recovery and figure out how to utilize local volunteers. "This crisis doesn't change the need to deal with the COVID situation. People need to do their very best to maintain social distancing, which will conflict with our desire to immediately help our neighbors," said Rae Bond, CEO of the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Medical Society and chairwoman of the area's COVID-19 task force.

Because of COVID-19 shelter in place national mandates, Lutheran Church Charities cannot send chainsaw teams to respond at this time, as we have recently before in this district. But, we are being asked if our donors can provide financial assistance so that the Mid-South District and these two churches can help many families begin the recovery process by providing for basic needs. This is a very difficult time as everyone has been sheltering safely in their homes, but now cannot do this. There is fear of where they will live for now and in the future, what they will do for income as some individuals had been furloughed, how will they make repairs or rebuild, and how will they ever recover from this.
 
LCC never goes where we are not invited and we NEVER charge those we serve.
 
Please prayerfully consider a donation to the LCC Disaster Response Fund so that we may continue to show the mercy, compassion, presence and proclamation of Jesus Christ to those suffering and in need.