Within 24 hours, Lutheran Church Charities had boots on the ground early Friday, May 24, with staff and volunteers to begin damage assessments to provide chainsaw and heavy equipment assistance over Memorial Day weekend.

On Saturday, May 25, 40 Northern Illinois District (NID) and 8 Central Illinois District (CID) LERT team members worked together to clear trees and debris from 19 homes. On Sunday, May 26, 11 NID LERT team members, along with Denney Smith from Calvary, completed boom lift and chainsaw work that was begun on Saturday.

As she watched the teams work on her property, she was so happy and in awe of everything that was done in two days with LERT volunteers. All received hugs and many thanks for helping restore her home, giving her hope as she continues to wait for insurance for other work to be done.

LCC never charges those we serve and will never profit from our service as Christians. We have established a fund to help offset equipment and operating expenses for our volunteers and purchase equipment as needed.
 
Please consider a donation to the Lutheran Church Charities Disaster Response Equipment Maintenance & Fuel Expense Fund so that our LERT disaster response teams may continue to show the mercy, compassion, presence and proclamation of Jesus Christ to those suffering and in need.

Tom shared that they will be able to use the funds to continue to keep the trailers stocked with needed supplies that they send to churches in affected communities, utilizing volunteers to aid in resident’s recovery. These “stocked warehouses on wheels” are invaluable to all they serve.

Remkea Ockander, Director of Family Ministry with Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Fremont, Nebraska, upon hearing of another donation from LCC donors to their church to assist community in long-term recovery efforts, “Again, thank you for your generosity! We are so very appreciative for LCC and all you do!”
 
Remkea sent the following information about how Good Shepherd has begun a new area-wide initiative called Project Restore. “Over the next year, we will embark on an effort to connect volunteers from around the country with local residents and towns that need assistance with mold remediation (demolition, sanitizing, cleaning) as well as construction (electrical, plumbing, drywall, mudding etc.). These services are a labor of love and do not require payment or stipulations. We only want to do our part to restore and bring healing to our community. Through Project Restore, Good Shepherd will offer housing, meals, showers, supplies, and plenty of work.” If you know any LERT teams, youth groups, or individuals who would like to serve, CLICK HERE to get started.

The generosity of donors has been much appreciated by each of these churches as they reach out to assist their respective community members.

Pastor Ryan Ankersen has committed Good Shepherd to be the long-term recovery center to house, feed and send volunteers to serve in the flood affected communities for the next year as residents begin the rebuilding process. Good Shepherd is now open to individuals and groups who are willing to volunteer. Please go to www.gslcfremont.org  and select the Project Restore link if interested in serving here.

Tom Grunow, Director of Financial Generosity and Disaster Response Coordinator at Christ Lincoln, states that needs and collections of supplies have greatly diminished but they continue to inventory what they do have. This weekend they were able to finally get all of the trucks emptied of donated goods and organized into their church, which is still serving as the community warehouse. Many of the items will be used for ongoing recovery efforts. Some items will be given to local agencies who serve needy families, many who have been affected by the flooding in some way, and saw their own donations diminish due to people concentrating on disaster relief the last 6 weeks! They are very glad to be able to serve the community in this way.

Please prayerfully consider donating to help LCC continue supporting the individuals and families affected through our churches during their long recovery.

Communities all over Nebraska are really praying they do not flood again as this latest snow bomb cyclone has hit the Midwest. Fremont had mostly rain but northern Nebraska and the Dakotas had one to two feet of snow which will soon melt and come their way. Everyone is very nervous and weary.
 
Trinity is welcoming new families to worship with them during Holy Week to celebrate the message of hope the resurrected Christ freely gives to all who believe. Please continue to pray for the affected Nebraska communities and donate generously to support the individuals and families during their long recovery.

All of the volunteers working through Trinity Lutheran is a great example of how we are all called to be the church and serve those in need. Please continue to generously support the families in Fremont, Nebraska, during their long recovery.

Pastor Anthony Gerber from Trinity Lutheran Church in Fremont, Nebraska, continues to see the generosity and feel the prayerful support of his congregation and community as they respond to those affected by the flood. Being an LCC K-9 Ministry affiliate congregation has greatly helped them provide for needs of their hurting community. He stated, “May God bless you as you continue to help us help those in need through the donations that LCC continues to receive.” Amy Glause, Financial Administrator at Trinity, also expressed her sincere thanks for continued support and blessings from generous LCC donors.

Pastor also shared that immediate needs are being met and now families are in the waiting stage of recovery to see what insurance and FEMA will be doing to help. He anticipates that in the next 3-4 months long term needs will be very evident and they will continue to need funds to help families.

PBS News Hour interviewed Governor Pete Ricketts about the damage the flood waters have done to the state of Nebraska. The following statistics are staggering, and this is only for one state that has experienced flooding! He states there has been 2,000 homes and 340 businesses destroyed with more affected totaling an estimated $85 million in damage; $400 million in livestock loss; $440 million in crop loss; and $439 million in infrastructure damage, which includes 200 miles of roads and 16 bridges that have been washed away.

Trinity Lutheran Church in Fremont, Nebraska, sends heartfelt thanks to Lutheran Church Charities and its generous donors for their continued financial support in response to massive flooding.

Your donations are still needed to help serve all those severely impacted by the floods in Fremont, Nebraska. If you are so moved, please donate, and please keep Trinity and their surrounding communities in your prayers during their long recovery.

As the water has receded, they are seeing more families who have lost homes and belongings, ranchers who have lost livestock, and those who can no longer work because the roads and infrastructure have been so badly damaged that they cannot travel as needed to work. Pastor stated that the only road from Fremont to Omaha where many are employed is now buckled and has bridges washed away. There will be lasting effects that will be far-reaching from this flood for most of their community and surrounding areas.
The Colfax County Emergency Management Agency invited LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Katie (Trinity – Fremont, Nebraska), Eddie (Peace Lutheran – Grand Island, Nebraska), Joanna (Christ Lincoln – Lincoln, Nebraska) , Moses (Christ Lutheran – Cairo, Nebraska), Nicodemus (The Rock – Seward, Nebraska), and Priscilla (Trinity – Lincoln, Nebraska), and their handlers, to the County Volunteer Recognition Dinner for First Responders last week held in Schuyler, Nebraska. They extended their thanks to the K-9 teams for helping the community and first responders with the healing process. All were honored to be there to provide care to those helping the community during the flooding.