Disaster Response to September 2011 Flooding

The Upper Susquehanna Synod’s Disaster Response Team has met to be ready to respond to the needs of those in our synod affected by major flooding this week. Bishop Robert L. Driesen called a conference call meeting with the deans of all the synod’s conferences on Thursday, September 8, 2011. Also participating in the initial meeting was Gary Hutchinson, Diakon Disaster Response Coordinator for our synod; Rev. Karl-John Stone, Assistant to the Bishop; and Chad Hershberger, Director of Communications for the synod. Reports were shared from deans about flooding conditions in each geographical area of the synod. Several pastors’ homes have been affected and several church buildings in our synod have also experienced or are expected to experience flooding before river and creek levels recede.

The synod is requesting the following:

Pastors should be in contact with their respective conference deans to share information about conditions in their communities. Contact information is listed at the end of this message. Information shared with deans should include status updates on church buildings, homes of pastors and parishioners, and any other community needs.

Congregations can begin to solicit monetary contributions for flood response. The synod office is now accepting donations to be used as relief efforts begin. Donations can be sent to the synod office, marked “Flood Response,” or can be submitted by adding the designation and amount to the normal Synodical Remittance Form. It is important to remember that at this stage, monetary donations can be used more readily than donations of items.

If there are volunteers who would be willing to be part of work crews to help with clean-up efforts, that information should also be shared with conference deans so a coordinated effort can be organized.

All information that is shared with the deans will be reported to Bishop Driesen through the synod staff. The synod is also exploring obtaining cleaning and other needed supplies from Diakon’s Kathryn’s Kloset.

Bishop Driesen and the synod staff continue to hold all those affected by flooding in prayer. Updates will be shared via our synod e-mailing list, our website (www.uss-elca.org) and our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/usselca).

CONFERENCE DEAN CONTACT INFORMATION

Please use e-mail when possible to report information

Buffalo Valley

Pastor Jill Seagle

pastorjills@windstream.net

(W) 570-538-2015

(H) 570-538-2141

(Cell) 570-713-7359

Juniata Valley

(Dean Gary Roth is out of town this week. Please contact Pastor Mathiason)

Pastor Chris Mathiason

Cmathiason001@luthersem.edu