LCC Disaster Response Continues Serving in Selma, Alabama, for a Second Week to Help Families in Tornado Recovery Efforts

Helping Impacted Individuals and Families in Hardest-Hit Areas

DONATE — LCC DISASTER RESPONSE FUND

DONATE — LCC MAINTENANCE & FUEL EXPENSE FUND

On Thursday, January 12, a strong storm system moved through four states with high winds, large hail, and a tornado outbreak, including thirty-eight powerful tornadoes, of which three were long-track EF-3 tornadoes with 110+ mph winds that caused major damage to homes, businesses, and schools.

There was a loss of nine lives in Alabama and Georgia from this storm. One EF-3 tornado was on the ground for 23 miles through Selma, Alabama. It affected one-third of the town. In Selma alone, 3,300 homes, businesses, schools, and churches were damaged or destroyed by the tornado.

Kathy O’Day, Director of Disaster Response and twenty-four LCC Lutheran Early Response Team (L.E.R.T.) staff and volunteer teams have been serving homeowners through Pastor Steve Washington at Trinity Lutheran Church in Selma, Alabama. In their first week, chainsaw volunteers have completed work at twenty-six sites. They will continue to serve in this hard-hit community until February 4 with the LCMS Southern District.

Rev. Chris Singer, LCC President & CEO, joined Rev. Ross Johnson, The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS) Director of Disaster Response, and Rev. Ed Brashier, LCMS Southern District Disaster Response Coordinator, to visit affected homeowners and see the L.E.R.T. volunteers in action.

While Chris was visiting with the homeowner, Tina shared that many groups have stopped by to assess her property damage, but no one has returned to help. When LCC showed up with a boom lift and other heavy equipment, Tina said, “I can’t believe it – you came back to help!” She was so grateful that LCC L.E.R.T. kept their promise to remove the large tree that had fallen on her house.

Sheltered in Their Hallway, 95-Year-Old Couple Shares “We Never Want to Go through this Again!”

Larry and Polly are both 95 years old and live in a more rural area of Selma. They have a very large garden that Larry cares for. They had to shelter in their hallway as the tornado passed over them. They told us they could hear part of their metal roof being peeled back, glass breaking and trees cracking.
 
Larry said he watched a neighbor’s roof fly through the air. They were very scared they would not survive but compared to the destroyed homes just a block over from them, they know God was good and spared them. They both stated, “I never want to go through this again!”
 
We were able to clear the fallen trees and debris that fell on and around Larry's garden and around his shed. They loved the quilt presented to them by a L.E.R.T. member.

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Homeowner Helps L.E.R.T. Team Clear His Property

LCC L.E.R.T. volunteers also helped Mr. M., who lived next door, remove a lot of fallen and damaged trees, limbs, and debris from his one-acre property. It took three skid steers, a 50’ boom lift, and twelve volunteers all day to complete the work at his and Larry’s homes.
 
Mr. M. also worked all day with the L.E.R.T. volunteers. He was very appreciative of all of the willing hands to make his property safe again. He could not believe we would bring all this equipment from so far away to help him at no cost. He thanked and hugged each of us several times before we left.

Couple with Historic Home Blessed by L.E.R.T. Volunteers

Mr. and Mrs. M. have an old historic home that has been in their family for five generations. Mr. M. is recovering from a recent heart transplant and cannot do any work on his own yet. The tornado caused major damage and destruction in their neighborhood.
 
Their home had some roof damage, but they had three badly damaged pecan trees left standing; one tree leaning on their shed and other trees with large widow makers hanging in their front and backyards.
 
The LCC L.E.R.T. team worked two days with the boom lift and careful rigging at their home in order to remove these dangerous trees and make their property safe again to enjoy. They were so grateful for the help and pleased to get to know each “brother and sister in Christ that was sent by God to bless them.”

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.

Please pray for all of the communities affected by these devastating tornadoes, including the LCC Disaster Response volunteers and staff, as we serve in the hardest-hit area of Selma, Alabama, to help during the long recovery process.
 
LCC works in coordination with LCMS Disaster Response national and local districts of the LCMS.

DONATE — LCC DISASTER RESPONSE FUND

DONATE — LCC MAINTENANCE & FUEL EXPENSE FUND