LCC is also watching the river levels in surrounding areas of our district that may also experience flooding in the days and weeks ahead with snow melt and warmer temperatures occurring. If you know someone that is in need of assistance in the Northern Illinois District (NID), please contact Lutheran Church Charities Disaster Response at 866-455-6466 or dradmin@lutheranchurchcharities.org. Our LCC LERT teams are willing to respond with the mercy, compassion, presence and proclamation of Jesus Christ to those suffering and in need.

Please keep all those affected by flooding in the Northern Illinois District and surrounding states in your prayers as they face many losses and a long recovery.

Indiana

• St. John's - Dillsboro: Steve Black

Florida

• Port Orange: Ken Cupples

This team was able to return to a homeowner’s property that they had started on our team’s last trip a few weeks ago. They were very happy to be able to return and finish.

Almost every home and business has been affected in some way in Panama City and surrounding towns. The destruction is widespread, especially the tree damage. According to Pastor Ed Brashier, this has been the worst tree damage he has seen in 13 years of disaster response. He is very appreciative that we are willing to travel to assist in this area again for the third time since the hurricane hit. Our LERT teams are very willing to share the mercy, compassion, presence and proclamation of Jesus Christ to those in need wherever we are invited to serve.

Please pray for the safety of the LERT volunteers deploying and keep the residents affected by Hurricane Michael in your prayers as they will continue to face a long recovery. 

Dr. Fontaine contacted Jan Boerman, Trinity Lisle team leader, to ask if any other assistance could possibly be provided to her students. She stated that many of these children are in desperate need of shoes and socks. She asked if it would be possible to provide a Walmart gift card for each student to purchase these needed items.

Through your generous donations, Lutheran Church Charities was able to support the Trinity Lisle LERT team in the purchasing and delivering of gift cards to Pastor Paul McComack to give to Dr. Fontaine for her students. Many of these students will now be receiving new shoes and socks for Christmas.

There were approximately 150 attendees from many states and districts. All heard updates, progress made, and current needs from all the areas that have been affected by disasters in 2017 and 2018. There were many informative disaster response topics presented, times to worship together, and good networking among attendees. It was a good opportunity to hear how we can show the mercy and presence of Jesus Christ to those in need all around the country affected by disaster.

Ed Boerman, Lutheran Church Charities Chainsaw Instructor/ISA Certified Arborist, and Derek Kowalczyk, Rigging & Climbing Instructor, developed the LCC LERT manual and trainings for Boom Lift Operation and Safety and Rigging & Knots. A total of 17 advanced chainsaw LERT volunteers attended the 2 day extensive trainings to be able to safely operate the boom lift and serve as ground crew when it is in use.

Lutheran Church Charities also purchased the recommended safety equipment that will remain with the lift for operators to use. This includes safety harnesses with fall protection, lanyards, two-way radio headset communication system, and a first aid kit with trauma packs. Each operator and ground crew will also have their own personal protection equipment, chainsaws and ropes to use.  

When disasters strike, Lutheran Church Charities has 382 LERT certified chainsaw operators in the Northern Illinois District to respond quickly to serve those affected and to deploy to other districts as called upon after a disaster. They currently bring chainsaws, wedges, spring poles, rigging equipment, safety harnesses, and miscellaneous power and heavy equipment. Now they will be able to bring the boom lift as well.

All of these trained LERT team volunteers respond with the Mercy, Compassion, Presence and Proclamation of Jesus Christ to those affected by extensive tree damage from a storm, tornado, or hurricane. Please prayerfully consider donating to help LCC Disaster Response support homeowners following a disaster. 

Prospect Heights Mayor Nicholas Helmer asked Lutheran Church Charities to help provide support to these families and over 150 first responders from 50 local departments who bravely responded to the fire. The LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs always bring relief to all of the first responders. They also continue to bring comfort and hope to the distraught families