Gracious God, your word of peace stills the storms that rage in our world.  Bring hope to all persons and places that know devastation in the calm following the winds and rains of Hurricane Irene.  Bring comfort to those who grieve the loss of loved ones and property.  Let your love be known through those who work to bring order to the chaos.  Help us to shoulder the burden of suffering and make us bearers of hope that can be found in you, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

Left in the wake of the winds and rains of Hurricane Irene is a path of destruction including significant flooding, homes and businesses damaged.  Recovery will be a process that begins with prayer, invites us to walk together with our brothers and sisters who have suffered the affects of the storm, and to work together to begin the process of changing lives by sharing our resources and aiding in the rebuilding.  In the coming days LDR and other faith based organizations and members of the New York State Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters (NYVOAD) will be assessing long term recovery needs across upstate New York.  You can help us by communicating the following to LDR Coordinator Patsy Glista by email at pglista@upstatenysynod.org or (315)289-2686:

• Information about any disaster caused damage to your congregation and/or numbers of persons from your congregation impacted by the storm;
• Availability of volunteers in your congregation who could assist with clean-up and rebuilding including the name(s) of contact person(s);
• Resources available such as flood buckets;
• Willingness to promote the need for financial donations in support of clean-up and recovery through special offerings and donations to Lutheran Disaster Response.

Following disasters we often ask, ‘how can we help?’  Here are some ways:

• In the coming days please keep all who are dealing with continued flooding, clean-up and recovery efforts in your individual and congregational prayers.
• Check on members of your congregation who may be without power, may be in flood affected areas to see if they are okay and/or need any assistance. Spiritual Care resources are available to you including prayers and scripture references.
• Use this time to review your personal and congregational disaster plans in preparation for future emergencies and disasters.

Thank you for your continued partnership in this ministry.

O Lord, when the waters rage and foam,

Still the storms and grant us your peace.

When the gift of creation becomes burden,

Still the storms and grant us your peace.

When our fears threaten to overtake us,

Still the storms and grant us your peace.

Speak your word to the wind and to the water,

Fill us with faith.

Show us your care in the service of others,

Fill us with compassion.

Make the joy of your peace overflow in our lives.

Fill us with hope.

Even as Hurricane Irene has been downgraded to a tropical storm, she continues to pour rain on much of New York State.  Rivers and streams continue to rise causing flooding in many areas of the state.  More than 8,000 people spent Saturday night in shelters from the lower Hudson River area to Long Island.  Thousands more are without power.   As the storm moves north and tomorrow’s drier weather appears please continue to pray for those who have been displaced and those who are coping with rising flood waters and its affects in the days to come.

Please keep in prayer today our neighbors who have sustained damage or are in flooded conditions.  There are many areas in eastern and southeastern portions of the state where flooding is being reported.  Please keep Lutheran Disaster Response informed of areas where assistance will be needed after emergency response and evacuation is completed and the waters recede. Please keep in mind that many streams/rivers will not crest until later today, so be safe. If you live in an area prone to flooding please be cautious and practice flood safety.

Consider how you and your congregation can aid in the recovery efforts.  Lutheran Disaster Response partners with Church World Service in making flood buckets available for clean-up efforts.  They continually need supplies replenished.  Financial donations through Lutheran Disaster Response (www.ldr.org) or ELCA Disaster Response supports LDR long term recovery efforts following major disasters.

Please keep Lutheran Disaster Response informed of areas where assistance will be needed after emergency response and evacuation is completed and the waters recede.  Contact LDR Coordinator, Patsy Glista, at pglista@upstatenysynod.org.

Loving God, we come to you trusting in your mercy and knowing that your steadfast love endures forever.  Look with mercy on those who are harmed or displaced by Hurricane Irene’s flood waters.  Give them your strength to meet the days ahead, your peace which passes all understanding and new hope in the resurrection.  Move in those who are able to give aid, that we may be your hands and heart on the earth. Be with all who offer assistance, may your Spirit uphold them.   Amen.

Merciful Father, we commend to your loving care all who are in the path of Hurricane Irene and all who work to bring rescue and relief especially the firefighter, police, paramedics, medical personnel, and volunteers, all who are helping,  Give them courage in danger, skill in difficulty, and compassion in service.  Sustain them with bodily strength and calmness of mind that they may perform their work to the well-being of those in need so that lives may be saved and communities restored. Amen.

