Update on Hurricane Isabel #3

Dear friends in Christ,

Disaster work is known by stages. As the incident or event takes place, the emergency phase ensues. This phase is about rescuing life; generally it is the shortest - minutes to hours (though the bigger the disaster, the longer this stage). Then we come to relief, about securing infrastructure, and it is here where our response to Isabel still dwells. It is only now, almost a month since Hurricane Isabel made landfall, that we coming out of the relief stage.

Lutheran Disaster Response (the cooperative ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod for domestic disasters) is working hand in hand with our Lutheran judicatories and social ministry organizations throughout the impacted area along with fellow voluntary agencies to receive needs and coordinate resources.

Federal disaster declarations have been issued for North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and the District of Columbia. Presently the focus is taking shape for the Lutheran responses in North Carolina (Lutheran Family Services of the Carolinas, NC Synod - ELCA, and SE District - LCMS), Virginia (Lutheran Family Services of VA, VA Synod - ELCA and SE District - LCMS) and Maryland (Diakon Lutheran Social Ministries, Delaware - Maryland Synod and SE District - LCMS). Thrivent Financial for Lutherans has also been a significant partner in this relief stage, funding over tens of thousands of meals for three food banks in Virginia alone.

The extent of the damage is still being documented. Survivors, by the thousands, have submitted their applications to FEMA. But again, we're still emerging from the relief stage and we're projecting long term recovery roles like case management and construction - though these will be likely outcomes. Clean up crews are needed now. There remains a lot of cleaning and mucking out to be done. We're partnering with fellow voluntary and faith based organizations to meet this need. If you can pull together a team or just want to head out yourself - call and schedule your services with the following (and note, as long term recovery organizations emerge, these numbers may change):

North Carolina: Lutheran Family Services of the Carolinas; Ron Rau - 919-861-2833; ronrau@lfscarolinas.org; George Strunk - ldrenc@aol.com

Virginia: Disaster Recover Center - 757-868-7065
Maryland: Delaware-Maryland Synod; 410-230-2860

Your continued prayers are greatly needed as people begin to sort through their homes and begin to recover their lives.

And your cash donations will sustain this response throughout the long-term recovery. Designate your gifts for "Hurricane Isabel."

ELCA DOMESTIC Disaster Response
PO Box 71764
Chicago, IL 60694-1794

Credit card line: 1800-638-3522
Or over the web - www.elca.org/disasters

LCMS World Relief
PO Box 66861
St. Louis, MO 63166-9810

Credit card line: 1888-930-4438

God be with you all

Johanna Olson
For Lutheran Disaster Response