Texas District Disaster Response

Wildfires in Texas #04 Volunteers

2011-09-28T09:44:00.000-07:00

There have been many inquiries about the possibility of volunteers assisting in the recovery process for families in Bastrop, Smithville, and other locations recently impacted by the wildfires.

The response to assist the families, congregations, and communities who were in the paths of these fires has been incredible and even overwhelming. As I speak with pastors and families who are closest to this disaster, I hear the words "grateful" and "blessed" many times during the conversation. The support that they have realized has been genuinely well received.

I continue to receive emails asking about where to send clothing. I continue to receive reports from congregations in Texas and from congregations and districts around the country indicating that they have groups of volunteers prepared to come and lend a helping hand as well as encouragement in the recovery process. Some have even offered significant assistance to help rebuild homes.

First, concerning donations:

Please read the following quote from the Bastrop County Website:

"With thousands of persons severely impacted by the Bastrop fire the greatest need is for monetary donations.

Ample materials and food donations have been received, thanks, in part, to the generosity of the many citizens around the county and state. As such, no further acceptance of material donations will be processed until the supply of current materials has been depleted. As the County moves into the recovery phase, materials will be needed for rebuild. Please check back frequently for updates on when these materials will be accepted."

Second, concerning Volunteer Groups and Agencies:

Those who are organizing such service activities in the affected areas are asking that volunteer groups and agencies register with the local authorities.

You can do so by going to the Bastrop County Website and following the appropriate links. They will contact you as need arises.

The Texas District is maintaining a database of volunteers for those pastors who have families affected by the fires.

Many of the families of congregations are receiving significant support from the local members who were not impacted by the fires. Dr. Lou Jander, Prince of Peace, Bastrop, and Rev. Tim Appel, Grace Lutheran, Smithville, as well as many other pastors, commissioned lay minsters, and church leaders have been working tirelessly in their respective areas with families in their congregations and in their communities to help and encourage people in the recovery process.

What I have learned in my conversations with pastors in the affected ares is this: If there comes a time that the local congregation impacted by this incident determines there is a need for a volunteer group from the outside to come with assistance, then at that point the local congregation will contact me. I will refer to the data base of volunteers and attempt to connect the two groups.

Finally, as the volunteer component of the recovery process begins to take a long-term shape, please continue to include these families and communities in your prayers. Your prayers could include:

The propagation and application of the Gospel in this context;
The patience and healing of families who are now under extraordinary stress;
People as they grieve loss including life, property, and daily routine;
The wisdom of decisions to be made for the future;
Firefighters and volunteers who made and continue to make extraordinary efforts to contain the extent of fires;
Volunteers who manage the recovery;
The recovery of communities; and lest we forget
Rain.

Thank you for your prayers and for your heart in assisting people in this and future relief and recovery events. Your response represents the greater gift we have in Christ and will serve as the presence of our Lord for those in the midst of struggling.

Wildfires in Texas #03

2011-09-17T09:03:00.000-07:00

The speed limit along Highway 71 is 70 mph. The traffic was going about 55 at most when I drove through two days after it was open for public travel once again. For about five miles drivers were surveying the damage that could be seen from the road. And there was plenty to be seen. Homes were burned to the ground. Trees were scorched with some still smoldering a week after the fire. It was a surreal landscape.

Each driveway had a Texas State Highway Patrol vehicle guarding the entrance. They were either refusing entrance or making certain that those entering were the property owners. So the highway was the closest perspective that the casual traveler had to the damage. But it was not necessary to turn off the highway to get the sense of the scale of this wildfire.

It will take years to recover. The Bastrop area is also referred to as “Lost Pines” for the rare pine stands located there. In fact, there is a State Park at that location called “Lost Pines.” That title takes on new meaning now.

The response of the church has been inspiring. The desire to assist church workers, church members, and communities devastated by fire has been generous and has extended from beyond the borders of Texas.

At least twenty-four homes of church workers and church members have been lost. Church workers, Rev. Albert Loeschman and Mr. Tim Ristow both lost their homes and everything in them to these fires. Both families are safe and they, as all others impacted, are beginning to enter the long restoration phase that accompanies any disaster.

Dr. Lou Jander, who leads Prince of Peace, Bastrop, and his wife Martha were 99% certain that their home was destroyed. When they were able to see their property, miraculously, their house suffered only charring on one cedar post on the back porch and some fire marks on eaves. The garage and contents (including a golf cart) were completely destroyed. The next-door neighbors lost their home entirely. Before the electric and the water are turned back on in the weeks ahead, Dr. Jander will be carefully examining those and other systems in the house. There was a lot of heat and testing of various systems in the house will be essential before they will be trusted.

The landscape of these communities has been dramatically changed. Your prayers will be needed for weeks and months and even years to come.

