LCC DISASTER RESPONSE CLEARS NEARLY 30 SITES IN NORTH CAROLINA AFFECTED BY HELENE

Led by Deaconess Kathy O’Day, LCC Director of Disaster Response, and Jamie Miller, LCC Disaster Response Equipment Manager, Lutheran Church Charities LERT volunteers are halfway through the second week of working around Asheville, N.C., and Hendersonville, N.C., areas that were devastated by hurricane winds and flooding nearly a month ago.

Working out of Mt. Pisgah Lutheran Church in Hendersonville with Pastor Jonathan Christensen, crews have assessed 86 sites with requests for assistance coming in daily. In the first week, 27 LERT volunteers joined together to cut damaged and leaning trees, remove safety hazards, and clear debris for residents in the region. As the second week began Monday, 21 volunteers were continuing to serve. Altogether, teams have completed work at 29 sites, several of them multi-day efforts.

LCC LERT teams will continue to serve in the area until at least November 9 and would value your prayers and support. 

Coming up on November 6, LCC President/CEO Rev. Chris Singer and Rev. Dr. Jeffrey Skopak of Emmanuel Lutheran Asheville will join with multiple LCMS congregations and residents in the region for an evening of community togetherness and spiritual support to help the recovery process.

“We’ll explore the importance of connection and healing, share awareness of post-disaster challenges, and introduce tools like psychological and Spiritual First Aid™ to identify next steps in the recovery journey,” Singer said. “Together, we can rebuild not just our homes but our spirits.”

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DONATE — LCC HURRICANE SUPPORT FUND

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GOD-MOMENTS FROM THE NORTH CAROLINA DEPLOYMENT

During the first 10 days of the deployment to North Carolina, Lutheran Church Charities LERT volunteers have used Spiritual First Aid™ to encourage residents who have been struggling emotionally in the weeks since the storm. Team members have supplied tangible goods to meet physical needs, such as quilts, space heaters, and gift cards, which have been provided by Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod congregations in the Northern Illinois District.

Some highlights:

In the first week, LCC LERT chainsaw crews worked at the home of a Miss P, a single woman who inherited the home her grandparents built and where her siblings were raised. It sits on a 4-acre wooded lot with several small outbuildings. Hurricane Helene uprooted about 25 trees, leaving her home with extensive roof damage and her property in ruins. “She couldn’t believe that we would send a team to clear all the fallen trees at no cost,” said Deaconess Kathy O’Day, LCC Director of Disaster Response. “She was moved to tears and expressed her thanks to the volunteers.”

That evening, Miss P sent a quick note: “Your team is AMAZING! What a blessing today was to me. Thank you so much for everything!” Two days later, she shared with the LCC team what she posted on Facebook, letting her friends know how God had blessed her:

“When 12 volunteers in neon shirts walk up your driveway, along with a Bobcat, an equipment trailer, a van, chainsaws, and smiles … it’s gonna be an emotional day. These folks have traveled from Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Missouri, and other states to help western North Carolina in the aftermath of Helene. They spent a full day clearing the property of the remaining fallen trees, and they did it with smiles on their faces and warmth in their hearts. They even made me this plaque from one of the trunks, adding their hearts. … The Lutheran Church Charities made a difference in my life yesterday. God is so good. Some days, His blessings are small; some days they are huge. And every day, I am grateful.”

"This is the reason LERT volunteers serve. We are more than ‘chainsaws;’ we provide spiritual and emotional care to those we serve," O’Day said.

LCC LERT team members worked on the property of a Mr. W. His family of eight could not live in their home because a large tree was leaning on it and threatening to fall through it. He also had a lot of downed and broken trees on his property. With multiple health issues, he could not afford to clear the debris.
As he told us, “I may not have much, but I do have a family — and we just want to be able to come back home and be together again safely.” He was very thankful for all the work that was done so he and his loved ones could return home.

Many LCC LERT volunteers served a family who had lived through the nightmarish hurricane winds and flash flooding. LERT teams did chainsaw work and rebuilt a water-compromised deck. The family lives in two homes along what is normally a beautiful river, but over dinner, they shared about how it became a raging torrent causing destruction, major flooding, and death.

The river rose 20 feet and swept away neighbors’ homes, businesses, vehicles, and people. The stories of life, loss, grief, and small joys were heartbreaking. Next week, the father of the family will have surgery.  As the team listened, they were able to tell of Christ’s love and hope with the family. “This family, as well as hundreds of others in many areas of western North Carolina, still have no water or electricity,” O’Day said.

The LCC team gave them kerosene space heaters for their home and several quilts and blankets to keep warm in the dropping temperatures. Many hugs were given and tears shed for the volunteers showing the mercy, compassion, presence, and proclamation of Jesus Christ.

READ MORE stories of homeowners who have been helped by LCC LERT teams on the LCC HURRICANE RESPONSE page.

DONATE — LCC HURRICANE SUPPORT FUND

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• The LCC LERT team was blessed by Fuel Relief Fund, who re-supplied the group with 500 gallons of diesel fuel for the team’s skid steers, lift, and vehicles. What a wonderful gift from a great organization that supports disaster responders.
  
  
• On Reformation Sunday, LCC LERT team members worshipped at Mt. Pisgah Lutheran in Hendersonville, followed by a luncheon. During the morning, an elderly couple that was served during the first week came to Mt. Pisgah for church. The couple is not Lutheran, and they don’t have a church home. But they wanted to thank each volunteer that helped them at their home and sit with them during worship. At the end of the service, Pastor Jonathan Christensen asked them to introduce themselves. Mr. H stood and talked about how God blessed them by sending the “crew in orange shirts” to help him and his wife. Not only did they clear his property, he said, but they listened to the family’s stories and shared smiles, laughs, and hugs. The family would never forget them and what they did. Then he thanked the church for hosting the LCC LERT team so the community could be served. “We all had tears in our eyes, and the congregation applauded and said, ‘Amen!’”