Lutheran Disaster Response: Bringing Help and Hope

                                    -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

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

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

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 * Case management began

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

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.

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

January 2002 * 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.

August 30, 2002 * 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."

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

January 2008 * 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.

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.

Lutheran Disaster Response is a collaborative ministry of

the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and

the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS).

Formed to respond to domestic disasters, ELCA Domestic Disaster and the LCMS World Relief and Human Care contribute resources and volunteers to help all people in critical and long term need.

To contribute or volunteer in ND, call (800) 366-9841.

Your help truly makes a difference!

1720 3rd Avenue North ♦ Fargo, ND 58102

Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR) is a collaborative ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod. The mission of LDR is to demonstrate Christ's compassion for people by promoting health, healing and wholeness for disaster survivors.

In North Dakota, the LDR affiliate is Lutheran Social Services of North Dakota.

"Guided by God's love and grace, Lutheran Social Services of North Dakota brings healing, help and hope."