Southeastern Synod E-News Situation Update

Christ Cullman All four states in our synod have experienced significant and catastrophic damage in several areas due to the recent storms and tornadoes. One of our congregations, Christ, Cullman, AL, has been destroyed. The United Methodist Church in which our mission congregation in Harvest, AL, has been meeting has also been destroyed. Some members of our congregations have lost homes. Many of our members have family and friends who have lost everything.

Even as relief efforts for this disaster are underway, West Tennessee and the Western counties of Mississippi are bracing for flooding at historic levels as the Mississippi River and its tributaries continue to rise.

Response to date:

The Synod Disaster Team has been meeting with the Synod Volunteer Disaster Response Coordinators and Social Ministry Organization staff in GA, AL, MS, and TN to address the needs for those locations. Assessment and planning is underway in conjunction with Lutheran Disaster Response for the development of a long term response in all four states.
Synod Volunteer Disaster Response Coordinators are active in their areas assessing and helping implement the response. Those coordinators include:

In West TN / Memphis area: Pastor Jason Peterson and Travis Fowler
In Chattanooga/Ringgold GA area: Karen Witt and Pastor John Sims
In East TN: Robert Wilhoit and Dick Hess
In North AL/ Cullman/Tuscaloosa: John Boettner and Jim Wirshing
In Mississippi: Joanne Webb and Ellen Noble--Joanne has been deployed to a disaster site though the Red Cross.
Other coordinators are working throughout the synod to assess and mobilize resources for the disaster response.
Atlanta coordinator Linda Franzkowiac has been helping out in the Synod Office.

Diaconal Minister Sandra Braasch has come on board to oversee and support the work of the Synod Volunteer Disaster Response Coordinators. She will assist them and state social ministry organizations to initiate responses in the various areas of our synod.
Pastor Deb Halter has been called to oversee the assignment of volunteer pastoral care providers and to provide pastoral care in the disaster areas primarily in Alabama and Georgia. She will be in residence in Alabama.
Our social ministry organizations -- Lutheran Services of Georgia, Lutheran Ministries of Alabama, Lutheran Episcopal Services in Mississippi and Lutheran Services of Tennessee -- are active in coordinating response with other partners active in the various sites and assessing/planning for the implementation of a long term recovery response.