Southeastern District Disaster Response

Resources to assist congregations and schools with disaster preparedness and in disaster response

Preparing for Disaster - (PDF format manual) A Guide for Lutheran Congregations. LDR (Lutheran Disaster Response) helps congregations be effective and important participants in their communities’ recovery from disaster.As part of the community, congregations have opportunity and responsibility to respond to disaster. The deep human needs and psychological scars left after a disaster require care beyond the restoration of physical needs. Putting lives back together after a disaster requires care, hope and love. Counseling, understanding and direction enable people to cope with their anger, guilt, tests of faith, loneliness and turmoil.A time of crisis is often the best time for Christians to demonstrate the reality of God’s healing grace through caring and sharing. This manual is provided to assist congregations prepare for disaster.

Too Much, Too Fast, Too Ugly - How Faith Communities Can Response in Crisis and Disasters (PDF format manual) by Carol L. Hacker, PhD, CTS is an excellent resource for all responders.  Topics include: *  The Trauma/Crisis *  Crisis and Grief *  Role of the Faith Community *  Self-careSchool Resources

Pandemic Flu Planning checklists for early childhood programs and schools
Planning for pandemic influenza is critical. To assist you in your efforts, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have developed checklists to assist schools in planning. It identifies important, specific activities you can do now to prepare. Many are specific to pandemic influenza, but a number also pertain to any public health emergency. Each state and local jurisdiction should determine for itself whether it is adequately prepared for disease outbreaks in accordance with its own laws and procedures. Please check with your state and local government for their guidelines.

God’s Care in Time of Crisis - This program is designed to assist congregations and schools in reaching children who are experiencing grief and loss. In additional to training, help in preparing a school crisis plan is available. For additional information on crisis team training workshops and materials, please contact: Program Administrator: The Rev. Richard Eissfeldt, 727-347-7276, Eissfer@worldnet.att.net
Program Coordinator: The Rev. R. Richard Armstrong, 727-527-1168 RRARMS@aol.com

A Model for School-based Crisis Preparedness and Response
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ovc/publications/bulletins/schoolcrisis/pg3.html

SED Disaster Recovery Task Force
Sally Hiller, SED - Alexandria VA
Liz DeMik, SED - Alexandria VA
John Denninger- Prince of Peace-Springfield VA
Robbie Hillhouse - Lutheran Mission Society
Nelson Latona - Prince of Peace, Springfield VA
David Maack- Lutheran Mission Society- Baltimore MD
David Panning - Holy Lamb, Myrtle Beach SC
Kathy Randall - Good Shepherd, Olney MD
Rodger Stein - Hope, Virginia Beach VA
Richard Teague - St. Stephens, Hickory NC
Etta Watts, Peace - Washington DC

Hurricane Katrina Relief

Deaconess Liz DeMik (SED Disaster Recovery Assistant) is coordinating the response. For resources contact Liz at disasterhelp@se.lcms.org or call 800.637.5723 ext. 215.
• Sponsor a family
• Servant event projects
• To provide counseling support
• Specific financial needs
• Congregational & school presentations on Katrina

Camp Restore - a volunteer camp at Prine of Peace Lutheran Church in New Orleans East. This site has Q & A, forms for people or teams going to New Orleans to assist in the recovery effort.

The Southeastern District has partnered with two congregations from the Southern District in disaster recovery.

click on graphic for link

more disaster response organizations

Disaster News Network

Citizen Corps

Marion Edwards Recovery Center Initiatives

NOAA National Weather Service

National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster

Salvation Army

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans