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• I am in Mobile, Ala., to assess the needs of our congregation here (Saving Grace Lutheran Church) and offer any assistance we may give as they reach out to the victims of Katrina in their communities.
• We visited members’ homes and the coastal areas that we believed were the hardest hit. We started out heading south from Mobile to the lower Ala. coast and then took Hwy 90 along the coast as far as we could (some areas of the road were washed away) to Biloxi, Mis., and then up to I-10 East to complete the circle back to Mobile.

September 21, 2005 - Assessment

• The reason Hurricane Katrina will go down in history as the worst ever isn’t because it was the strongest. It will be because of the size and the amount of damage and death it inflicted. Most hurricanes effect one or maybe two cities or areas. Katrina’s storm surge flooded to some extent coastal areas from Mobile, Ala., all the way to New Orleans, La. That is unprecedented, and when the levies failed, we had our worst natural disaster, ever.
• I see the greatest opportunities for compassion and outreach that I have ever seen. Lets role up our sleeves and get to work, it will be a long haul, may the Lord be with us.

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Wrap Up
I’m back in Milwaukee after six days in La., and I’ve recorded a recap of my final two days in the area.

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Preparations for Rita
With much work still ahead in the recovery efforts from Hurricane Katrina, we are also making preparations for assisting in the aftermath of Hurricane Rita.

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• Nathan Nolte, Pastor Joshua Kesting, and Mark Buerger depart for Mobile, Ala. They are driving a hurricane relief trailer that is well stocked with many post-hurricane supplies such as generators, chainsaws, batteries, flashlights, shopvacs, tarps, and a satellite phone. After their stop in Mobile, they hope to reach the congregation in Abita Springs, La. The purpose of their trip is to deliver the trailer to those in need and to offer support and help, as well as assess the damage and report back to WELS Committee on Relief.

September 1-2, 2005

• On the drive through Mobile, Ala., to get to Pastor Harmon Lewis’ office, the first response team noticed minor to moderate damage. Many billboards had their advertisements blown off, quite a few commercial signs had been damaged. The worst damage observed was a large double-sided billboard on a pillar that fell through the roof of an adjacent eye-glass shop.
• Pastor Lewis has about five members staying at his house because of severe damage or no power or water. Pastor Lewis said one families’ house was destroyed by flood waters.
• Travel to Abita Springs, La., was sobering with all of the destruction. The area is thickly wooded with pine, even along the interstate. Along I-59 the trees were splintered.
• The team spent the morning clearing a tree off the back of Pastor Dietrich’s house. By noon the property was looking much better with those large tree debris cleared away from the house.
• All day long the team saw military helicopters and C-130s flying overhead into New Orleans.

September 4, 2005

• The first response team returns home after a long trip in which they have seen firsthand the enormous and widespread devastation of the northern gulf coast areas of Ala., Mis., and La.
• Our objective for our called workers should be to get them up and running so they can minister and nurture their flock.
• As a congregation is restored to the level of basic functionality, outreach can begin. This effort can include assembling efficient volunteers groups, providing restoration efforts for members of the community, nurturing and ministering to the community, providing food, water, clothing, shelter, and transportation for those that may not be mobile.
• Our opportunity as a First Response Team is to pray, call and assess the situation, transport ourselves, equipment and supplies to the site and provide spiritual support and physical assistance to those in need.

Detailed blogs can be found in the Project Archive.