Lutheran Disaster Response
Hands Across North Dakota
1997 - 2011
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January 1997
- National Lutheran Disaster Response joined with other agencies to form the
Disaster Task Force
- Lutheran Social Services of North Dakota
- Lutheran Social Services of Minnesota
- Catholic Family Services
- Aid Association for Lutherans
- Lutheran Brotherhood
- North Dakota declared a national disaster
March 1997
- Lutheran Disaster Response North Dakota activated seasonal snowfall 116.6 inches
April 1997
- Blizzard Hannah - 125,000 cattle died
- Breckenridge/Wahpeton floods occurred
- Oak Grove area in Fargo floods, Fargo Red River crests 39.55 ft
- Grand Forks floods - Grand Forks Red River Crests 54.1 ft.
- LDR Hotline established
- Emergency Housing began with 785 calls for donated housing
- Equipment and Tool Lending program begins/ checked out 4,381 pieces
- Sandra Simonson-Thums joins LDR effort as Rural Specialist
- LDR begins free counseling through Lutheran Social Services ND
May 1997
- Clean up begins--coordinated in excess of 3,450 volunteers through the rebuilding
phase
- Case Management begins, assisting over 1,161 families
- Partnered with Orphan Grain Train / loaned 2 "bread" trucks
- Aid Association for Lutherans loans staff member Bob Bottchen to be Equipment
Manager
- LDR National Church Congregational grants
June 1997
- "Kids Helping Kids" Grand Forks project distributed over 3,000 toys and 100 bicycles
that had been donated for this purpose
- Delivered emergency food via Great Plains Food Bank -- 17,470 lbs
July 1997
- Construction began, repaired 389 homes and 13 churches
- Coordinated with Lutheran Social Services of Minnesota to establish volunteer center
August 1997
- Aid Association for Lutherans donates 2 new pickups
- Cooperative effort began with UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief) -new
warehouse built
- Great Plains Emergency Food effort / 2,862,174 lbs
September 1997
- Individual Member grants distributed from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
(ELCA) and the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS)
- Aid Association for Lutherans donates two trailers with tools
October 1997
- RAFT (Resource Agencies Flood Team) formed in Grand Forks with agencies:
Lutheran Disaster Response, Catholic Family Services, Salvation Army, and UMCOR
December 1997
- AAL toy drive - donated thousands of dollars and gifts
- LDR Christmas parties sponsored by Lutheran Social Services-ND, Lutheran Social
Services -MN, Lutheran Social Services-SD -31 parties with 8,144 attendees
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January 1998
- Food assistance and case management began in western N Dakota
- Initiated Farm Couple Retreats - 7 retreats held
- Otto Bremer Foundation grants for case management services
- Delivered generators to New York to aid with ice storms
February 1998
- St. Paul, MN Foundation Grant for Richland & Wilkin counties
- Delivered food to western North Dakota via Great Plains Food Bank -- 18,197 lbs
March 1998
- First of three Tri-state LDR newsletters distributed
April 1998
- Lutheran Brotherhood grants distributed
- RAFT SOUTH case management established in Fargo
- Delivered generators to St. Peter & Comfry MN due to tornado
- Assisted LDR setup in Birmingham, Alabama
May 1998
- Delivered emergency equipment to South Dakota
June 1998
- "Project Neighbor" Fencing and Shelter belt clean-up, providing wire and fence posts
July 1998
- Lutheran Brotherhood grant for Spirit Lake youth & families
September 1998
- Lake Region RAFT (Resource Agencies FAITH Team) formed
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January 1999
- Piloted Rural Crisis Response Directory for Devils Lake Region
March 1999
- ELCA Division of Church in Society grant for "Bread of Hope" project
- Delivered emergency equipment to Garrison, North Dakota
June 1999
- 8 Rural Specialists hired for the state, mentored by Sandra Simonson-Thums
- Partnered with Orphan Grain Train and LCMS Lutheran World Relief for the reclaimed
grocery program, delivered 2,149 boxes Tell me more...
- Phase 1: Immediate Services grant through FEMA
July 1999
- Officially transitioned from Lutheran Disaster Response to Lutheran Rural Response
- Cass-Clay United Way Services grant for 1997 Flood follow up
August 1999
- Mountain, ND tornado assistance
- "Powerhouse of Potential" shared in Pennsylvania
- Rural Crisis Response Directories made for the entire state
November 1999
- "Pulse of the Prairie: Rural Families Facing the Future" sponsored in part by LRR with
2,700 attendees
December 1999
- Phase 2: Regular Services Grant through the ND Dept of Human Services
- Farm Aid grant received for assistance
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January 2000
- United Way grant received for counseling services
February 2000
- Transition guide developed
- Web site developed http://www.lrrnd.org
- Partnered with Addiction Outreach of LSS
March 2000
- ELCA Division of Church in Society grant received for "Saving the A & P" project
- ELCA Division of Church in Society grant received for "Bread of Hope" project - second
year funding
June 2000
- Torrential rains brought flooding to Fargo-Moorhead area and the rural areas
northeast of Grand Forks
- Presidential disaster declared again - the 9th in 8 years
- Lutheran Disaster Response activated again
July 2000
August 2000
- Straight-line winds of 111 mph hit the Devils Lake area, an area already plagued with
high water tables causing extensive flooding over the past 4 years. Case
management extended to include this episode
- Phase III Transition team brought on board for working with rural issues
- Counseling and telephone counseling initiated for rural farmers and ranchers
- Rural Resource Coordinator available for resource connection
September 2000
- "Bringing Respect Back to School" presentations to rural schools
- Facilitator training held for Neighborhood Connections
- Small groups of Neighborhood Connections were formed
November 2000
- Retreats are held for various groups: couples, men, women
December 2000
- Farm Aid grant received
- Reclaimed grocery program delivered more than 7,000 boxes of food in 2000
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January 2001
- Cass-Clay United Way funding sponsored "Rainbow Over the Valley" and "Talk Time
Tools" programming for children who experienced flooding
February 2001
- Cass-Clay United Way funding co-sponsored a family carnival in Moorhead
March 2001
- Lutheran Disaster Response closes again
December 2001
- Disaster Response Database developed by LDR-ND, offered on a national level.
