Hurricane Dorian

The South Carolina Synod Stands Ready

A large hurricane is heading for the Carolinas. At the synod office we are following Dorian and sharing information as we get it. Information about housing assistance and official government resources are available below. We will keep the Hurricane Dorian page updated regularly. Please keep us updated on your congregation’s safety and where help is needed. As of the time of this email Dorian is expected to skirt the coast, or perhaps make landfall. Even if the eye-wall does not official landfall, the powerful northwestern side of the storm will cause heavy wind and flooding due to rainfall and storm surge along the coast and waterways.

Giving Options

The synod is making available options to receive donations to assist those in need because of this storm throughout the Carolinas. One option is giving by text. To give by test simply dial 864-383-1482. If this is your first time giving to use by text, you will be prompted to attach a card or another way to send the payment. After that, simply type in the dollar amount you would like to send (no $ is required) followed by a space and then the fund name. (i.e. 10 South Carolina Disaster Response) Another option is to give online. Click the give now button below.

Give Now

Checks may be made payable and sent to:

South Carolina Synod
Attn: South Carolina Disaster Response
1003 Richland Street
Columbia, SC 29201

Please put SC Disaster Response in the memo field of your check.

More ways to help

Volunteer Services
The state of South Carolina is asking volunteers to NOT SELF-DEPLOY into hard-hit areas. Showing up to communities impacted by the hurricane will create an additional burden for first responders. Volunteer opportunities often require specialized training, and the state wants to ensure all volunteers are safe during recovery operations.

Clothing
Please do not donate clothes. They often become a second disaster.

Food
SCEMD is requesting that South Carolina citizens take collected food items to local food banks or other charitable organizations. These local food banks and organizations work with the state and will distribute food to the survivors in South Carolina and other impacted areas.

Congregations that need help
The Crumley Archives specializes in helping congregations rehabilitate records after water damage, and have contacts all over the state that can assist parishes.

Congregations with damage to the building
If you need financial assistance with repairs, please contact the ELCA Mission Investment Fund. They are prepared to help in various ways. If you need to replace your paperwork and have a loan with them, then are able to help there as well.

Updates from the South Carolina Synod and our Mission Partners

LSC Stands Ready
September 6, 2019

From Paul Dunn, NC/SC Disaster Director for Lutheran Service Carolinas.

New Information regarding NC/SC Crisis Cleanup.
Temporary contact information until a website is established.

Crisis Cleanup 844.965.1386 (Aaron Titus)

aaron@crisiscleanup.org

www.crisiscleanup.org

Hurricane Dorian Cleanup Hotline
UPDATE #1: Due to the delayed landfall the Home Cleanup Hotline will be open in support of survivors of Hurricane Dorian from September 2 through September 20, 2019. Survivors needing assistance with cleaning from the flood can call 844-965-1386.

Please feel free to download, print, and distribute the following flyers/handbills and share the social media files and tag @CrisisCleanup on your organization social media platforms.

Flyers/Handbills

Hurricane Dorian Home Cleanup Flyer (ENGLISH)

Download

Hurricane Dorian Home Cleanup Flyer (SPANISH)

Download

September 5, 2019

From today’s SC VOAD call:

Many national, regional and local groups in stand-by mode but ready to assist.
Our LSC Disaster team continues to build a cumulative resource/partner availability list.
If you see/have any kind of supply/volunteer need in SC- just let us know and your LSC teammates will be instantly on it.
Preliminary reports showing more than 20 tornadoes across NC and SC at this point
Continuing storm surge is a serious concern at the moment for NC and SC.

September 4, 2019

Lutheran Services Carolinas North Carolina and South Carolina area program pre-disaster plans are in place.

Camp Kinard Is Available to Help

A message from the Executive Director of the South Carolina Lutheran Retreat Centers, Deacon Dallas Jolliff Shealy

For people needing a place to stay during the storm, Camp Kinard is open!! Just give us a call at 803-532-2235 and leave a message and head our way!! We are not prepared for pets, so please make other arrangements for your furry family members. Stay safe!!

