LCC Deploys Disaster Response LERT Teams and K-9 Comfort Dogs to Taylorville, Illinois

Helping Thirty-Seven Homeowners Begin Recovery from Extensive Tornado Damage

On Saturday, December 1, Central Illinois had 27 confirmed tornadoes touch down in many communities causing damage and destruction of homes and businesses. The hardest hit community was Taylorville, Illinois, in which 2 tornadoes went through different parts of the town. Extensive damage occurred including 406 homes that were affected by these tornadoes that left 11 miles of destruction in its path.

Pastor Rodney Blomquist from Trinity Lutheran Church in Taylorville, Illinois, opened his church to allow residents to take shelter in the church basement. Trinity also served as the host church for the Lutheran Early Response Team (LERT) response in their community. After the tornado, Kathy O'Day, LCC Director of Disaster Response, deployed to Trinity Lutheran Church at the invitation of Stephen Born, Central Illinois District Disaster Coordinator, to assist affected homeowners by assessing damaged homes, manning a LERT table at the Multi-Agency Resource Center (MARC) for residents to request assistance and providing volunteer assistance for disaster response.

CLICK HERE to watch LCC L.E.R.T. Volunteers Making a Difference After Historic Tornadoes in Taylorville, IL

Trinity Lutheran Church hosted a workday on Saturday, December 8, for Central and Northern Illinois District LERT teams as well as Taylorville community members, in which 207 volunteers came and served in the community providing chainsaw assistance for downed and damaged trees and debris removal, completing work at 37 homes.

CLICK HERE to watch broadcast on WCIA 3 News of our teams helping impacted residents

CLICK HERE to read article, Volunteers Offer Relief for Tornado-Ravaged Sections of Taylorville, in The State Journal-Register

The LCC LERT volunteers who traveled to Taylorsville include: 

Northern Illinois District
Cross Lutheran – Yorkville: Derek Kowalczyk
Good Shepherd – Elgin: David Vollrath, Mark Handrock
Immanuel – Belvidere: Mike Buhl, Wes Johnson, Christine Kolk, Karen Salgado, Galen & Suzan Sollie
Lord of Life – LaFox: Terry & Mary Kramer, Ken Johnston, Kevin Krage, Matt Byars, Nick Krywaruczenko, Chris Lewis, Dave Smercina, Rick Mathieu
St. John – Wheaton: Steve Chester, Marty Johnson, Anna Piro, Jan Gerveske, Tom Prickette, Dave Mummah, Rich Wren, Palmer Goodwin
St. Matthew – Hawthorn Woods: Rob & Jen Fosness
St. Peter – Hampshire: Bob Warfel, Mike Hemme, Pete & Christel Springmire
St. Peter – Schaumburg: Ken & Vicki Kiviranta, Tom Amundsen, Sarah Blanchard,
Trinity – Lisle: Don & Cyndi Totter, Robert Ternand
Trinity – Roselle: David Vance
Trinity – Tinley Park: Joel Powless

Indiana District
Trinity Lutheran – Hobart: Karen Fulkerson, Bill Schnabel

Our NID LCC LERT chainsaw team spent two days working at an elderly Trinity member’s home to remove the tree that fell and went into the home. Her daughters were so thankful to be able to access that part of the home and were able to retrieve some of her belongings. With it now exposed, the insurance adjuster was able to assess the damage before it was boarded and tarped up. They could not believe that it was even possible to remove the trees and at no cost to them. Their gratitude and appreciation was evident on the thoughtfulness and caring for the home and belongings as shown by the LERT team members.

LCC K-9 Ministry teams also deployed to Taylorville, Illinois, as the community starts to sort out their belongings from the debris. Recently placed LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Rachel (Immanuel – Charleston, Illinois) and her team, along with Bethany (Trinity – Danville, Illinois), Dinah (Trinity – Auburn, Illinois), Barnabas and Isaiah (Trinity – Hobart, Indiana), and Comfort Dog in Training Darius visited the MARC as well as visiting people throughout the community.

Please pray for the residents in Taylorville and all of the many volunteers who are helping them recover. This community is strong and has seen how the mercy, compassion, and presence of others in their time of need are making a difference.

Donate - LCC Disaster Response Fund

Donate - LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Fund