Special Appeal - LCC Disaster Response Deploys Early Friday to Wisconsin

LCC Disaster Response Staff and Volunteers Deploying to Wisconsin Early Friday Working in Two Separate Areas
Storm Recovery to EF1 Tornado in Cascade Severe Flooding in Coon Valley
 
"For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand 
and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you."  Isaiah 41:13

On Thursday, August 30, Lutheran Church Charities Disaster Response was invited by Pastor Richard Bidinger of St. Paul's in Cascade, Wisconsin and Pastor Jonah Burakowski, Executive Assistant to the President for Missions and Human Care - South Wisconsin District - LCMS, to assist with tree removal resulting from an EF1 tornado that hit the area on Tuesday, August 28. LCC Chainsaw Team Leader, Derek Kowalczyk, was on site the same day to assess damage with Pastor Bidinger to determine where the LCC LERT Chainsaw teams could be of assistance.

Kathy O'Day, LCC Director of Disaster Response, will arrive in Cascade early Friday morning, August 31, to continue damage assessment and begin scheduling the disaster relief efforts. LCC LERT Chainsaw teams will also deploy early Friday and will begin clean-up efforts early afternoon, including tree removal damage from St. Paul's property, including the church cemetery where trees fell on a veteran's tombstone. The impacts are so great that many trees were either split in half or completely uprooted. Additional storms are predicted throughout the weekend so urgent clean-up efforts are needed. Flooding continues from the storms. Pump outs and muck and gut relief efforts will begin in this area once storms have stopped and additional damage assessments made.
 
Pastor Jonah Burakowski will be coordinating LERT teams this Saturday through Monday to do muck outs in the hard hit area of Coon Valley, Wisconsin. Some homes here have been swept off their foundations and others have had several feet of water in them. These teams will be working out of Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in Onalaska, Wisconsin. Pastor also reported that many towns along the rivers are completely underwater and inaccessible with river levels still rising and more rain predicted this weekend. 
 
Please help LCC share the mercy, compassion, presence, and proclamation of Jesus Christ to those suffering and in need. Your donations will directly assist churches, individuals and families affected by the recent storms.
 
Thank you for all of your support in touching lives with the Presence of Jesus Christ - our only hope! 
 
Peace in Jesus Christ,

Donate - Disaster Relief Wisconsin