We always say we’re in for the long haul, we’re going to be there after everyone else has pulled out.” — Deaconess Sally Hiller
From left, Robert Griggs, Tracy Griggs, Lexi Griggs and Kathy Roberts sort and organize donated food at Trinity Lutheran Church, Panama City, Fla., following Hurricane Michael.
Trinity was set up to receive the first 50 volunteers — half from Lutheran Church Charities and half from various congregations around the Synod. Meyer also worked with partners to utilize disaster equipment that was already available. Orphan Grain Train sent a mobile church building, last used in Nebraska, to serve as a temporary home for Redemption, while Camp Restore in New Orleans transferred tools and equipment — originally sent to Baton Rouge for flood relief in 2016 — to Panama City. Disaster Response also gave a grant of $110,000 to the Southern District to provide for church-worker care and volunteer coordination, as Meyer and others continue to look for ways to offer additional assistance where needed. “The community is torn up. Not only do people not have places to live, they don’t have a job to go back to. I can’t even imagine. I’ve never been through anything like this before,” Ehrichs said. “But the church, she stands. We had worship on Sunday morning … and the saints truly rejoiced.”
‘Phase 2’ in the Carolinas Even as this was underway in Florida, long-term recovery continued in the Carolinas after Hurricane Florence dumped a record amount of rain there in mid-September. While Florence’s Category 1 landfall near Wrightsville Beach, N.C., was not as forceful as feared, the storm’s slow journey inland caused catastrophic flooding as rivers overflowed their banks. Three LCMS churches sustained significant damage in the storm and the flooding
that followed, as did the homes of many congregation members and their neighbors. After the floodwaters rose, many areas were underwater for nine days or more. “It was impossible for forecasters to figure out what would flood and when,” said the Rev. David Panning, pastor of Holy Lamb Lutheran Church in Myrtle Beach, S.C. As soon as roads were passable, Disaster Response was on the scene with food, personalcare items, flood buckets and devotional materials. A semitrailer full of tools to help homeowners and volunteers
muck out flooded homes was sent from St. Louis. Several days after the storm hit, Disaster Response leaders met with the Southeastern District to assess the situation. As part of the immediate response, volunteer teams traveled to five coastal cities and cut up fallen trees, removed debris, and cleaned and gutted homes on more than 70 properties. As the initial cleanup work nears completion, Hiller said that “Phase 2” of relief efforts is underway. Disaster Response has approved a grant of $209,083 to
It was impossible for forecasters to figure out what would flood and when.” — Rev. David Panning
8 • LUTHERAN S EN GAG E | WI NT E R 20 1 9
The Rev. Dr. John Denninger (right), president of the LCMS Southeastern District, loads Hurricane Florence relief supplies with the Rev. Dr. Ross Johnson and the Rev. Michael Meyer of the Synod’s Disaster Response.