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January 2002
- Lutheran Rural Response services/staff temporarily downsize
- Summary of services previously offered to date:
- Transition services
- Counseling Service - telephone and voucher
- Food boxes distributed
- Food Vouchers through "Saving the A & P" program
- Food Pantry assistance "Bread of Hope" in conjunction with the Great Plains
Food Bank (LSS-ND)
- Retreats
- "Powerhouse of Potential" community presentations
- Other presentations
- Lutheran Rural Response begins building a faith-based coalition to seek stable
funding for continuing and/or adding services for serving those affected by the rural
crisis. Refer to Coalition Members on home page of web site.
April 2002
- Disaster Agencies Database developed by LDR-ND, offered for sale on a national
level. Proceeds used to support Rural Services.
August 2002
- Advisory Board had their first meeting. Two members each are appointed by their
Coalition Judicatories.
- Press conference held to announce name change from Lutheran Rural Response to
the Rural Response Coalition.
October 2002
- New mission statement adopted - "Sharing God's love, working with rural neighbors
in changing and challenging times."
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2003-2004
- Lutheran Disaster Response ND staff shared expertise in the hurricane-ravaged
areas of Florida through experience and distributing/teaching the Disaster Response
Database.
January 2004
- Lutheran Disaster Response ND released the Hardship Grants Database.
May 2004
- Lutheran Disaster Response ND responded to the flooding in the northeastern corner
of North Dakota around the Grafton area.
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February 2005
- Lutheran Disaster Response ND Director becomes disaster consultant to South
Dakota and Montana.
June 2005
- Lutheran Disaster Response ND responded to the flooding in the Edgeley area as
well as various areas around the State.
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January - February 2006
- "Rise Up and Build 2006" organizes volunteers from ND, SD, MT, MN and WI to aid in
rebuilding efforts in the Gulf States following devastation caused by recent
hurricanes. A total of 271 volunteers donated 13,120 hours valued at $229,600!
February 2006
- Lutheran Disaster Response National Office announces plans to create a web-based
version of the Disaster Response Database.
July 2006
- Lutheran Disaster Response ND collaborates with state agencies and various
denominations through Hands Across North Dakota to offer services to farm and
ranch families affected by the on-going drought and wildfires in the state.
August 2006
- Lutheran Disaster Response ND responded to the wind damage in Coleharbor,
working with other faith partners, the State of North Dakota and local agencies.
November 2006
- Lutheran Disaster Response ND hosts Spiritual Accompaniment In Disaster (SAID)
trainings in Jamestown and Williston, strengthening local capacity to offer
encouragement and spiritual encouragement at times of disaster.
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January - February 2007
- "Rise Up and Build 2007" organizes volunteers from ND, SD, MT, MN and WI to aid in
rebuilding efforts in the Gulf States following devastation caused by recent
hurricanes. A total of 209 volunteers donated 11,529 hours valued at $208,329.03!
August 26, 2007
- Lutheran Disaster Response ND responded to EF4 tornado damage in Northwood
ND, working with other faith partners, the State of North Dakota & local agencies.
December 2007
- Lutheran Disaster Response ND provides guide for Congregational Preparedness.
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January 2008
- Lutheran Disaster Response ND hosts Spiritual Accompaniment In Disaster (SAID)
trainings in Fargo and Bismarck strengthening local capacity to offer encouragement
and spiritual encouragement at times of disaster.
- Lutheran Disaster Response ND released the Cleanup Database
January - February 2008
- "Rise Up and Build 2008" organizes volunteers from ND, SD, MT, MN and WI to aid in
rebuilding efforts in the Gulf States following devastation caused by recent
hurricanes. A total of 94 volunteers donated 4090 hours valued at $73,906.30!
July 7, 2008
- Lutheran Disaster Response ND responded to the tornado damage in Rolette County
in ND, working with other faith partners, the State of North Dakota & local agencies.
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Spring 2009
- Lutheran Disaster Response ND responded to damage and flooding caused by
winter snows and resulting flooding from ice and snow melt. This impacted 48 of our
53 counties.
- LDR ND coordinated volunteers and jobs on behalf of ND VOAD, participated in case
management supervision, and created/coordinated a fencing project in 21 counties to
repair/replace miles of fencing and debris removal from pastures and tillable fields
through partnership with Hands Across North Dakota..
July 8-9 2009
- An EF3 tornado strikes Dickinson during the night. Volunteers for cleanup and rebuild
finished the task in early November 2009.
May 2009 - Spring 2010
- LDR coordinated volunteers for cleanup and rebuild of homes.
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March 2010
- Galleria Apartment fire in Fargo - due to the number of impacted people, LDR
completed case management
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Flooding 2011
- Flooding across North Dakota
- Williston, Bismarck, Mandan, Minot were especially impacted as well as small towns
and rural people
- LDR coordinated volunteers for cleanup in Williston, Bismarck, Mandan
- In Minot, LDR participated in the establishment of case management, local
Community Organizations Active in Disaster, coordinating volunteers and rebuild.
- Led the "button up" effort in Minot in preparation for winter.
- Rebuild Minot begins this winter
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To contribute or volunteer in ND,
call (800) 366-9841.
Your help truly makes a difference!
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