LCC Disaster Response Helping Homeowners this Week in Kentucky Following Devastating Tornadoes

LCC NEEDS YOUR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO HELP FAMILIES

DONATE — LCC DISASTER RESPONSE FUND

DONATE — LCC MAINTENANCE & FUEL EXPENSE FUND

The afternoon of Sunday, December 19, Kathy O’Day, LCC Director of Disaster Response, Jamie Miller, LCC Staff, and LCC Disaster Response teams arrived at St. Paul Lutheran Church to begin work in surrounding tornado-affected towns. LCC Lutheran Early Response Teams (L.E.R.T.) volunteers immediately began working in Gilbertsville, Kentucky.

God Leads Us To Those In Need
 
As Kathy and Jamie were driving through neighborhoods to do assessments, Mr. M’s eyes connected with Jamie’s as they began to pass by his home. Mr. M started waving his arms and asked if they could help him, and of course, they immediately stopped to meet with him. Jamie and Kathy felt God led them to his home. Mr. M was in tears as soon as he heard they were willing to help him this week.
 
Mr. M and his wife told their story of how they waited out the devastating storm huddled in their bathroom with their two dogs, praying that God would take them quickly without pain. Their ears were popping, the house was shaking as they heard trees snapping and the roof being lifted off the house. They feared they would not survive. They described it as “20 seconds of hell!” Then there was dead silence. When they walked out of their home, they couldn’t believe the damage surrounding them and all of their neighbors’ homes that were gone. Mr. M and his wife praised God that they survived. Their faith sustained them and is now stronger than ever. Mr. M. said 'they are true believers that God listens to their prayers!”

78 Confirmed Dead in Kentucky

Entire Cities Flattened, Widespread Devastation, 1,000 Homes Demolished
 
LCC DR L.E.R.T. Teams Will Be Returning to Kentucky after Christmas to Continue to Serve Those in Need

On Friday, December 10 – Saturday, December 11, at least fifty-two massive tornadoes paved an unimaginable destructive path across seven states with 270 mph wind and 20 hail reports. Kentucky was considered the hardest state hit; eighteen counties were impacted by tornadic activity, with some areas completely devastated. Buildings, homes, and complete neighborhoods leveled, power lines down, large trees uprooted, and dangerous debris scattered.
 
LCC Disaster Response received an invite from Rev. Ross Johnson, Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS) Disaster Response Director, and Mid-South District President Rev. Dr. Roger Paavola to go to Kentucky and are now serving out of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Paducah, Kentucky, with Pastor David Appold.

The Gilbertsville community was in the direct path of the EF-3 & EF-4, 270-mile long tornado, which at times was 1-1/2 miles wide. The damage is devastating, with many homes completely leveled or severely damaged. There are many uprooted trees everywhere, landing on property, homes, and cars. The tornado was so fierce that some trees literally pierced through homes.
 
The LCC L.E.R.T. team has already completed chainsaw work at five homes on the same street. Each of the homeowners are so thankful that LCC Disaster Response teams have come from so far to help them in their time of need. LCC Disaster Response will continue working in this area all week.

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Bringing Comfort to Employees at Amazon Edwardsville, Illinois
 
LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Esther (Holy Cross – Collinsville, Illinois) and her handlers were invited to be present with those impacted by the tornado that hit the Amazon warehouse in Edwardsville, Illinois.
 
On Wednesday, December 15, they visited the fire station of the first responders who were on-site that night. They also attended a memorial service on Friday, December 17, to share love and compassion to the victims and first responders who are grieving the lives lost.

The LCC Disaster Response Lutheran Early Response Teams (L.E.R.T.) will be returning to Kentucky after Christmas and early January to continue to serve those in need.
 
The LCC Disaster Response Ministry never charges those we serve. Please donate to the LCC Disaster Response General 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 keep the church and the families affected by the tornadoes in your prayers, including all of the LCC Disaster Response volunteers and staff as we deploy to the hardest-hit areas of Kentucky to help during the long recovery process.

DONATE — LCC DISASTER RESPONSE FUND

DONATE — LCC MAINTENANCE & FUEL EXPENSE FUND

DONATE — LCC K-9 TRAVEL FUND