LCC’s Disaster Response LERT Teams Help Seventeen Families Still in Need in Panama City, Florida

During the week of March 2 - 10, eleven LERT Chainsaw team members from Illinois, Indiana, and Florida served in Panama City, Florida, and surrounding communities working out of Trinity Lutheran Church with Pastor Paul McComack and Pastor Ed Brashier, Southern District Disaster Coordinator. Using heavy equipment, seventeen work sites were completed. Below are just a few stories of how the teams helped those who are still recovering from Hurricane Michael. 

The lift crew went to a home to remove a tree from the roof and cut some fallen trees. The homeowner’s friend donned her chaps and safety gear, and assisted our crew in cutting and dragging. After the job was completed the team presented them with a slice of tree with the cross on it, a handmade quilt and a word of prayer. They felt the team was a blessing to them.

Safe Rigging Techniques Help Homeowner with Multiple Fallen Trees

Our LCC LERT lift team, along with Pastor Ed Brashier, Southern District Disaster Coordinator, tackled a difficult job of removing trees that had fallen and were each nestled into the other around the home. The homeowner had been told by many others that the work could not be done safely without causing further damage to their home. Our team was able to carefully drop and remove each tree slowly using safe rigging techniques and heavy equipment. The homeowner was pleased with our professionalism and that no further damage was done.

LERT Team and Western Michigan University Students Help Iraq War Veteran

LCC LERT team members worked with 10 students and the campus pastor from Western Michigan University to begin clearing an Iraq war veterans’ property. There are so many trees down that it will take many more days of work to fully clear, but he was so appreciative of the progress made in one day and all of the willing hands and hearts.

Working Together to Help a Friend in Need

The lift crew went to a home to remove a tree from the roof and cut some fallen trees. The homeowner’s friend donned her chaps and safety gear, and assisted our crew in cutting and dragging. After the job was completed the team presented them with a slice of tree with the cross on it, a handmade quilt and a word of prayer. They felt the team was a blessing to them.

Helping an LCMS Church Organist

The team worked at the home of the organist from one of the other Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS) churches in the area. They had many downed trees and were so happy to finally receive assistance. They watched the team work all day and enjoyed talking and praying with them. Ken Cupples carved a cross in a stump near their house which they really treasure.

Lift Team Tackles Big Tree on Homeowner Roof

This homeowner had several trees down on his property including a very large tree on his house. The lift team was tasked with removing it from the house. Pete Springmire (Immanuel – DeKalb, Illinois) worked the lift trimming branches and slowly dropping them down. Steve Chester (St. John – Wheaton, Illinois) also assisted from the lift and from the roof. Tom Prickette (St. John – Wheaton, Illinois) can be seen using the Ditch Witch to move and stack the logs. They literally worked from morning to sunset to accomplish as much as they could. The homeowner was very appreciative of all they were able to do.

The lift team worked together all week removing trees from homes, many times leaving the removed limbs and logs in the yard so that the next day the bobcat operator and chainsaw team could cut and move the trees to the curb. This was utilizing the teams’ skills and equipment wisely to complete as many sites as possible.

LCC thanks all of the LERT teams who have deployed to Panama City, Florida, for their dedication, tireless efforts, and compassionate hearts. Please keep the residents affected by Hurricane Michael in your prayers as they continue to face a long recovery.

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