Lutheridge Helping those in Dorian’s Path

“It will serve as a pavilion, a shade by day from heat, and a refuge and a shelter from the storm and rain.” – Isaiah 4:6

Lutheridge Camp & Conference Center, in Arden, NC, is now open for those who are required or choosing to evacuate in the path of Hurricane Dorian. Housing is free of charge. Availability is limited, on a first come first served basis. Housing is available through Friday, September 13th. Guests are asked to please bring bedding and sheets as circumstances allow. Pets are permitted for those staying in cabin housing. Reservations must be made in advance of your arrival by calling Lutheridge Registration at 828-209-6328.

Updates from the South Carolina Emergency Management Division

Residents should report any damages to their property from Hurricane #Dorian by using the damage assessment tool in the SC Emergency Manager Mobile app in the Apple App Store:https://t.co/Zws4QXeLXm… – And on Google Play: https://t.co/WliCowejpL… #EmergencyPrep #SCTweets #SCWX pic.twitter.com/BTVXbwjoy0
— SCEMD (@SCEMD) September 5, 2019

Wednesday, September 5, 2019

In coordination with local officials, Governor Henry McMaster has lifted the evacuation orders for all residents in Beaufort, Jasper, and Colleton counties, effective at 3:00 PM today, Thursday, September 5.

At the request of local officials, evacuation orders for Charleston, Dorchester, Berkeley, Georgetown, and Horry counties remain in effect as Hurricane Dorian continues to pose a threat to those areas. As the storm progresses, the governor will lift evacuation orders in coordination with local law enforcement and emergency management officials.

Returning residents are encouraged to exercise patience and expect lengthy travel times, blocked roadways, or detours back to evacuated areas and are asked not to drive around barricades or use emergency lanes that are needed for first responders.

While the weather conditions have improved in these counties, motorists should be cautious of fallen trees, downed power lines, and standing water in and around roadways. Limited power outages continue to affect the area, and returning citizens may experience outages.

The governor also restored local officials’ authority over school schedules and government office schedules in Beaufort, Jasper, and Colleton counties.

Wednesday, September 4, 2019

From SCEMD: Residents Must Leave Now
Residents in designated evacuation zones must leave no later than Wednesday morning to reach a safe distance from Hurricane Dorian. Due to the increasing threat of dangerous conditions such as storm surge and high winds, now is the time to heed the evacuation order issued by Governor Henry McMaster.

Lane reversal operations on I-26 will cease at noon Wednesday so that crews can seek shelter at safe locations outside of the storm’s projected path.
As a reminder, residents in the following zones must evacuate now:

Beaufort County Evacuation Zone A
Berkeley County Evacuation Zones B, G
Charleston County Evacuation Zones A, B, C
Colleton County Evacuation Zones A, B
Dorchester County Evacuation Zone D
Georgetown County Evacuation Zone A
Horry County Evacuation Zone A
Jasper County Evacuation Zone A
Based on the storm’s projected path along with predicted storm surge and high tides, roads may be inaccessible due to flooding, bridges may be closed due to high winds and emergency help may not be available.

If you are not sure what evacuation zone you live in, see the Know Your Zone page on SCEMD’s website.

Information about lane reversals is available here.

A listing of Emergency Shelters is available from the SCEMD website here.

Monday, September 2, 2019

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster has ordered mandatory evacuations as of Noon today for:

Colleton County Evacuation Zones A, B
Beaufort County Evacuation Zone A
Jasper County Evacuation Zone A
Charleston County Evacuation Zones A, B, C
Dorchester County Evacuation Zone D
Berkeley County Evacuation Zones B, G
Horry County Evacuation Zone A
Georgetown County Evacuation Zone A

If you are not sure what evacuation zone you live in, see the Know Your Zone page on SCEMD’s website.

Information about lane reversals is available here.

A listing of Emergency Shelters is available from the SCEMD website here.

Saturday, August 31, 2019

Governor Henry McMaster today issued an executive order declaring a state of emergency and urges South Carolinians to prepare for the possibility of Hurricane Dorian impacting the state. The executive order enables all state agencies to coordinate resources and sets into effect the State Emergency Operations Plan.

