Disaster Response

Marge is an 80 year old widow with a disabled, adult son. When four feet of flood water went through Marge's home, they lost everything. Not knowing where to turn, Marge paid a company to repair her home. Unfortunately the company did not adequately repair the house, leaving it still uninhabitable. Marge was left paying the mortgage on the flooded home and rent for an apartment while her home was being repaired. With nowhere else to turn, she applied to a governmental rental assistance program four times but received no aid.

With the guidance of a LSS Disaster Response staff member, Marge was able to file an appeal with the rental assistance program and soon received support. Meanwhile, LSS, along with other local organizations, rebuilt Marge’s home and furnished it. Without the aid of LSS, Marge would not be comfortably settled back in her home.

Disaster Response

INFORMATION ON FEBRUARY 28 STORMS THAT RIPPED THROUGH OHIO

Downtown Shelby Flooding 2/28/2011 (Photo courtesy of

Pastor Rus Yoak, 1st Lutheran in Shelby)

Flooding is occurring in northern Ohio, Kenton in Hardin County has severe flooding, Shelby in Richland County has severe flooding, and southern Ohio has been impacted by tornados.The Cuyahoga River is expected to crest tonight (Feb. 28) at 4 feet above flood stage. If any volunteers are available to help with sand-bagging in Auglaize County, debris removal in Shelby or Hardin Counties, please call Mary Woodward at 740-509-1132 (leave a message if there is no answer).

Monetary Donations will be needed if there is no government declaration. Please send monetary donations to LDR Ohio, 810 Main St., Caldwell, Ohio 43724.

Mary Woodward, Disaster Coordinator
LDR Ohio
740-509-1132
office 740-732-6700

Disaster Response

Lutheran Social Services provides disaster response coordination and disaster preparedness training in the state of Ohio and surrounding areas. As the statewide coordinator for Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR), a coalition of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and The Lutheran Church- Missouri Synod, LSS provides consultation and financial support to ensure that the needs of persons affected by disasters are addressed through LSS.

When a Disaster Occurs

When disaster strikes, there are three stages of response: first response, emergency relief and long-term recovery. LSS provides disaster response coordination during all of these phases by offering case management services, volunteer coordination and donations management. LDR provides a disaster response database and grant programs to facilitate this coordination. Volunteers are needed in each area. Congregations, men’s groups, women’s groups, youth groups and mission or ministry committees are encouraged to identify disaster response as a ministry.

Disaster Preparedness Training

LSS offers two levels of training to assist congregations and faith-based organizations in responding to disasters locally or nationally.

Level One is an overview of disaster response and will assist participants in identifying areas of strength during times of disaster.
Level Two consists of training modules specific to case management volunteers, volunteer coordination, donations management, spiritual care, capacity building and ecumenical partnerships.

Participants will receive a certificate and be registered as a volunteer in LDR's disaster response database.

Click here for the Disaster Preparedness Training schedule
Click here to register for a training session

Developing and Managing Volunteers, G-244 Course Information

For more information, contact:
LSS Disaster Response
810 Main St.
Caldwell, OH 43724
(740) 732-6700
or email: mwoodward@lssco.org
or click here to request more information.