Urgent: Nashville Tornado Response: Day One

In the early hours of Tuesday morning, Nashville suffered a tornado that left at least 22 dead and many homes destroyed.    

The damage from this deadly tornado extends from Nashville, through Mt. Juliet and Putnam County, with new information coming in hourly. Currently, Germantown, East Nashville, Lebanon, and the rural areas along I40 need our help and attention.

Our Nashville property at St. Paul's Lutheran Church was spared; however, our Germantown neighbors suffered significant damages. In Germantown, we are deeply concerned about the hunger needs of the vulnerable families and children without power. We are working closely with the SE Synod of the ELCA and Missouri Synods to expand our Hunger Relief programs at St. Paul's to include a daily lunch and access to food and water supplies for locals and responders. Our disaster team, under the watchful eye of Sherry Buresh, is already assembling and setting up base camp at Christ Lutheran Church to house 15-20 volunteers. Our corporate partners, Home Depot and Lowe's, are donating some limited tools and supplies, but we have many more needs for this response.

Our relief teams are planning to move in just as soon as it is safe to do so. However, we need your help as those vulnerable in the path of this storm will need additional resources and shelter. To that point, we are also collaborating with our friends at Lutheran Disaster Response, the Tennessee VOAD, the Southeastern ELCA Synod, and the Missouri Synod as we assess and prepare our short-term and long-term response and recovery work in Middle Tennessee.

Support our relief efforts by donating today. You'll be making a difference in the lives of those impacted by this latest natural disaster. 

To donate, click here and select Nashville 2020 Tornado. Our prayers are with everyone in this tornado's path.

Blessings to all our friends and family in Nashville!
- Virginia Spencer
Vice President of Development

DISASTER RESPONSE: Assistance Needed for Reconstruction Projects

We are approaching the one-year anniversary of the severe storm outbreak that affected 27 counties in Georgia in April 27, 2011. A year later, more and more disaster victims are reporting unmet needs as FEMA funds prove to be insufficient in covering their recovery costs.  LSG’s long-term recovery efforts will continue to help these communities and families recover and rebuild their lives. Your assistance and funding will help LSG reach out to those families and provide tangible assistance by sponsoring volunteer projects and helping cover the costs home reconstructions. A few key areas of need are as follows:

• LSG needs support with two reconstruction projects in Spalding County to assist two families in building a new room in their homes. Both projects total $4,000 dollars.

• In Dade County, LSG is working along with other volunteer organizations to raise funds to cover multiple recovery projects totaling $17,000 dollars.

• In Meriwether County, LSG needs assistance from congregations to provide housing for 30-50 student volunteers who will be participating in reconstruction projects in June.

Any assistance is welcomed. We encourage you to get involved by volunteering if you have construction skills, by making financial contributions, or by working with your congregation to sponsor fundraising events for LSG’s long-term recovery efforts.

For more information on how you can help, contact disasterassistance@lsga.org or call 404.875.0201.

LSG is a tax-exempt nonprofit 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Your gift makes a difference in those families affected by the disaster. To make a tax deductible contribution today,donate online or contact Lorraine Dorough (678 686-9613).

You may mail contributions to:

LSG 2011 Georgia Tornado Recovery Fund Lutheran Services of Georgia 1330 West Peachtree Street, Suite 300 Atlanta, GA 30309-2943

UPDATE: April 2011 Storm Relief Efforts

Almost a year to the anniversary of the severe storm outbreak of April 2011, Lutheran Services of Georgia’s long-term recovery efforts continue. As families and communities continue the slow process of bringing their lives back to some sense of normalcy, LSG calls on congregations and individuals to support these communities and the rebuilding efforts in Georgia. LSG, a long-term disaster recovery assistance agency, works with partners in local communities, faith-based organizations, long-term recovery committees, and other Georgia voluntary organizations active in disaster relief to find resources to help communities affected by disaster. Victims are often confused or unaware of the assistance available to assist with the recovery. LSG’s goal is to assist communities with the long-term recovery. We encourage individuals affected by the 2011 tornado or the 2009 floods who need assistance to contact LSG at 678.852.8560. Your assistance in disaster relief is critical. Cash assistance and skilled constructions volunteers are essential in supporting long-term recovery reconstruction efforts. LSG seeks volunteers with skilled construction experience for six large roofing projects in Spalding County. More cash assistance is needed for the reconstructions efforts in Dade County.

If you would like to provide skilled, voluntary, or financial assistance for our response efforts, contact LSG at 678.852.8560 or e-mail Alex Azuero at aazuero@lsga.org.

You may also mail contributions to: LSG 2011 Georgia Tornado Recovery Fund Lutheran Services of Georgia 1330 West Peachtree Street, Suite 300 Atlanta, GA 30309

Disaster Relief: Long-Term Recovery from April Storms Still Underway

In recognition of September as National Preparedness Month, Lutheran Services of Georgia reflects on the communities affected by April’s severe storm outbreak and the work we perform to serve families and communities affected by disasters. With an active history of assisting in long-term disaster recovery, LSG works with congregations and Lutheran Disaster Response to serve the families and communities affected by disasters to reconstruct their lives and communities.

As disasters occur, federal, state, local governments, and private organizations assist communities with immediate disaster relief and with the restoration of basic services. Unfortunately, survivors, victims, and donors erroneously believe that federal and state grants provide enough financial assistance to help families and communities return to normalcy after a disaster.

This is why LSG’s long-term recovery outlook is very important to the families and the communities that we serve. Most recently, our commitment to the long-term recovery is evident two years after the 2009 floods in theSoutheastern United States. Thanks to a successful joint venture with Lutheran Disaster Response and Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, LSG continues to assist families and communities who are still coping with the reconstruction and repairs of their homes and communities. Contributions to the flood relief efforts reach above $40,000 and facilitated the successful delivery of financial assistance and volunteer coordination. As we enter the long-term recovery phase of April’s severe storm outbreak, LSG will continue to work in partnership with Lutheran Disaster Response, Long Term Recovery groups, Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster (GVOAD), congregations, and families to coordinate recover efforts.

With your financial and volunteer support, Lutheran Services will be active in the long term recovery of the communities affected by April’s severe storm outbreak and any other future incidents. We encourage you to support our efforts as we serve our mission.

For more information on how you can assist our efforts, contact disasterassistance@lsga.org or call 404.875.0201.

To learn how to your congregation can be better prepared for disasters please download Preparing for Disaster: A Guide for Lutheran Congregations at http://www.ldr.org/prepare/PrepDisaster.pdf