Lutheran Church Charities has been monitoring the most recent storm damage caused by Hurricane Gustav. We are waiting for word concerning what help is needed that is not already being provided. Though we have heard from several involved parties, the fact remains that until the National Guard allows access to the evacuated areas (originally access back to the area was possibly Friday; as of Wednesday morning the word is that they are beginning to allow people to come back to New Orleans), no one knows what kind of damage has been sustained, nor what kind of help will be needed. At the moment, most phone and electricity lines are down. We will be updating our web site as more information becomes available. For now, please keep everyone in your prayers.
Tuesday morning, I was able to talk with Pastor Rich Rudnick, the pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Houma (a former WAU student from Trinity Roselle his home congregation). He had been on vacation in Tennessee when he heard of the mandatory evacuation of Houma, affecting all of the members of his congregation. At the time of the evacuation he had spoken with his secretary who said that all of the members were leaving before the hurricane made land fall. When I talked with Pastor Rich, he was on his way back to Houma to assess what has happened. As a community leader, he will most likely be able to get past the National Guard line. Houma is where a lot of the first responders were staged to go back to New Orleans. So far they were reporting only wind damage.
Wednesday morning I received the most recent update from Pastor Rich. He arrived at Houma and was met by two LCMS Police Chaplains and some of the volunteers that they brought with
them. Pastor Rich's home had only minor wind damage and no power. When I talked to Rich they were going to get gas for the generators and start cleaning up the church. The stained glass window of Jesus the Good Shepherd behind the altar was blown out, as well as one of the other windows. The church building sustained mainly wind damage. So far they have not seen any water damage in the church. I asked if Houma had flooded. Neither the west side of town, where Pastor Rich's home and the church are, nor the downtown area 
were flooded. They are waiting to hear about the east side of town. Because of the power outage, he was told that it may be as long as two weeks before people will be allowed to return home. There is a lot of damage from downed trees and power lines that will need to be cleaned up. Pastor Rich anticipates that once people come back, the church will be receiving requests for help. As that happens, he will keep us informed. I spoke with Courtney Pellegrin Howell this morning and found that she, too, had been on vacation in Canada visiting her husband Terry's family when they got word of the mandatory evacuation. She heard from her staff that all of the families with which they have been working at Bayou Grace Base Camp in Chauvin, LA have evacuated. Unfortunately, word is that it does not look good for Terrebonne Parish, near Chauvin, as this is the location where the Hurricane came inland. Flooding and wind damage are facing residents in the Bayous. Again, they wait for word from the National Guard as to when they can return home. Courtney will keep LCC updated, as she and her staff will need our help once they return to Bayou Grace.
Tuesday, September 2nd the Southern District officials, the staff of the Southern District's Recovery Assistance Inc. Ministries, and Rev. Glenn Merritt of LCMS Lutheran World Relief and Human Care Services all met at Camp Biloxi to assess the needs of LCMS churches, members, camps, and people of the surrounding communities. Over the next few days, LCC expects to hear this assessment of needs, and how we might be able to help.
One of the blessings with the storms is that many people had a chance to evacuate their homes and stay in a safe place while the storm hit. Another blessing in the midst of the storms is the pulling together of the people of God to assist those in need with the Compassion and Presence of Christ. It is during times like this that the Body of Christ is strengthened in being the Presence of Christ to those in need. LCC works together with LCMS World Relief and Human Care as well as the Southern District of the LCMS. Both have a strong network of people who are in place to assist in the care of the people in need!
Also note that the Returning Hearts Celebration at Angola has been postponed. A new date will soon be announced.
No comments:
Post a Comment