Category: Hurricane Florence

LCC LERT Teams Help Families Affected by Hurricane Florence in Wilmington, North Carolina

10/16/2018

This week, Kathy O'Day, LCC Director of Disaster Response, and 25 LCC LERT chainsaw team members, returned home from their deployment to Messiah Lutheran Church in Wilmington, North Carolina, at the invitation of the South Eastern District (SED) to assist those with downed and damaged trees. Of the 36 sites that were assessed, the LERT teams were able to complete work at 29 homes and at the church before the arrival of Hurricane Michael.

The team met many homeowners, listened to their stories, prayed with them, and helped clean up their properties. They feel blessed they were able to make a difference in the lives they touched.

One of these homeowners has been living in their damaged home since Hurricane Florence hit with no power due to an insurance battle. They are struggling financially, have medical disabilities, and are exhausted physically and emotionally. The team was able to secure a generator, gas, oil, and non-perishable food for them, as well as point them to the church for spiritual and emotional care.

The team was referred to a homeowner with multiple trees down in his backyard. As they began to work, he went and spoke to several of his neighbors about us and soon we had 5 homes all on the same block with much damage to be cleared. It took a day and half, but all were so grateful for the assistance and caring shown to each of them.

After a week of hard work, the team went out for a final dinner and when they returned to the church a sign of thanks was waiting for them in the parking lot. It really meant a lot to everyone.

Please keep the North Carolina community in your prayers as they continue their recovery. Your donations will help us assist individuals and families affected by Hurricane Florence.

Donate - Hurricane Florence Disaster Relief

Donate - Hurricane Florence K-9 Travel Fund

LCC Disaster Response LERT Teams Help Host Church and 36 Homeowners in North Carolina Remove Damage from Hurricane Florence

10/9/2018

Impact from Hurricane Michael Headed to North & South Carolina this Week

This week, Kathy O'Day, LCC Director of Disaster Response, and 25 LCC LERT chainsaw team members from 12 churches and 3 states deployed to Messiah Lutheran Church in Wilmington, North Carolina, at the invitation of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS) South Eastern District (SED) to assist those with downed and damaged trees as a result of Hurricane Florence. Extensive storms are headed their way later this week due to Hurricane Michael which is currently a Cat 3 hurricane that will cause high winds and several inches of rain to fall across North and South Carolina. This will be devastating to these hard hit areas as there will be more flooding and tree damage.

Pastor Timothy Steele, Rev. Mark Spelzhausen, Emeritus, and the congregation warmly welcomed the team to their community. Kathy and Rev. Mark spent two days prior to the LERT teams arrival on Saturday assessing 36 homes with damage, as well as the church. Messiah Lutheran had several trees fall on their property, which the team took care of immediately. They sustained major roof damage during the hurricane that also caused part of the vaulted ceiling in the sanctuary to collapse and water damage to pews as well as the fellowship hall. They have an $18,000 deductible with their insurance company for repairs to be made. They are also concerned that Hurricane Michael may cause further damage as there is only a tarp on part of the roof.

By the end of Monday, LERT chainsaw teams hadcompleted work at 17 Messiah Lutheran Church member homes in the 3 days they had been there. They have several other homes in Wilmington they will be assessing and hope to complete before they leave or Hurricane Michael arrives. Several of these jobs have involved the use of heavy equipment, such as tractors, bobcats and the boom lift. Everyone who is being assisted is very appreciative for the professional work done and Christian focus of the team members.

One of the assessed homes was Rev. Mark’s. He had several trees damaged and, after worship on Sunday, a team worked all day at his home to clean up his yard. He and his wife appreciated the assistance and the team’s professionalism and Christian care. He was especially touched by the cross carved out of one of the damaged trees in his yard.

Another home was Mr. Henry, an elderly disabled gentleman, and his wife. They have several trees down in their back yard and on their new roof, which was put on 3 days before the hurricane. On the day we assessed the damage at their home, Mr. Henry told us he knows God is blessing him with help because he didn’t know what he was going to do. On Sunday afternoon, a chainsaw LERT team began what was a two day job. Mrs. Henry kept telling the team working that she is praising God that “He sent angels their way to take care of them all the way from Illinois!” She also thanks her Messiah Lutheran Church neighbors for looking out for them by sending help their way. They are both so pleased!

