Lutheran Early Response Teams (LERT), in Partnership with LCMS Disaster Response & the LCMS Southern District, Serve with Compassion to BE THERE for Residents of Selma, Alabama, After Multiple Catastrophic Tornadoes

“It was our blessing that they came to offer their service. It's a blessing that you will find people to take the time to leave their homes, to come and help someone in need.” Thelma Diane Harris

On January 12, 2023, massive tornadoes struck historic Selma, Alabama, and the surrounding area, causing widespread damage to homes and property. One EF-3 tornado was on the ground for 23 miles through Selma. It affected one-third of the town; the tornado damaged or destroyed 3,300 homes, businesses, schools, and churches.
 
Within days, Lutheran Church Charities (LCC) and The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) Lutheran Early Response Teams (LERT) arrived in Selma to BE THERE for the community in their time of need. 

Twenty-seven LCC LERT chainsaw volunteers completed work at sixty-two sites during two weeks of serving in Selma. They were able to provide debris removal and utilize chainsaws, lifts, and bobcats to remove many downed and damaged trees from tornado-devastated properties.
 
"All I Could Do Was Cry Out to God to Protect Me" 
Selma resident Thelma Diane Harris walked with Martin Luther King, Jr. across the Edmund Pettus Bridge during the Civil Rights March in 1965 and now gives tours and shares stories of her beloved Selma.
 
She has seen many changes during the last several decades, but the destruction she saw everywhere after the tornadoes brought her to tears and caused her heart to ache for her community. She was grateful that her home was not damaged by the three large pine trees that fell in her yard and next to her house.

She shared how scared she was to hear the sounds of trees falling and glass breaking as the tornado passed through her neighborhood. She stated, "All I could do was cry out to God to protect me." 

After the tornado passed, she went outside to see many of her neighbors' homes destroyed. She could hear some crying out for help from under debris. Thankfully, no one perished, but many of her friends had lost everything.

She was grateful for all of the help that had arrived to help her community. She was incredibly thankful for the LCC LERT volunteers who worked at her home all day to make it safe again.

"It was our blessing that they came to offer their service. God manages to have angels all around us. I say that they are our guardian angels," Thelma shares. 
 
Other homeowners affected by the tornadoes shared that many groups had stopped to assess their property damage, but no one returned to help. When LCC showed up with a boom lift and other heavy equipment, the homeowners couldn't believe the teams would bring all this equipment from so far away to help make their properties safe again, at no cost because of generous donors who support LCC’s Disaster Response.  

LCC LERT volunteer teams walk alongside the people they serve to share the love of Christ and BE THERE for them as they rebuild their lives after a disaster.

Thank you for BEING THERE with LCC to make a difference
in the lives of Thelma and other families affected by the tornadoes.

GIVE YOUR GIFT TO BE THERE WITH LCC TO HELP OTHERS

---

This video shows how LCC Disaster Response volunteers were able to BE THERE and make a difference in the lives of residents of Selma, Alabama.