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Lutherans Continue Clean Up After Hurricane Isabel

ELCA NEWS SERVICE
October 17th, 2003

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Lutheran congregations across the eastern United States continue to distribute emergency supplies, prepare food and offer shelter to survivors of Hurricane Isabel, which struck the eastern coast last month.

"Relief efforts in response to the widespread damage caused by Hurricane Isabel continue full force," said the Rev. Gilbert B. Furst, director of Lutheran Disaster Response, a ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.

Lutheran churches are working with the ELCA synods, LCMS districts, Lutheran social ministry organizations and interfaith partners to provide disaster response in Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington, D.C., and West Virginia, Furst said.

Hurricane Isabel caused 17 deaths in six states, produced extensive flooding and left hundreds of thousands of people without power. Federal disaster declarations were issued for seven states.

Furst said disaster response is now in the "relief" stage, which is "about securing infrastructure." Long-term recovery, such as case management and reconstruction, is still being projected. "Clean up crews are needed. There remains a lot of cleaning and mucking out to be done," he said.

"To help people affected by Hurricane Isabel, go to your bank account not your closet or food pantry," said Rick Augsburger, director of emergency response, Church World Service.

"Cash is always preferred over material donations. With cash donations, organizations responding to disasters can quickly acquire exactly what is needed based on damage assessments," he said. "Cash also can purchase goods and services in the disaster- stricken community and thus boost its economy at a critical time," Augsburger said.

The ELCA, including Lutheran Disaster Response, participates in the work of Church World Service, said Furst. "Faith groups typically help disaster survivors develop their own recovery plans and work with them to get assistance they need to fully recover. They also send volunteers to disaster sites to repair and rebuild homes," Furst said, adding that money is allocated "to support long-term recovery and rehabilitation."