Recovery for many families will be a long-term event. Pray for:

- The propagation and application of the Gospel in this context;

- The patience and healing of families who are now under extraordinary stress;

- People as they grieve loss including life, property, and daily routine;

- The wisdom of decisions to be made for the future;

- Firefighters and volunteers who made and continue to make extraordinary efforts to contain the extent of fires;

- Volunteers who manage the recovery;

- The recovery of communities; and least we forget

- Rain.

The Texas District, along with LSS of the South and LCMS World Relief and Human Care, continues to stand ready to assist financially. These organizations work primarily through the Pastor’s of those congregations affected. Go to http://www.texasmmf.org/relief/ This site has donation information and form Assistance Request forms. This site also has the contact links for LSS and LCMS WR HC.

Thank you for your prayers and support.

Rev. Steven J. Misch

Wildfire Clean-Up Assistance

2011-09-09T05:45:00.000-07:00

What day is this? Not an uncommon question when life has been turned upside down.

There are wildfires being fought around the state. Some of them are still active. Some of them are contained. The neighborhoods in Bastrop are beginning to be opened up to the residents. People there are now seeing what happened to their property. Some have lost everything. Some are being surprised in that the fire went around and over their home. In either case, there is serious clean-up required.

There is assistance available to those needing clean-up for any of the fire locations. Teams of people are offering there assistance at the request of home owners. They are ready to work at the home owners direction. If you have damage or have lost your home and would like help, please let me know.

Wildfires in Texas

2011-09-06T14:55:00.001-07:00

I just spent the day in Bastrop. The smell of fire was detected fifty miles west of Austin as my wife and I drove into the area. We are both credentialed with Lutheran Emergency Response Training.

Here’s what we learned. Highway 71 was closed at Bastrop to any kind of traffic. No one but firefighters was allowed beyond the barriers into the residential areas.

Most immediately, members of Prince of Peace Lutheran in Bastrop have been affected, although numerous LCMS members from around the area and around the state have also been impacted by the wildfires.

In Texas, the Forrest service reports the following:

· Yesterday Texas Forest Service responded to 22 new fires for 7,544 acres, including 10 new large fires.
· In the past seven days Texas Forest Service has responded to 181 fires for 118,413 acres.
· It appears that in the past 48 hours, more than 700 homes have been destroyed. As better assessments come in, we will continue to update the situation report.
· 251 of the 254 Texas counties are reporting burn bans.
· Daily detailed fire information can be found at inciweb.org.

There are 35 active fires as of the writing of this blog. Homes are destroyed. Lives are reordered. People are ascending to servanthood in places such as churches (i.e. Grace Lutheran, Smithville), schools, and auditoriums where meals are being served and cots are being occupied. Here also announcements are being made, and hopes are high and low all at the same time.

The question has been, “What can we do to help?” It is far too early to answer that question definitively as fires continue to burn and assessments of situations are yet to be made.

However, many congregations are sponsoring special prayer services for people in need. One such gathering will be at Prince of Peace, Bastrop on Wednesday, September 7^th. The gathering begins at 5:30pm.

Another gathering is being held at St. John, Cypress. They offer the following:

Prayer Vigil - Wednesday - September 7 - 6:30 - 8 p.m.

With the recent fires around the state, the terrible drought, together with the desire on the part of people to do something, comes an opportunity to call on God in prayer in a spirit of repentance and faith. We are, therefore, calling the people of our community to pray to God specifically this Wednesday from 6:30 - 8 p.m. (longer if it is desired). Those who are not able to join us here at St. John are invited to join us and all those who call to God wherever you are.

We will pray for...

• An end to the drought; the gift of rain

• Relief from the fires; the control and containment of the fires

• Safety and protection for the firefighters who are battling these flames

• Comfort for those who have lost their homes because of the fires

• Comfort for those who have lost animals and pasture lands because of the flames

• Safety for the citizens who are in danger of having their property destroyed

• Protection and preservation of the property of those impacted by these fires

• God's mercy and kindness to be shown by his people in whatever way we may

Schedule

• 6:30: Doors open in Chapel (Original Sanctuary - next to new Worship Center)

• 6:45 - 7:30 Guided time of Prayer & Sharing

• 7:30 - 8 p.m. Time for private prayer and meditation

Please invite your friends, neighbors, co-workers, and any others who would wish to join us for this prayer vigil, as we entreat God for his mercy and relief from this distress.

"Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me and I will hear you." - Jeremiah 29:12

"In my distress I called to the LORD, and he answered me."- Psalm 120:1

"Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me."- Psalm 50:15

Donations Needed

In addition to many prayers donations are needed. There has been significant loss of property. Many congregations have already scheduled door offerings.

The Texas District is working together with Lutheran Social Services of the South and LCMS World Relief and Human Care. You can find the donation links at http://texasmmf.org/relief

We are relying on pastors of congregations of affected areas to contact the District office for assistance that may be needed concerning their membership.

In addition to the Texas Forrest Service website, go to The American Statesmen for photos and news.

