06/09/2011

Assistance and Prayers Needed for Victims of Natural Disasters in Ohio, Alabama and Missouri

The following update is from Mary Woodward, Coordinator for Ohio Lutheran Disaster Response. There is great need for assistance locally and in other states.

Ohio

• 1255 families impacted by flooding
• Logan County/Bellefontaine - 7 homes need repair, 3 mobile homes need insulation removed from under it and replaced.
• Richland County/Shelby - approx. 4 homes need repairs, in-kind donations of furniture needed
• Hocking County - 3 families need driveway repair/bridges in their driveways replaced, 1 family had water in home and needs all flooring replaced etc.
• Vinton County - 14 families need home repairs, driveway repair, 1 bridge replaced
• Athens County - 1 new home in Nelsonville needs the siding put on it and electrical and plumbing work, all materials there. One team of volunteers can easily do the siding only.
• Lawrence County - County EMA director is requesting volunteer case managers to visit approx. 40 families under the guidance of Mike Corn from St. Paul Lutheran Church. If you have not been trained in case management, then Mike will give you a "crash course".

We are happy to accept individuals or teams, one day of volunteerism or several days, whatever accomodates your schedule. Needs: flood buckets/cleaning supplies, furniture/appliances/household items, building supplies, volunteers/teams/case managers

Alabama

• 345 people died in the April 27 tornadoes
• One Red Cross shelter remains open in Tuscaloosa with 54 families there.

Lutheran volunteers are working in Tuscaloosa and Cullman with Christ (ELCA) that was destroyed and St. Paul (LCMS) with major damage. Debris removal and construction volunteers are needed. Beginning late June: collection of furniture/appliances/household items for delivery in late July.

Missouri: Joplin tornado

• One Red Cross shelter remains open with 74 families there.
• Peace Lutheran Church (ELCA) was destroyed.
• Ohio LDR is sending cleaning supplies, health kits, bottled water, and first aid kits there the last week of June (June 24/25).
• Debris removal volunteers are needed.

If any of our Ohio congregations are called to reach out to any of these families, they may contact me at 740-509-1132 for more information, host an in-gathering of any of the material goods by filling the Ohio LDR trailers, send a volunteer team, and/or make a monetary donation to Ohio LDR, 810 Main St., Caldwell, Ohio 43724, note disaster on memo line.

Most importantly, pray for those impacted and our volunteers in their travels - Thank you!

Mary Woodward, Disaster Coordinator
Ohio LDR
810 Main St., Caldwell, Ohio 43724