LCC Disaster Response LERT Teams Help Those Affected by Devastating Storms in Missouri and Kansas

Last week, after the devastating storms tore through much of the Midwest, Lutheran Church Charities Disaster Response received several invitations to help assess the damaged areas and bring LERT teams to assist those who were severely impacted.

Jefferson City, Missouri
LCC Disaster Response received an invite from Kent Kunkel, one of the Missouri District Disaster Response Coordinators into the Missouri capital of Jefferson City. The Missouri tornado tore a 32-mile path through that area causing devastating damage, especially in one of the poorest sections of Jefferson City.

On Friday, May 31, Kathy O’Day, LCC Director of Disaster Response, deployed to Trinity Lutheran Church in Jefferson City. She met with Pastor Sam Powell and worked with Kent Kunkel who welcomed assistance from LCC. Kathy was asked to provide assessment training to a few LERT team members so they could canvas the area and write-up effective work orders for the teams coming in.

Lord of Life – LaFox, Illinois, LERT team members Larry Zagorski, Kevin Krage, and Vince Miller also deployed to Jefferson City providing advanced chainsaw assistance and were able to move large downed trees with their bobcat.

One of the homeowners was a woman who lost her roof, had much debris to be picked up, as well as chainsaw work on damaged trees. On her block, most of her neighbors had lost their homes entirely. She was glad that her home will eventually be repaired. She was glad to have teams clearing debris and trees all around her, but felt very bad for her neighbor friends. As she said, “It is bittersweet to be thankful that my home is still standing when there is still so much loss and destruction. I see the hope and blessings that our community is being shown.”

The Lord of Life LERT team also worked all day with another homeowner to clear his property of multiple large trees that were down all over. He so appreciated the help, especially the ability to cut the large trees with a 36” chainsaw and to move all the cut wood. He was especially touched when presented with a slice of his tree with signatures on it and a natural wood grain cross in it.

Linwood, Kansas
LCC Disaster Response received an invite from Rev. Ross Johnson, Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS) Disaster Response Director, and Donna Williams, Northeast Kansas District Disaster Response Coordinator to go into Linwood, Kansas. It was hit with an EF4 tornado with winds of 170mph that was on the ground for 32 miles. At times, it was a mile wide which devastated both Lawrence and Linwood. Linwood is a small rural town of approximately 400 people, located 30 miles west of Kansas City, Missouri.

On Monday, June 3, Kathy O’Day assessed damage in the town of Linwood with Donna Williams to determine the assistance Lutheran Church Charities and its LERT chainsaw teams could provide to the Missouri District LERT teams. We could see the path the tornado took through several neighborhoods and rural areas, leaving hundreds of downed or damaged trees, homes destroyed, roofs gone, and debris scattered for many miles.

We met with a couple living in an obscure and rural area of town that took a hard hit from the tornado. They had lots of trees surrounding their home and a small cottage a friend was living in. A good majority of their trees are now down or broken. They sustained roof damage to their home, their one room cottage was destroyed, and their truck was totaled by a fallen tree. They were in the house when the tornado went though and are very grateful to be alive and still have a home even if it is damaged.

KC was so shocked to see us offering to help them. She gave Donna and Kathy hugs and was teary as she welcomed us and our LERT teams to come assist them. They are overwhelmed and do not have the means to do all that needs to be done to their property.

We also met a WWII veteran and his wife who had many trees fall on their property, initially blocking them from even getting out of their home until neighbors cut a path up the drive and to their door. They welcomed any assistance LERT teams could provide.

On Tuesday, June 4, Kathy O’Day and Donna Williams met with Pastor Jason Boetcher from Trinity Family in Faith in Basehor, Kansas. LCC LERT chainsaw teams with their heavy equipment will work out of Trinity to help those affected in Linwood and the surrounding community to assist in their recovery from the recent tornadoes and flooding.

LCC is working in Kansas by invitation and support of Kansas District Disaster Response leaders. Watch the LCC website and your email for updates on our upcoming Kansas deployments.

Please keep the impacted communities in Missouri and Kansas in your prayers, including all the LCC Disaster Response volunteers and staff as we deploy out to various locations.
 
Please consider a donation 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.

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