Second LCC Disaster Response Deployment Team Helping Homeowners in Kentucky Following Devastating Tornadoes

ON-GOING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE NEEDED TO HELP FAMILIES

The week before Christmas, Kathy O’Day, LCC Director of Disaster Response, Jamie Miller, LCC Staff, and LCC Disaster Response teams arrived at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Paducah, Kentucky to begin work in surrounding tornado affected towns. They have returned with a second deployment team this week to continue to assess damages and serve in hard hit communities. A third LCC Disaster Response team will deploy the first week of January to continue helping homeowners with their recovery.

Last week, the LCC Lutheran Early Response Teams (L.E.R.T.) volunteers worked in Gilbertsville, Kentucky. This 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 of the 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.

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Helping Eight Neighbors on Decimated Street

The first LCC L.E.R.T. team completed chainsaw work at eight homes on the same street. All of these homeowners had accepted help from someone who offered to clear trees for a fee, but this person cut and took only the sections of trees he could sell to make money and left a huge mess for those homeowners to deal with on top of the tornado damage. Several of these property sites were large two-day projects.
 
LCC Disaster Response teams were able to show the mercy and presence of Jesus Christ and that we could be trusted to do what we said we would at no cost to the homeowner.

Serving Elderly Couple with Extensive Property Damage

Mr. and Mrs. Harold are an elderly couple that had many downed and damaged trees on their large property. As the tornado came through their neighborhood, they took shelter in their bathroom and held each other. They could hear trees falling on the ground, hitting their roof, and feel the house shake.
 
When it was all over, they went outside to see all of the damage. Their long driveway was totally impassable and the destruction was overwhelming. We spent two days clearing their property, but more importantly listening to their stories and sharing the love of Christ with them.

Each of the homeowners were so thankful that the following LCC Disaster Response team volunteers had come from so far to help them in their time of need:
 
Illinois
Immanuel, Belvidere – Karyn Salgado
Lord of Life, LaFox – Larry Zagorski
Prince of Peace, Palatine – Jim Beckley
St. John, Wheaton – Marty Johnson, Dave Mummah, Roy and Pat Rose, Rich Wren
St. Peter, Arlington Heights – Lois Lehman
St. Peter, Schaumburg – Ken Kiviranta
Trinity, Bloomington - Keith Marshall
Trinity, Lisle – Mike Kostecki
Zion, Ottawa – Dave and Cindy Reif
 
Indiana
St. John, Dillsboro – Steve Black, Ruth Weisbrod

The LCC Disaster Response Lutheran Early Response Teams (L.E.R.T.) will be returning to Kentucky the first week of 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