These are just a few stories of how LCC LERT teams work together in times of disaster to bring the mercy, compassion, presence, and proclamation of Jesus Christ to those who are suffering and in need. LERT team members who deployed to North Carolina are as follows:

Northern Illinois District LERT Members
Cross – Yorkville: Derek Kowalczyk
Good Shepherd – Elgin: David Vollrath
Immanuel – Belvidere: Mike Buhl, Wes Johnson
Immanuel – Palatine: Jim Beckley, Jeff Dykstra
Lord of Life – LaFox: Larry Zagorski, Ken Johnston
St. John – Wheaton: Steve Chester, Marty Johnson, Jan Gerveske, Jeff Johnston, Roy Rose, Ken Rosenwinkel
St. Peter – Hampshire: Dan & Bobbie Swyndroski
Trinity – Lisle: Mike Kostecki
Trinity – Roselle: David Vance
Trinity – Tinley Park: Joel Powless

Central Illinois District LERT Members
Immanuel – Shobonier: Fran Collier
Trinity – Pekin: Terry Knollenberg

Other Volunteers
Dillsboro, Indiana: Steve Black
Port Orange, Florida: Ken Cupples
North Carolina: Dave Klovstad

There is much work to be done in a very short time. Please keep the LERT team members and the North Carolina community in your prayers. Your donations will help us assist individuals and families affected by Hurricane Florence.

Donate - Hurricane Florence Disaster Relief Fund

Donate - Hurricane Florence K-9 Travel Fund

LCC Disaster Response LERT Teams Arrive in North Carolina this Week to Assist Families!

10/2/2018

Kathy O'Day, LCC Director of Disaster Response, will deploy to North Carolina on Thursday, October 4, to assess damage from Hurricane Florence and meet with impacted families to help them begin the process of recovery. Lutheran Church Charities LERT Chainsaw team members will arrive at the end of the week to work in Wilmington and the surrounding area from October 6 – 14. Our certified chainsaw team will bring chainsaws, boom lift, and other heavy equipment to safely and effectively remove as many downed and damaged trees as possible during the week from the church and members' homes. We will be lodging and working out of Messiah Lutheran Church with Pastor Timothy Steele. Pastor and his congregation are very pleased our group is coming to aid in tree removal.

Donate - Hurricane Florence Disaster Response Fund

Donate - Hurricane Florence K-9 Travel Fund

The region is just beginning to dig its way out of the aftermath of the storm weeks after the storm has past. Pastor stated that they experienced torrential rain, 5 feet storm surge, and strong winds by Hurricane Florence as well as 4 reported tornadoes. He reports there are trees down everywhere with home damage too. People are just returning to their homes as all had evacuated. Businesses are reopening but many roads just outside the city are still closed due to flooding where there are rivers. Some nearby towns are underwater and will be for another couple weeks.

Lutheran Church Charities and our LERT teams are prepared to bring the mercy, compassion, presence and proclamation of Jesus Christ to those who are suffering and in need. This community has lost much and are in need of assistance from the devastating effects of Hurricane Florence.

Please keep the LERT team members and the North Carolina community in your prayers. Your donations will help us assist individuals and families affected by Hurricane Florence.

LCC Disaster Response LERT Teams Leaving Next Week to Aid in North Carolina Recovery

9/25/2018

On Tuesday, September 25, Lutheran Church Charities spoke with the LCMS Southeastern District Disaster Response Coordinator Deaconess Sally Hiller. She has invited our LERT chainsaw team to respond in Wilmington and the surrounding area in North Carolina from October 6 – 14 with chainsaws, boom lift, and other heavy equipment, as well as masks and suits for muck out assistance. We will be working out of Messiah Lutheran Church with Pastor Timothy Steele. She reports that the coastal area of North Carolina will just be starting their recovery later this week as evacuation orders are being lifted.

Kathy O'Day, LCC Director of Disaster Response, shares that one of the pastors from Wilmington did return briefly to assess damage and describes it as "catastrophic. Trees down everywhere. Massive flooding and prolific mold." We have also been on FEMA calls and they reiterated that coastal North Carolina and South Carolina will continue to see rivers cresting and flooding communities.

