LCC Disaster Response Chainsaw Teams in Kansas to Help Families with Tornado Recovery

Lutheran Church Charities responded to the invite from Donna Williams, Kansas District Disaster Response Coordinator to come and offer chainsaw assistance after an EF-4 tornado went through Linwood and Bonner Springs (Kansas) on May 28. The damage was very evident throughout these small towns. Lutheran Church Charities responded with boots on the ground by sending Kathy O’Day, LCC Director of Disaster Response to Linwood and Bonner Springs to help with assessments shortly after the tornado hit.

Watch THE Kansas DR Deployment Video

This week, Kathy returned to the area with LERT chainsaw teams with heavy equipment to assist the residents. The teams are working out of the two Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod churches in Basehor, Kansas-Trinity Family of Faith, Pastor Jason Boetcher and Risen Savior, Pastor Weinkauf. LERT team members present came from the Northern Illinois and Kansas Districts.

llinois
Faith-Oak Lawn
Immanuel-Palatine
Immanuel-Shobonier
Prince of Peace-Palatine
St. John-Wheaton
Trinity-Roselle
 
Kansas
St. John-Lincolnville
Trinity-Basehor
Zion-Newton
Christ-Overland Park

Our team members were welcomed by the congregations and the community. Everyone was very grateful for our willingness to travel and offer assistance.

Early this week, we worked with a family who had sustained massive tree damage on their property. They, as well as most of their neighbors, have been without electricity or water for three weeks since the tornado hit on May 28. The family we helped was very appreciative of the team’s willingness to spend a long, hot day cutting down trees and broken limbs to make their property safe for their children and horses. They were in awe that we offer this service for free! They were overwhelmed when the team presented them with a signed slice of wood from their property and a quilt stitched with prayers. They gave each team member a tearful hug and thanks.

The LERT team members believe it is a blessing to serve in the name of Jesus Christ! LCC thanks our LERT volunteers for their talents and dedication in servant hearts.

Please keep all of the tornado and flood impacted communities throughout the Midwest in your prayers, including all LCC Disaster Response volunteers and staff as we serve those in need during our Kansas deployment.
 
Please consider a donation to the LCC Disaster Response Fund or LCC Equipment Maintenance and 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 - Disaster Response Equipment & Fuel Expense Fund