STORM CLEANUP CONTINUES ACROSS NORTHERN ILLINOIS DISTRICT WITH HELP FROM LCC DISASTER RESPONSE VOLUNTEERS

Lutheran Church Charities Disaster Response ministry continues to assist in cleanup efforts across the Northern Illinois District (NID), which was affected by a derecho that produced 70 to 110 mph winds on July 14. The severe storm also spun up 39 tornadoes, according to the National Weather Service Chicago.

Kathy O’Day, LCC Director of Disaster Response; Jamie Miller, LCC DR Equipment Manager; Lutheran Early Response Team (LERT) leaders, and volunteers have been assessing damage and providing assistance to homeowners the last two weeks with chainsaws, boom lifts, and heavy equipment. They have worked through multiple church communities within the district, completing 34 sites, including several homes that were multi-day jobs due to the extent of the damage and at Walcamp Outdoor Ministries in Kingston, Illinois. The LERT teams will continue to serve next week until the requests for assistance are completed.

The derecho traveled 394 miles across four states, according to NWS Chicago. At times, the storm was 60 miles wide across northeast Missouri, eastern Iowa, northern Illinois, and northwest Indiana, which caused widespread power outages that lasted nearly a week, plus a swath of damaged homes and businesses and scores of uprooted trees. 

"Extensive damage and dangerous limbs" — 
stories of care, professionalism, and sharing faith

• In Elburn, Illinois, extensive damage from downed oak trees required LERT volunteers to perform careful lift and rigging work over three days to remove large limbs without causing further damage.
  
  A young couple and recent homeowners, had extensive damage from downed trees on their large wooded property. Two very large oak trees split and landed on their garage. Because of the way the trees were split and intertwined, it took three days of careful lift and rigging work to safely remove without causing further harm. The team also removed many other damaged trees and limbs along their wooded property line. In all, LERT volunteers served at this site for five days.
  
  With tears in their eyes, the couple thanked the team for showing them the love of Christ and making their property safe. They told the team that they couldn’t believe the team would return each day to work hard with smiles and offer them encouragement.
  
  The team also had the opportunity to talk to the couple about the local LCMS church and how the team is there to share the love of Christ with others in tangible ways.

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• In Geneva, Illinois, LERT lift volunteers (pictured below) worked to fell and remove a large split maple tree in the front lawn of Faith Lutheran Church. The team was helped by a couple congregation members, and then were treated to fellowship time with members of the staff and congregation and a delicious lunch. Pastor Dennis Aubey prayed for the team’s continued service and thanked each volunteer for their assistance in making their grounds safe.

• In Manhattan, Illinois, which was struck by an EF-2 tornado and derecho, lift and ground chainsaw volunteers cleaned up a neighborhood that had extensive damage to homes, trees, and power lines. The LERT crew helped homeowner Mr. C, who recently had suffered a stroke and was overwhelmed by the damage and his inability to care for his property. A tree had fallen on his home.
  
  "He appreciated that we included him in discussing what we would be doing," the LERT crew said.
  
  Over two days, using the lift and rigging, the team removed many dangerous hanging limbs from eight trees surrounding their home. The township also worked at their property removing a large split tree in their parkway.
  
  "Mr. and Mrs. C. were very pleased with the professionalism and care shown to them, their neighbors, and property," the crew reported.
  
  While working at Mr. and Mrs. C’s home, the LERT volunteers were approached by three neighbors who asked for assistance. The crew cut and removed a large fallen trunk from between two homes, felled the trunk of a 25-foot oak tree, and removed numerous broken and hanging limbs from a homeowner’s tree. 
  
  In another neighbor's yard where young children like to play, LERT volunteers removed several limbs hanging precariously over the family tree swing.
  
  "They were very thankful that we helped make their play area safe," the crew said. "We heard from several homeowners how scared they and their children were as this tornado tore through their neighborhood. But we also see the faith and resiliency as they deal with their recovery process."

• In all, LERT volunteers and teams from 20 congregations in Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin were a part of the effort to serve others and offer mercy, compassion, and assistance to those scared, hurting, and in need.
  
  Lutheran Church Charities Disaster Response extends our sincere thanks to the following LERT volunteers and teams for their willingness to serve those in need after this derecho, storms, and multiple tornadoes throughout our Northern Illinois District. 

 
Northern Illinois
 Good Shepherd Lutheran, Elgin – David Vollrath
Immanuel Lutheran, Batavia – Bill Pietsch
Immanuel Lutheran, Belvidere – Karyn Salgado
Immanuel Lutheran, DeKalb – Pete and Christel Springmire
Immanuel Lutheran, Dundee – Jon Bartel, Bill Conforti, Carl Fischer, Terry Fuelling, Matt Flynn, Doug and Kelley Hoyt
Lord of Life Lutheran, Elburn – Ken Johnston, Kevin Krage, Max Metz, Jeff Straughn, Larry Zagorski
Peace Lutheran, Beecher – Jan Schultz
Prince of Peace Lutheran, Palatine – Jim Beckley
St. John Lutheran, Wheaton – Byron Heidorn, Marty Johnson, Jeff Johnston, Jim Long, Dave Mummah Lutheran, Anna Piro, Sherri Sanders, Jonathan Schaefer
St. John Lutheran, Elgin – Bernie Zimdahl
St. John Lutheran, Sycamore – Steve Brown
St. John Lutheran, Union – Rick Miller
St. John’s Lutheran, Wilmette – Tom Morrison
St. Paul Lutheran, Rockford – Dean and Carol Ulrich
St. Peter Lutheran, Arlington Heights – Lois Lehman
St. Peter Lutheran, Schaumburg – Missy Dieckman, Sean Freres, Ken and Vicki Kiviranta, Bob Royce
Trinity Lutheran, Lisle – Tim Blake, Ed and Jan Boerman, Adam Collinson, Ken Scott, Kent Worrell
Trinity Lutheran, Roselle – Kristin Bilar
 
Indiana
 Christ Lutheran, Valparaiso – Milan Coburn
 
South Wisconsin
Brookfield Lutheran – Laura Ciletti, Roger Kautz
St. Paul Lutheran, Grafton – Mark and Beverly Brueggemann, Stu Natale
St. Paul Lutheran, Janesville – Lark and Terry Sanders