Donate - Hurricane Florence Disaster Relief Fund

Donate - Hurricane Florence K-9 Travel Fund

Unfortunately, Hurricane Florence flooding will be soon be affecting South Carolina by the end of this week. Myrtle Beach has been issued a mandatory evacuation order beginning tomorrow. Flood waters are expected to reach 10+ feet over flood stage by Friday morning, which will put water up to many roofs of homes and businesses. Deaconess Hiller stated, “the LCMS church there expects to be underwater by next weekend and a total loss. This has just been devastating to slowly watch water levels rise and homes being destroyed. But it is also good to see the church and people responding with help and love to those in need. But this will be a long recovery and help needed for quite some time.”

Lutheran Church Charities and our LERT teams are prepared to go to show the mercy, compassion, presence and proclamation of Jesus Christ to those who are suffering and in need. They have lost much and are in need of assistance from the devastating effects of Hurricane Florence.

LCC Disaster Response Help Needed – Hurricane Florence (NC and VA), Continued Recovery in Wisconsin Flooding, and Tornadoes

9/18/2018

Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. - Isaiah 40:1

The effects of Hurricane Florence are devastating and it’s not over. The destruction Hurricane Florence is leaving in its path through North and South Carolina and Virginia caused tens of thousands of families to evacuate their homes, massive power outages continue to increase, and families are left overwhelmed on how they will recover. This hurricane is moving very slowly, dropping recording-breaking rainfall, causing high storm surges, and uprooting massive trees. It has resulted in major flooding affecting thousands of homes, businesses, and also loss of life. In addition to all of this are recent tornadoes in Virginia as well.

Tim Hetzner, President / CEO, Lutheran Church Charities has been in contact with Rev. Ross Johnson and Rev. Michael Meyer, Directors of LCMS Disaster Response, who are working with the LCMS Southeastern District’s (SED) Disaster Response Coordinator, Deaconess Sally Hiller, and reaching out to all pastors in the affected areas. Several LCMS churches report that they have sustained considerable damage as well as entire neighborhoods and towns within the communities they serve. Because this storm is moving slowly, most people are still under evacuation orders and have not yet been able to assess their homes for damage. Understanding the full impact of this disaster cannot begin until the storm ends

Donate - Hurricane Florence Disaster Relief Fund

Donate - Hurricane Florence K-9 Travel Fund

LCC Disaster Response has been asked by the Southeastern District to come in and help. LCC will deploy to assist in Hurricane Florence recovery. LCC LERT teams have been asked to be on standby to deploy to the hardest hit areas to provide assistance with pumping out water from churches and homes, mucking and gutting, and providing chainsaw assistance. The LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry teams are also ready to deploy to provide mercy, compassion, presence and proclamation of Jesus Christ to those suffering and in need.

LCC Disaster Response Supports LCMS South Wisconsin District in Reedsburg, Wisconsin Flood Recovery

Over a two-week period beginning in late August, a sizeable region in West Central Wisconsin received a substantial amount of rain causing flooding in six counties. LCC Disaster Response is supporting Pastor Jonah Burakowski, Executive Assistant to the President for Missions and Human Care, South Wisconsin District – LCMS in this recovery effort.

The Office of Mission and Human Care is coordinating with St. Paul Lutheran Church in Reedsburg, Wisconsin, to establish a volunteer relief center to work there and in surrounding communities. Work will include mucking (cleaning) out houses, moving furniture and appliances, removing carpet and other flooring, hanging dry wall, taping, mudding, and assisting community members with other tasks. Many families have substantial damage or lost everything.

volunteer for the Wisconsin floods

Donate - Wisconsin Disaster Relief Fund

Please join LCC in praying for all of the families impacted by the recent devastating storms and for all of the first responders, LERT teams, and volunteers helping those in need.

Because LCC will be spread out throughout the country right now, your prayers and assistance are needed to help us serve those affected in various areas and states.

Thank you for all of your support in being Jesus to those suffering.

Peace in Jesus Christ,

Tim Hetzner
President/CEO
Lutheran Church Charities

Donate - LCC Disaster Response

LCC LERT Teams Help Families Affected by Hurricane Florence in Wilmington, North Carolina

LCC Disaster Response LERT Teams Help Host Church and 36 Homeowners in North Carolina Remove Damage from Hurricane Florence

LCC Disaster Response LERT Teams Arrive in North Carolina this Week to Assist Families!

LCC Disaster Response LERT Teams Leaving Next Week to Aid in North Carolina Recovery

LCC Disaster Response Help Needed – Hurricane Florence (NC and VA), Continued Recovery in Wisconsin Flooding, and Tornadoes

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