LCC Disaster Response Arrives in Little Rock, Arkansas, to Help Homeowners with Property Recovery from Catastrophic Tornado Damage

On March 31, an EF-3 tornado at 165 mph tracked just over thirty-four miles from West Little Rock through North Little Rock, Sherwood, and Jacksonville leaving a path of destruction, injury, and death. There were at least 2,700 structures impacted and 60,000 power outages.

More than fifty people were injured and admitted to hospitals. Miraculously, only one person was killed.

This was a large, multi-state storm. There were over 1,000 reports of tornadoes, damaging winds, and hail. Most reports were from Iowa to Arkansas eastward through the Ohio and Tennessee Valleys.

After completing recovery efforts from our own tornado and wind event the same day in Northern Illinois, LCC Disaster Response was invited by Rev. Ross Johnson, The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS) Director of Disaster Response, and Jan Simko, LCMS Mid-South District Disaster Response Coordinator, to assist with catastrophic tornado recovery in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Kathy O'Day, LCC Director of Disaster Response, arrived in Little Rock the day after Easter to begin assessing tornado damage with LCMS District Disaster Response Coordinators from other states. The Lutheran Early Response Team (L.E.R.T.) volunteers are working out of Christ Little Rock Lutheran Church and School.

Kathy assessed damages in Jacksonville, Arkansas, with Pastor Kevin Conger of Hope Lutheran Church in Jacksonville. Pastor Conger’s wife, Lois, handed out household items donated by congregation members to families affected by the tornado.
 
Many of these families had major damage, or their home was completely destroyed. Homeowners were grateful for the love shown to them by caring Christians.

Many homeowner sites have extensive damage and clean-up efforts will take 1-2 days to complete. L.E.R.T volunteers are on the ground this week and already serving. Additional LCC L.E.R.T. volunteers will arrive by Saturday. There is much work to be done and our volunteers are blessed to serve with willing hands and compassionate hearts, showing Christ’s love and care to those in need.

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LCC never goes where we are not invited.
We NEVER charge those we serve!

If you are so moved, please donate to the LCC Disaster Response Fund or LCC Equipment Maintenance & Fuel Expense Fund so that we may continue to show the Mercy, Compassion, Presence and Proclamation of Jesus Christ to those suffering and in need.

DONATE — LCC DISASTER RESPONSE FUND

DONATE — LCC MAINTENANCE & FUEL EXPENSE FUND

Please pray for all of the communities affected by these devastating tornadoes, including the LCMS and LCC Disaster Response volunteers and staff that help during the long recovery process.
 
LCC works in coordination with LCMS Disaster Response national and local districts of the LCMS.