Thank You Partners in Disaster Response

By Tempie D. Beaman
Disaster Services Division, Southern California

Our brothers and sisters across the nation, but particularly in the southern California region, have overwhelmingly showed their love and compassion in reaching out to the survivors of the 2007 southern California fires. The fires were particularly devastating in San Diego, Orange, and San Bernardino Counties.

Bishop Dean Nelson, Southwest California Synod, appealed to his congregations to provide a Christmas blessing to the most affected Pacifica Synod congregations. The Dean of the Harvest Conference wrote in the minutes of the January conference meeting, "One special surprise was envelops of gift cards from the Southwest California Synod. Most churches got more than they could use and distributed many of the gift cards to others in need."

Inter-Lutheran Emergency Response Team (I-LERT), using the financial resources sent to the judicatory offices, established an emergency "Unmet Needs Committee" to address some of the immediate needs of survivors. A special thank you to members of the committee: Pastors Laurie Line and James Jerpseth, ELCA and Pastors Wally Turner and Phil Robbins, LCMS. They were very diligent in reviewing cases from our congregations to determine the best way to offer assistance and be good stewards with the resources.

LDR/LSS-SW hired a case manager to work in Ramona and Escondido, two of the hardest hit areas. Additionally, we provided a grant to Interfaith Community Services (ICS) to assist fire survivors. ICS is an Escondido agency supported by many Lutheran congregations in North County of San Diego. LCMS World Relief and Human Care provided financial assistance to the Pacific Southwest District. The district is working through their congregations to provide direct assistance.

LDR/LSS-SW worked with our ecumenical partners in San Diego, United Methodist and Episcopal Churches, to offer Camp Noah for children during Easter break-March 24-28. Camp Noah is a faith-based day camp for children affected by disasters.

Dean and Circuit Counselors participated in training on I-LERT's flow of communication during a disaster and their role and responsibilities. They had the opportunity to meet their counterparts in the region to begin to discuss ways they can work together to be better prepared and more effectively respond to a disaster. They received basic preparedness training and an overview of the Prepare to CARE disaster certification program offered by LSS-SW.

If you have any questions, please contact LSS-SW, Tempie D. Beaman at 323-299-0729, tbeaman@lss-sw.org or La'Tresa Jester, at 877-258-2059, ljester@lss-sw.org.