The declaration by the governor also authorizes state and local emergency management agencies to begin mobilizing assets and resources to be staged along the coast ahead of any potential impact from Hurricane Dorian.

“Given the strength and unpredictability of the storm, we must prepare for every possible scenario,” said Gov. McMaster. “State assets are being mobilized now and Team South Carolina is working around the clock to be ready, if necessary. We encourage all South Carolinians who may be impacted by Hurricane Dorian to be vigilant and prepare now – there is no reason for delay.”

South Carolina Emergency Management Division Resources

SCEMD Twitter

SCEMD Facebook

LATEST NEWS
Stay up to date with the latest news releases

HURRICANE GUIDE
Download a PDF guide to help you prepare

KNOW YOUR ZONE
View updated hurricane evacuation zones

SC EMERGENCY MANAGER APP
Download the app to find your zone and make your plan

NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER
Track the latest storm information

Getting Ready: How do I become a 72 Hour Lutheran?

Being prepared to take care of your own family and your own congregational members allows you to then reach out and help others within your community. Here are some things that you can do to get ready:

Make sure you and your family have all the necessary supplies to be a “72 Hour Lutheran”.
If your congregation is evacuated, let the synod office know where you are going. Please include a contact number, address, and the name of a local contact.
Once a hurricane hits your area, please contact us and let us know how you are doing.
Make sure you have a system to check on the elderly and their caregivers, being certain that they have a plan to evacuate or shelter in place with food and supplies. Also, include checking on single parents or parents who work in emergency (EMS, medical personnel, fire fighters), who may not be home during a hurricane leaving a spouse and children with needs.
Plan to respond to needs in your own community once you have cared for your members. Simple responses like offering a place for cell phone charging if you have a generator, child care for parents whose homes are impacted, cold water, grills to cook food (that would spoil in the freezer), or crews to cut trees and help families are all ways to be the church during the first week of recovery.
Protect congregational records and equipment by wrapping them in plastic, moving items away from windows, and setting them, if possible, on higher ground.

How do I become a 72 Hour Lutheran?

A 72 Hour Lutheran is a person who happens to be Lutheran and has enough supplies in their home to meet their household’s basic needs for 72 hours.

Checklist

Discuss the type of hazards that could affect your family. Know your home’s vulnerability to storm surge, flooding, and wind.
Locate a safe room or the safest areas in your home for each hurricane hazard. In certain circumstances, the safest areas may not be your home but within your community.
If necessary, determine an escape route from your home and designate places to meet. (Note: these should be measured in tens of miles, rather than hundreds of miles.) Have an out-of-state friend as a family contact so all your family members have a single point of contact.
Make a plan now for what to do with your pets if you need to evacuate.
Call the church and make sure that they have all your information.
Create a disaster supply kit
Proper identification
Immunization records
Medications
Moisture wipes
Flashlight/Batteries
Radio – Battery operated and NOAA weather radio
Telephones
Full charged cell phone with extra battery
A traditional (not cordless) telephone set
Cash (with small bills)
Extra keys
Tools – keep a set with you during the storm
Vehicle fuel tank (kept filled)
Pet care items
Stock up on non-perishable emergency supplies
Juices
Snack foods
Foods for infants or the elderly
Cooking tools
Non-electric can opener
Fuel
Paper plates and plastic utensils
First-aid kit
Medicines
Prescriptions
Toiletries
Hygiene items

(This article has been adapted from Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod and is used with permission.)

A prayer for those in the storms path

Merciful God, when the storms rage and threaten to overtake us, awaken our faith to know the power of your peace. Deliver us from our fear and ease our anxiety. Help us to endure the time of uncertainty and give us strength to face the challenges ahead. Give us the assurance of your presence even in this time so that we can cling to your promise of hope and life shown to us through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

adapted from ELW Pastoral care, page 174

Join us in prayer and partnership, and to help spread the word in your congregation. You can find additional resources for worship here.

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