Caring for Cascade Tim Hetzner, LCC President / CEO, speaks with Pastor Richard Bidinger about the day the tornado hit Cascade and how LCC Disaster Response, LERT Chainsaw teams, and the community have come together to begin clearing the devastation that occurred. First hand, this community has seen faith in action and experienced the love of Jesus. Through LCMS churches, LCC and our dedicated volunteers, they responded with, "Here I am Lord, send me." Representing Jesus in Disaster Jenny, Pastor Bidinger’s wife, shares with Tim how she has been coping with the aftermath of the tornado and how their church can represent Jesus to the community. LCC once again responded with boots on the ground doing assessments on Friday, September 7, and brought LERT chainsaw teams and heavy equipment to work Saturday and Sunday, September 8-9. They were also joined by many volunteers from local churches and the community. ‘It’s rewarding:’ Volunteers from Chicago church help with storm cleanup in Cascade (Saturday, September 8, 2018 – Fox 6 Now / Madeline Anderson
Dealing with Disaster Brenda and her husband realized that even with the help from their family, somtimes. you need help from others in times of disaster. Her husband told her that "I've been praying and praying and wondering how we're going to get this all cleaned up. The Lord answered my prayers." Wisconsin LERT & Volunteers:
St. Paul’s – Cascade: Dominick Kowalczyk, Dominick Kowalczyk II, Sam Tiller, Gene Lodico, Jeff Seider, Dennis Dyken, Dennis Weinhold, Bonnie Feiber, Pastor Richard, Jenny, Tricia and Ethan Bidinger, Bethany Schneider, Troy Schneider St. Paul’s – Sheboygan Falls: Richard Boeniecht Good Shepherd – Sheboygan: Pastor David Blas Waldo Fire Department: Lester Laack Boy Scout Troop 885 – Sheboygan Falls: Pat Waitkul, Ryan, Becky and Jake Syverson, Andy and Zach Schleicher, Mary and Charlie Waitkus Northern Illinois LERT: Cross Lutheran – Yorkville: Derek & Amy Kowalczyk, Dave Braden, Joel Danker Trinity – Lisle: Mike Kostecki, Immanuel – Belvidere: Bob Schwarzkopf, Bernie & Janet Zimdahl, Robert Koehn, Mark Gutzler, Mike Perry St. Peter’s – North Plato: Bob Warfel, Danny & Bobbie Swyndroski, Pete & Christel Springmire St. John – Wheaton: Marty Johnson, Anna Piro, Palmer & Judy Goodwin, Jim Braun Lord of Life – Elburn: Matthew Byars, Terry & Mary Kramer, John Griffin, Ken Johnston Trinity – Tinley Park: Joel Powless Our Savior – Burlington: Ron Schowengerdt Shepherd of the Hills – McHenry: Ron Jones Lutheran Church Charities thanks all of the LERT teams and volunteers for the many hours they dedicated to helping families in Cascade, Wisconsin. Thank you to this wonderful community for working closely with us and making us feel so welcomed Teams Returning This Weekend
Rev. Dr. John Wille, South Wisconsin District President, and Pastor Jonah Burakowski, Executive Assistant to the President for Missions and Human Care, South Wisconsin District – LCMS, have extended their gratitude to LCC and our volunteers for assistance given to their district which has suffered widespread devastation.
LCC Disaster Response is blessed to have dedicated LERT team members who have a servant heart for using their time and talents to share the mercy, compassion, presence and proclamation of Jesus Christ to those suffering and in need. Volunteers who responded to the LERT call to go to Wisconsin came from Northern Illinois, South Wisconsin and St. Louis, Missouri.
Northern Illinois LERT: Cross Lutheran – Yorkville: Derek Kowalczyk Trinity – Lisle: Ed Boerman, Mike Kostecki, Dick Sonntag Immanuel – Belvidere: Bob Schwarzkopf, Bernie & Janet Zimdahl St. Peter’s – North Plato: Bob Warfel, Danny & Bobbie Swyndrowski Prince of Peace – Palatine: Jim Beckley St. John – Wheaton: Marty Johnson, Anna Piro, Jan Gerveske, Roy Rose Edison Park Lutheran – Chicago: David Gates, Werner Calder Lord of Life – Elburn: Larry Zagorski, Matthew Luhman, Dave Smercina Good Shepherd – Elgin: David Vollrath Wisconsin LERT: St. Paul’s – Cascade: Dominick Kowalczyk Trinity – Sheboygan: Tim & Karen Fischer Menomonee Falls: Todd Sickle Missouri LERT: New Beginnings – St. Louis: Chris Adams LCC LERT teams have been welcomed by the congregation and community. All are very grateful for our willingness to travel to their small town and offer this assistance. We will be returning to help again this weekend as there is still much work to be done. Please continue to pray for everyone who has been affected by the recent storms in Wisconsin and for the safety of the LERT team members who are helping them during the recovery. Your donations will directly assist churches, individuals, and families during the recovery process. LCC Disaster Response Staff and Volunteers Deploying to Wisconsin Early Friday Working in Two Separate Areas Storm Recovery to EF1 Tornado in Cascade Severe Flooding in Coon Valley "For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you." Isaiah 41:13
Kathy O'Day, LCC Director of Disaster Response, will arrive in Cascade early Friday morning, August 31, to continue damage assessment and begin scheduling the disaster relief efforts. LCC LERT Chainsaw teams will also deploy early Friday and will begin clean-up efforts early afternoon, including tree removal damage from St. Paul's property, including the church cemetery where trees fell on a veteran's tombstone. The impacts are so great that many trees were either split in half or completely uprooted. Additional storms are predicted throughout the weekend so urgent clean-up efforts are needed. Flooding continues from the storms. Pump outs and muck and gut relief efforts will begin in this area once storms have stopped and additional damage assessments made. Pastor Jonah Burakowski will be coordinating LERT teams this Saturday through Monday to do muck outs in the hard hit area of Coon Valley, Wisconsin. Some homes here have been swept off their foundations and others have had several feet of water in them. These teams will be working out of Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in Onalaska, Wisconsin. Pastor also reported that many towns along the rivers are completely underwater and inaccessible with river levels still rising and more rain predicted this weekend. Please help LCC share the mercy, compassion, presence, and proclamation of Jesus Christ to those suffering and in need. Your donations will directly assist churches, individuals and families affected by the recent storms. Thank you for all of your support in touching lives with the Presence of Jesus Christ - our only hope! Peace in Jesus Christ, 
Currently, the Wisconsin National Guard are sandbagging and doing water rescues for families surrounded by the floods. Approximately 200 families have already been displaced in Madison/Monona. On Tuesday, 1,200 homes were evacuated in the Isthmus area as flood levels continue to rapidly rise.
Please help LCC share the mercy, compassion, presence, and proclamation of Jesus Christ to those suffering and in need. Your donations are greatly needed to help individuals and families affected by the flood. |
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