Projected storm paths continue to show Hurricane Irene affecting the entire East Coast with potentially major impact.  Hurricane Irene is on track to reach New York by Sunday morning bringing strong winds and significant rain.  If you are in the projected path of Irene including the outer fringe areas of the storm that are predicted to receive significant rainfall, NOW is the time to prepare.  Several counties in upstate New York are already under tropical storm and flood warnings and watches.  Winds and rain could also cause widespread power outages.   Evacuations are underway from parts of the New York City area.  Now is the time to consider whether you will hold Sunday worship or cancel and how those decisions will be communicated.

Below are some preparedness tips to think about and  implement now if you haven’t already taken steps to prepare.  First and foremost, assume that all power may be down for up to a week and plan accordingly.  Cell phone disruption is also likely:

For home and family:

• Enough non-perishable food for a week
• Enough water for a week. Think one gallon per person per day. (Hint: thoroughly clean your bathtub and half-fill it with water.)
• Manuel can opener
• Baby supplies (diapers, formula, etc.)
• First aid kit
• Prescription and non-prescription meds and toiletries
• Batteries – lots!
• Transistor radio – battery powered
• Flashlights
• Secure all outdoor furniture, shutters
• Full tank of gas in all cars
• Extra cash
• Charged cell phones and battery powered chargers. Text and social media sites are good means of communication, if they continue to function
• Blankets, sleeping bags, books, games (especially if evacuating)

In prayer for God’s care for all in the path of the storm,

Patsy Glista, AIM

LDR Coordinator – Upstate New York

(315)289-2686 (cell)

pglista@upstatenysynod.org

Lutheran Disaster Response, Upstate New York is a ministry of LutheranCare in Clinton, NY

Hurricane Irene has the potential to effect portions of our region as early as Saturday evening with at least heavy rains and winds.  There is the potential for flooding in some areas.  Lutheran Disaster Response urges individuals and congregations to make preparations now for the impact of the storm and to provide assistance and support in communities affected by flooding and storm damage. Following is an August 26 update from LDR, Upstate NY:

Greetings!

Hurricane Irene has the potential to effect portions of our region as early as late Saturday evening with at least heavy rains and winds.  Its impact is anticipated to be more significant for those living in the Metro Synod.  While Lutheran Disaster Response stands ready to aid in long term recovery efforts including clean-up, rebuilding, and spiritual care, congregations are integral partners in this effort within their communities and may want to be of support if flooding should occur locally in the next few days.

Pray for all who will be impacted by this storm. Include this petition in this Sunday's prayers:

Merciful God, keep all in the path of Hurricane Irene safe from wind and water.  Awaken our faith to know the power of your peace amidst the storm’s chaos. Deliver us from our fear and ease our anxiety.  Help us to endure this time of uncertainty and give us strength to face the challenges ahead.  Give us the assurance of your presence even in this time so that we can cling to your promise of hope and life shown to us.  Amen.

Prepare your congregation for what is can do to serve in your community should localized flooding or other storm damage occur:

• Identify how your congregation will make decisions about what support to offer. (Decision makers could be council president, Men in Mission leadership, WELCA president, pastor?)
• Be in conversation with first responders in your congregation, or by calling your local Emergency Management Agency (often the fire marshal) to see how your congregation might support response and recovery efforts.
• Offer hospitality to first responders in the form of water, food, or space for staging.
• Offer hospitality to those who may be temporarily evacuated from their homes.  Such hospitality might be in the form of emergency shelter space, phones, computers, or people to listen.
• Please inform me of any significant impact in your area.  Such impact might include evacuation of multiple families for several days, destruction or extensive damages to multiple houses or to churches, etc.
• Follow basic hurricane readiness steps available at www.ready.gov and www.ldr.org.

Remember, of course, that our concern is for all who struggle, not just for members of our own congregations.

Lutheran Disaster Response, Upstate New York along with New York Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NYVOAD) partners are monitoring this hurricane and will continue to assess needs and resources in preparation for long term recovery actions that may be needed.

Thank you for your partnership in this work!

In prayer for the safety of all,

Patsy Glista, AIM

LDR Coordinator – Upstate New York

(315)289-2686 (cell)

pglista@upstatenysynod.org

Lutheran Disaster Response, Upstate New York is a ministry of LutheranCare in Clinton, NY