Lutheran Church Charities Disaster Response Volunteers Continue to Serve Homeowners in Michigan with Property Clean-Up Following Devastating Tornadoes

Lutheran Church Charities Disaster Response (DR) was invited by Rev. Dr. Paul Naumann at St. Michael Lutheran Church in Portage, Michigan, to provide chainsaw assistance and debris removal with heavy equipment following devastating tornadoes that swept through. Portage and Kalamazoo on May 7 causing widespread destruction.
 
On Sunday, May 19, LCC Director of Disaster Response Kathy O’Day and DR Equipment Manager Jamie Miller, along with 18 LCC Lutheran Early Response Team (LERT) chainsaw volunteers, began a two-week deployment to assist residents affected by this tornado.
 
Town officials from Portage and Kalamazoo expressed their appreciation to the LCC Lutheran Early Response Team (LERT) volunteers for serving in their communities and continue to refer homeowners to the LERT team for assistance daily.

---

Mr. and Mrs. C., along with their parents, lost part of their home and at least 50 trees on their several-acre property. They were referred to the LCC LERT team by a co-worker who attends St. Michael Lutheran Church. They couldn’t believe that we would offer to remove their downed trees at no cost to them.
 
After it was explained to Mr. C. that this was our ministry, he broke down and sobbed in the arms of Kathy O’Day, LCC Director of Disaster Response. The volunteers spent the first day clearing many downed, leaning, and damaged trees.

Another group of LERT volunteers finished this site in addition to their neighbor’s property on Memorial Day. Mr. C. and his father-in-law shook each volunteer’s hand and offered their sincere thanks.
 
Both families are very pleased and amazed at the work that was done to help them.

During the first week of deployment, LCC LERT volunteers completed 14 work sites, with three of these being two- and three-day jobs, due to the extent of the tree damage on their property.
 
One of these homeowners with so much damage was a widow, Mrs. R., who had multiple trees down around her home, with several leaning on her roof. When we met her, she was distraught, in tears, and frustrated with her insurance company who was not returning her calls after assessing the damage.
 
After the team arrived and began clearing her many trees, she had tears of joy and sincere gratitude for the hard work and Christ-like care shown to her. She told us she felt it was the “first time she could truly smile and have hope for recovery since the tornado.” She was also very touched by the cross and homemade quilt given to her and told us she would treasure them.

---

The lift team helped a family with young children remove a very dangerous dangling wood splinter from a tree in their backyard and two trees hanging over their home. This required the use of the lift, rigging, and technical skills.
 
Their 5-year-old daughter gave the team a card she made thanking them for making her yard safe. Mr. and Mrs. O. appreciate everything the LERT team did to make their home and yard safe again for their family.

The destruction and trauma experienced by many residents is widespread, but the spirit of community and faith has provided much-needed hope, encouragement, and help in beginning the long recovery process. It has been a blessing to listen to the survivors' stories and offer a word of encouragement and prayer as we served those in need.
 
Lutheran Church Charities thanks our generous donors and volunteers for their willingness to serve. We appreciate your faithful prayers and support for all of the communities affected by the catastrophic tornadoes and those responding to assist.

Thanks to You, We Are Able to BE THERE!

DONATE - LCC DISASTER RESPONSE

DONATE - EQUIPMENT & FUEL EXPENSE FUND DISASTER RESPONSE