Disaster Relief for the Southern District LCMS

2011-04-30T09:16:00.000-07:00

On Southwest Flight 122 from Orlando to Denver I flew over the sight. The pilot pointed out the path of the tornado that hit Tuscaloosa, AL. The line of devastation was obvious. From the air it looked like the early stages of clearing through a forest for an interstate. I could see where the vortex began on the ground and the path it took, winding to the northeast from the southwest. From my vantage point the path was straight with the exception of one jog to the east. There it behaved as though it had entered a roundabout for half a turn and then continued back on course. From 36,000 feet I could not see the end of the path of this twister. This storm cut the earth as a sword would cut the flesh.

But the brokenness of homes, businesses, schools, and other property that occurred on these two days is nothing compared to the broken and wounded hearts of the thousands of families impacted by one evening of devastation.

This storm was one of 274 such tornadoes that occurred in the Southern region of the United States on Tuesday, April 26^th, and Wednesday, April 27^th, according to meteorologist Doug Higgins.

President Ken Hennings has asked the Texas District to respond in grace and in mercy to the relief effort now underway in this region. Your prayers will bring comfort, and your donations will give hope. Any relief that Texas Lutherans can offer to the citizens of communities in the Southern District LCMS would be received as the blessing such a gift is intended to be.

You may donate specifically to this relief effort by going to http://www.texasmmf.org/relief/donation.html and following the donation instructions. If you choose to contribute using the online vehicle be certain to select "Tornado Relief Fund (Southern District)." 100% of your contribution will be sent to the Southern District.

Thank you for your prayerful and generous consideration.

Rev. Steven Misch

Introduction to Disaster Response

2010-06-30T13:54:00.000-07:00

Can you believe its time for storms to come in from the Gulf already? With Alex heading in and forecast to turn to the north (they most all do), Texas is in for some wind and a lot of rain. It may be enough to flood and so, we stay alert and keep the communities that will be impacted in our prayers. It also looks like it could be a very busy season.

As Dr. Lou Jander has retired from his position of MMF of Area D, he has also released his role of Disaster Relief Coordinator to others in the District. That would be me (Steven Misch). Much of what I do will be on the basis of Lou's excellent model for response.

For those of you who do not know, I am located in the Panhandle of Texas. I am mostly out of the path of Hurricanes. I lived on the coast of Texas for about 13 years. Still, I experienced only one Tropical Storm of note. Gilbert ('88) missed us but we were packed and ready to go. Gilbert endangered our home in Del Rio with tornadoes.

Living in the Panhandle, my wife and I went through training with NOAA to be Storm Spotters. (I know one when I see it.) I also know how devastating storms can be. I was in the back yard of my home, again in Del Rio, when softball size hail came down. I managed to get inside with the dog but I watched and listened to the roof being destroyed with the sound of a hundred sledgehammers overhead. In Lake Jackson, I experienced floods that occurred one year. The creek just kept rising. There was a lot of cleaning to be done.

In 2005 there were wild fires in the Panhandle that burned almost 1 million acres, killed four people, destroy untold numbers of livestock and, without the heroic effort of firefighters around the state and the country, entire communities would exist no more. Through the efforts of many people and a matching grant of LCMS World Relief and Human Care, we were able to provide funding to rebuild a home that had completely burned down.

Though I have not personally sustained significant property damage I do know that disasters come in many and various forms.

The role of the Texas District in disaster relief is to assist church leaders, church workers, and congregations of the District in the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod to be the merciful presence of Christ in the communities, in recovery response to the physical and spiritual damage caused by such meteorological and "natural" events. Such assistance includes providing resources and making connections with other church and state organizations, all of whom work to relieve the impact of a disaster on individuals and communities.

Even though a critical event is never a welcomed event such is likely to occur in ones life numerous times. There are three phases of a critical event; Preparation for the event, event survival, and recovery from the event.

Each of these is a specialty area. While the Texas District Disaster Relief site will offer resources for preparedness, the focus of the Texas District is recovery and relief. There is a three-fold action plan to address recovery from such critical events.

Prayer | Presence | Property

Addressing each of these is fundamental in a full and complete response to a disaster. There are human needs, physical needs, and spiritual needs, none of which should be ignored. In an American culture, we respond best to the physical interruption that a disaster brings and I thank God for such generosity. But meeting the physical needs without prayer and presence assures an incomplete recovery.

In an effort to facilitate a complete response to the full spectrum of "natural" disasters, the website (still developing) is available as a starting place even now.

On the website, you will find links to various agencies and organizations that provide essential information to prepare for and recover from the numerous varieties of disasters.

In addition, I will add prayer resources, as well as Bible Studies to the site.
I will, in good time, post information and/or links on how to develop volunteer teams if that is appropriate response and needed for recovery.

Finally, you will be able to donate to help assist pastors, church staff, members, and communities in times of recovery.

Take time to look through the links and the connections on the website. And don't hesitate to contact me.