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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What kind of work do you do?
Lutheran Disaster Response Network—Northeastern Pennsylvania (LDRN—NE PA) is responsible for preparing for and responding to local disasters, as well as partnering with other Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR) affiliates to address disasters outside this region. As part of this charge, LDRN – NE PA has designed and continues to refine and implement a disaster preparedness plan for the Northeastern PA Synod (NEPS) of the ELCA. This plan includes educating and assisting local congregations to make their own disaster preparedness plan. (To see the NEPA plan, click here. To link to the LDR guide for creating a congregational plan, click here.)
When a local disaster occurs, LDRN - NE PA partners with local and federal emergency management, the Red Cross, Salvation Army and similar groups to assess and respond. Whereas the role of a number of these partners is to provide specific or short term assistance, Lutheran Disaster Response’s role focuses on the long term recovery efforts such as assisting families in making and following a recovery plan, linking them with resources, attending to emotional and spiritual needs, and tearing out, repairing and rebuilding property. In any disaster, care is taken to not duplicate other services.
LDRN – NE PA is not just concerned with restoring houses. We also care for the emotional and spiritual recovery of survivors, including children. Part of our ministry is to identify groups of children who have been impacted by a disaster and set up programs like Camp Noah or God’s Can Do Kids. To learn more about these programs, click here.
How can I help?
Who are your partners?
LDRN - NE PA partners with local emergency response and county agencies, the American Red Cross, Salvation Army, and with other communities of faith as well as LDR affiliates in our region and throughout the U.S. We have recently formed an Interfaith Partnership for Disaster Response in Northeastern PA with our Methodist, Presbyterian, United Church of Christ, Salvation Army and Baptist brothers and sisters and are encouraging other communities of faith to this table. In addition, LDRN—NE PA has joined together with LDR affiliates to form a regional association, LDR—Mid Atlantic. (NY, NJ, PA, MD, DE, WV and VA)
Is LDRN - NE PA currently responding to a local disaster?
We are currently finishing our response to the flooding of June 2006 at which time twelve of the fourteen counties we cover were declared federal disaster areas. Over 8000 families in our region were impacted severely enough to qualify for FEMA assistance. For those in Northampton and Monroe counties, it was the third and even fourth time some were hit in 18 months. If that weren’t enough, additional torrential rains in November hit many of the same areas throughout our territory.
Why does recovery take so long?
Flooding, like many other incidents, does not just wreck a house. It can cause havoc in many other aspects of a family’s life. It takes time to recover from the shock and to sort out what needs to be done. Important records may be lost. Insurance and other financial settlement issues need to be addressed and building permits obtained. Deals arranged with hired workers may not go as planned. Employment issues, illness and other challenges to the family may be factors. Thanks to the support of faithful congregations and individuals, LDRN—NE PA is able to continue to walk with these families, even after others seem to have forgotten them.
What kind of volunteers do you need and what kind of work can they do?
Our current need is for volunteers for Camp Noah teams. These individuals are trained and then form a team of 15 to go to a host site in an area recently impacted by disaster to hold a weeklong vacation Bible school type program from children kindergarten trough 6th grade. For more information, link here.
When we are actively engaged in response to a local disaster groups and individuals of all skill and ability levels are needed for:
In the event of a new disaster, assistance will also be needed to assess and provide shelter, food and other supplies.
While we encourage people of all skills to volunteer, for the sake of safety, the youngest age we will accept at a worksite is 16. As would be expected, some tasks are limited to people of a certain physical ability or skill level.
How do I volunteer locally?
We knew you would ask. To volunteer, click here or contact Ruth Doty (ruth@lutherancongregationalservices.org) or Dianne Fox (d at 610.770.9205. ianne@lutherancongregationalservices.org)
What if I’ve volunteered, but not heard from you yet? What's going on?
Even though our goals are to diligently keep track of everyone who has volunteered and put them to work as quickly as possible, many things can delay the process.
The first part of the response process is to identify who needs what kind of help. While we know there are many families who still need assistance, it can take a long time to find them and determine their needs and resources. As of June 2006 we only had two Long Term Recovery Committees (LTRC) and part-time case manager in place. (Case managers are the ones who identify families and determine their needs.) It took 6 months to just get two more LTRCs into operation and hire case managers.
The second part of the process is to assess and make plans with families about the actual work that needs to be done and how the materials will be obtained and funded. We have to follow codes and make sure the proper inspections and permits are obtained. With our coordinators for rebuilding and construction now in place, this process is moving much more quickly.
The third part of the process is to determine when a property will be ready for work, what skills and how many workers will be needed, and match this with people who have volunteered. Of course, weather can always change the best laid plans.
Bottom line is, we have to many pieces in order so that we match the right workers with a site and have all the materials and directions ready to go. We want to do everything possible so that the homeowner’s needs are met and so that when volunteers to show up, they can go right to work and accomplish as much as possible with their gifts of time and effort.
So, don’t get discouraged. If you have volunteered, but not heard from us, please contact Ruth or Dianne to make sure we have your information up to date.
What do I need to know as a volunteer?
We knew you would ask. Please click here to view our orientation packet. For tips on how to interact with disaster survivors, click here
How is LDRN-NE PA involved in response to the devestation from hurricanes and other disasters throughout the United States?
In partnership with our other affiliates we are training and encouraging groups from our synod to respond to disasters throughout the United States, including Hawaii and Alaska. To find out more about these opportunities, click here. To learn about groups going out from our territory and click here. To learn about areas where LDR needs volunteers, click here.
What do you mean by a “preparedness plan”?
A preparedness plan focuses on who will do what and when in the event of a disaster. It identifies partners and their roles as well as how to access needed information and resources. Such a plan helps to ensure a response that is as effective as possible in an emergency situation. While each disaster is unique and no plan can cover every possible scenario, a preparedness plan can help to bring order out of chaos as quickly as possible, thus saving lives and property, helping to reduce the overall negative impact of a disaster and speeding the recovery process. Preparedness plans are important on the larger regional and community levels, as well as for local congregations, institutions, families and individuals. To view the current plan for the Northeastern Pennsylvania Synod, click here. To learn about designing a plan for a congregation, click here.
Who provides the funding for LDRN – NE PA?
Lutheran Disaster Response Network – NE PA is funded by donations to Lutheran Congregational Services that are specified “for disaster,” the Northeastern Pennsylvania Synod, grants from Lutheran Disaster Response and other communities of faith and matching funds from Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. Long Term Recovery Committees in individual counties have also received funding from the United Methodist Church, the Presbyterian Church, United Church of Christ, local ministeriums and ecumenical groups and are also able to leverage funds through fund raisers, local businesses and other local sources.
How can I support this ministry financially?
Donate online by clicking here or send a check to: Lutheran Congregational Services, with the memo designating it for a) “Local Disaster Response,” b) “Camp Noah/Programs for Children and Youth” or c) “Local Katrina Survivors.” Mail this to: 1923 Hanover Avenue, Allentown, PA.
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