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History
Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR) was established by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in American, the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod, and Lutheran Social Services of the Virgin Islands after Hurricane Hugo leveled the island of St. Croix in 1989. From 1990 to 1992, volunteers traveled to the island at their own expense to help rebuild the lives devastated by the storm.
In 1995, LDR was reactivated following Hurricane Marilyn and again in 1998 after Hurricane Georges, bringing close to two thousand state-side volunteers to the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.
From 1996 through 2004 with funding from ELCA, LDR was able to operate a mitigation program to repair roofs, plumbing, electrical and other structural deficiencies for low-income elderly, adults with disabilities, and single parents in the Territory. Off-island volunteers traveled to St. Croix to provide both skilled and unskilled labor on a variety of projects.
Goals
The specific goals of Lutheran Disaster Response in the Caribbean were to help repair roofs for low-income elderly, elderly citizens with disabilities, and single parents, and to provide construction advice and crisis counseling. Using the motto "Safe and Dry" we provide construction assistance primarily in the rebuilding or repair of roofs, doors and windows. Primary goal is to provide volunteer rebuilding labor to homeowners, Lutheran or not, who otherwise cannot afford repairs. As funding is available, social work and counseling are provided as well as small grants and emergency supplies.
Additionally, LDR helped develop, write, edit and publish the "Family Disaster Response Manual" in 2004. The manual is a comprehensive guide designed to give readers the tools needed to better prepare for a disaster. The book mainly discusses hurricane preparedness and covers practical concerns such as the do's and don'ts of hiring a contractor as well as stress, mental health, FEMA procedures. Ten thousand copies of the manual were distributed on St. Croix, St. Thomas, and St. John .
LDR continues its mitigation program and its work to help Virgin Islanders prepare for natural disasters and cope with the aftermath of hurricanes and other disasters. |
