Storms of Oregon and Washington

Events

In Response to the Storms that Hit Oregon and Washington
Lutheran Disaster Response has been active since Monday Dec 3 in response to the storms that hit Oregon and Washington. We are assessing the impact, developing first response to community and individual needs, coordinating the statewide Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster, and preparing for long term recovery grants from LDR churchwide.

How Do I Help?
Lutheran Disaster Fund donations can be sent to:
ELCA Disaster Response
P.O. Box 71764
Chicago, IL 60694-1764

Make checks payable to: "ELCA Domestic Disaster Response."
Please make sure to mark all donations: "For the Disaster Response in Oregon and/or Washington". More information can be found on the ELCA web site at www.elca.org/disaster.

Funds can also be sent directly to:
Lutheran Disaster Response NW
605 SE 39th Street, Portland OR 97214.

100% of donated money goes directly to service delivery to families and individuals

Food Donations
Food Banks throughout Oregon have lean shelves. Food especially to Tillamook is helpful. Take donated food to the Fairgrounds where the Salvation Army is distributing to impacted individuals and families. Several people in Tillamook have lost jobs because of the disaster. These folks can apply for unemployment benefits from the state immediately. Later FEMA will provide extended benefits, again through the state system. Donations for families to meet immediate needs such as rent, utilities would be helpful in Tillamook. The Salvation Army warehouse is the regional distribution center for Tillamook County. If you have commodities to deliver please call Steve Forester at 503 812-3067.

[Vernonia is presently overwhelmed by volunteers and donations.]

Note any specific information on use of funds sent to LDR-NW for the following purposes: Hardship Grants (goes to impacted families), Volunteer Teams (used to organize and place cleanup teams or rebuild teams) to Long Term Recovery, generally used to equip teams to do rebuilds, purchase building materials etc.

We are working with local relief community groups in Clatsop, Columbia, and Tillamook counties. We expect that the following counties may receive Presidential Declarations: Coos, Curry, Polk, and Yamhill. We also work in Washington, Lewis County SW Washington, etc.

We are organizing Long Term Recovery Committees in affected areas, or collaborating with those already set up. We are coordinating the response of the major disaster response groups...such as the Methodists, Adventists, Presbyterians, Oregon Food Bank, Red Cross, Salvation Army, etc. These are experienced and trained providers. Case management systems are being set up to avoid duplication of efforts and outreach to remote communities that do not receive media attention, but where needs are great.

Contact:

Norene Goplen

LDR-NW

Cell: 503-502-6211

Email: LutheranAdvocate@aol.com (preferred)

O: 503-731-9519

Office Email: ngoplen@lcsnw.org

Lutheran Disaster Response NW

….a collaborative effort of the ELCA Synods and the LCMS NW District in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington in partnership with Lutheran Community Services NW and our national church organizations.

In a disaster, who are the first responders?
They are your neighbors, friends, and family. Quickly local emergency response by police, fire, and local government begin to assess and respond. With a presidential declaration, FEMA is empowered to bring financial, organizational, and networking resources. At this writing, eleven counties in Oregon and Washington have received this declaration and five more expect to receive this support.

Simultaneously, the non governmental agencies, join with their immense resources. After the first response, groups like Lutheran Disaster Response NW are prepared to assist or lead state and local volunteers in the cleanup and direct assistance needed by individuals and families. We will also prepare for reconstruction in the affected areas.

Our significant partners are the organizations that are part of the Oregon and Washington VOADS [Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster] and WIDRO [Washington Interfaith Disaster Response Organization] ORVOAD had it’s first disaster response meeting on December 11, organized by Lutheran Disaster Response NW. The WAVOAD will have its meeting December 14 in Seattle. Key contacts for all groups in Oregon are Norene Goplen LDR-NW LutheranAdvocate@aol.com and in Washington, Neil Molenaar of WIDRO NeilMolenaar@aol.com. Both are organizing Long Term Recovery Committees in local communities in these states.

And who is there as the last responders?
Your neighbors, friends, and family…and Lutheran Disaster Response is there until the job is done.

Stories of those first efforts

Galilean Chapel at Ocean Shores Washington had a generator . As the storms hit and power was lost throughout the coastal communities, they became the local shelter, feeding center, and pastoral presence helping neighbors to stay warm and secure.

First Lutheran in St Helen’s Oregon responded quickly to a rural family of 8 at Deer Island who had lost their pumps. Until the pumps are repaired, they are bringing water for cooking, individual needs, sanitation needs, … and friendship. For a family ranging from a 2 year old to a disabled grandmother, it is a sign of hope and recovery.

Congregations of the Sunset Cluster in Oregon provided help to a relief center in Vernonia, Oregon. Overwhelmed by donated food, cleanup supplies, clothing, and household goods, items were scattered on the floor. Our churches gathered tables, delivered and set them up to help their volunteers to organize material for this stricken community.

Family for Kids a program of Lutheran Community Services. The coordinator of this program in Centralia called desperate for help for four foster families listing needs such as heat; a full size bed; food; twin box mattress and box; soap ; garden hoses to spray down homes; I gave her background info on resources, but if you can help contact Laverta Hartley Cell: 360-430-5681 Later we will have a coordinated process for informing you of needs.

Trinity Lutheran at Mt Vernon, Washington has provided teams who have responded to Katrina needs in the gulf coast states. Immediately they became available for cleanup and are part of the planning process for rebuilds in Oregon and Washington.

and…a Lutheran Disaster Response Coordinator from Biloxi Mississippi called to say thank you to the teams from the Northwest who have helped them, and offered help and financial assistance to us.

God be praised for the hearts and hands of Lutherans in the Northwest
who are already helping their neighbors.