Lutheran Early Response Teams Assist With 2024 Nebraska Tornado Recovery
Mick Onnen, Nebraska District Disaster Relief Coordinator, shared about the impact that Lutheran Early Response Team (LERT) volunteers had on the communities affected by the tornadoes of April 26, 2024:
The Lutheran Early Response Teams (LERT) volunteers converged in Omaha on April 30 in response to a deployment to address tornado damage in the surrounding communities. The volunteers represented nine states: Nebraska, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, and Oklahoma. Through the course of the ten-day deployment, a total of 52 different volunteers reported to Omaha for work.
Divine Shepherd, Omaha, hosted the LERT volunteers and provided lodging, meals, showers, laundry services, and parking for vehicles and equipment. The congregation was such a blessing to the LERT teams— we cannot express enough our gratitude for the hospitality and the sacrifices the church and its members made to make our stay the most comfortable and productive it could be.
LERT teams are trained by LCMS Disaster Response and equipped to assist homeowners impacted by disaster, to help with clean up, and to create a safe environment for property owners. But more importantly, LERT members are instructed to show Christ-like compassion as we serve as the hands, feet, and voices of Jesus in showing mercy to those impacted by disaster. LERT members must also complete background checks prior to deployment because of their services involving the property of others, overnight lodging with others, and sometimes even care for children.
LERT teams assist in the cleanup of properties, with an emphasis on tree damage mitigation (that is a particular strength of LERT teams) and making tree resources safe for residents. LERT workers help clean up storm debris, pile the debris for collection, cut down severely damaged trees, and trim broken branches that pose threats to homeowners and workers. Debris is piled for pickup. Tree branches are piled along curbs for pickup or stacked in piles for later burning. This time, the LERT team completed 32 job assessments, and 31 tree trimming, removal, and cleanup projects.
However, the most significant outcome of our efforts is to show care and compassion for those who lost so much in the Omaha tornadoes, and to be the hands, feet, and voices of Jesus in showing mercy to those impacted. It will also help restore some normalcy to the lives of those disrupted by the storms.
The LERT team left a lasting impression on many along the way. One of our final sites was at the home and ranch of Mr. and Mrs. M. near Blair. Although they had minimal home damage, their horse stables were destroyed, a barn had a very large tree leaning over its roof, and their several-acre property had multiple downed and damaged trees. They couldn’t believe all the work that was done in a single day to make their property and structures safe. Mrs. M stated, “All week we have felt overwhelmed and at a loss, but in one day you have given us hope and lifted our burden.” It was a good way to end this deployment and truly a blessing to serve.
The Nebraska District received a grant from The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod as a source of funds to help with the cost of this mercy work.
Your congregation can get connected with LERT to become certified disaster response volunteers! Learn more about LERT at https://ndlcms.org/disaster-response/.
