LCC Disaster Response

06/19/2026

Today 20 LERT volunteers completed work at eleven homes. We were back in the same hard hit neighborhood we served at on Monday. We were welcomed by many of the homeowners for returning and for our hard work. We were told several times how much of a blessing we have been to them. All of us feel it is a blessing to serve.

06/18/2026

06/18/2026

LCC LERT teams are serving with the Indiana District in Merrillville, IN after an EF-2 tornado on June 11th. Over the last 2 days LCC staff and LERT volunteers have assessed 36 sites and completed ten. The damage is widespread and the destruction is overwhelming to those living here. As we are serving as the hands and feet of Christ, we are bringing His presence, hope and compassion to a hurting people. Today after helping a family we received a text: “What was done at our home looks 100% better than it did. We thank God for Christians such as yourself and the team. Your love for Christ shines bright!” We will continue daily through next week.

06/15/2026

Lutheran Church Charities Disaster Response volunteers are deploying to Merrillville, IN, and other sites in Northwest Indiana and Northern Illinois this week to bring chainsaw assistance, dragging, and debris removal after an 80 mph derecho hit last Wednesday, followed by a series of tornadoes which ripped through the region on Thursday.

The double-shot of severe weather produced at least 17 tornadoes in the area, including three EF-3 twisters of 136 to 165 mph hitting the towns of Streator and Washburn in Illinois and Hebron and Kouts in Indiana, according to the National Weather Service. Merrillville took a direct hit from an EF-2 tornado with estimated winds of 100-120 mph. Other areas suffered damage from EF-1 tornadoes.

Northwest Indiana, Pastor Josh Osbun, Indiana District of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod Disaster Response Coordinator, invited LCC to provide chainsaw assistance to multiple towns after three separate tornadoes struck the area. In Merrillville, an EF-2 twister destroyed more than 200 structures, including a local high school and middle school.

Osbun and Deaconess Kathy O’Day, director of LCC Disaster Response, have begun assessments of the damage and met with Merrillville officials, who expressed gratitude for the help.

“You are the only volunteer group so far offering free skilled labor to help our residents,” they told LCC.

The storms’ destruction appears widespread with large trees uprooted, roofs torn apart, power poles snapped, and wires strewn everywhere. Some areas are still restricted for traffic, as of this morning. 

In a survey of a few parts of town, residents told Osbun and O'Day that they feel overwhelmed and unsure of what the future holds.

“As we walked the neighborhoods, we met several homeowners and had the opportunity to share the hope of Christ and pray with them,” she said. “They couldn’t believe we were offering to return to help remove their uprooted and damaged trees from their homes and yards.”

LCC volunteers and LERT crews will deploy throughout Illinois and Indiana for a two-week assignment starting tomorrow through June 27. Trinity Lutheran Church and School in Crown Point, IN, will host the volunteers. LCC anticipates additional volunteer help from churches in South Bend, IN, and southern Indiana.

For O’Day, this deployment is very personal. The areas damaged by the Merrillville EF-2 tornado are four miles from her home, and the EF-3 twister in Hebron was about five miles away.

“It was a scary night,” she said.

Please keep these Indiana and Illinois communities in your prayers. May the LORD open doors for these volunteers to deliver the mercy, compassion, presence, and proclamation of Jesus.

Thank you for being a partner of Lutheran Church Charities.

Donate: https://pushpay.com/g/disasterresponse?fnd=gepJD8fDvx-dJFZ6Ifj8hg&lang=en&src=pcgl

06/05/2026

Last month, Pastor Torkelson's property in South Wisconsin suffered extensive tree damage from strong straight line winds. Over 20 mature trees were damaged or destroyed in the storm. He requested assistance from the SWD and this week 14 LERT volunteers from the NID and SWD spent two days clearing his property with sawyers, draggers and heavy equipment. His property is now cleared and safe once again. He expressed his sincere gratitude to all of the volunteers for all that was done. A cross was cut into one of his stumps as a reminder that Christ is always with us in every situation of life. As Mark Brueggemann stated, “It is our privilege, as LERT volunteers, to help those in need and especially those of the household of faith!"

05/31/2026

LERT crews put faith into action today in Spartanburg, SC, in a HUGE way serving families and community members who are still recovering from Hurricane Helene. From unloading to setting up to serving as ambassadors and helping hands, our volunteers shined the light of Christ with smiles and caring hearts. We're so thankful for all the ways you made this community outreach possible. Thanks be to God!!

05/30/2026

Greetings from Spartanburg, South Carolina! This weekend, LCC Disaster Response and LERT volunteers are on a Short-Term Mission Trip to help people in this community who are still feeling the effects of Hurricane Helene 21 months after the storm hit. More than 50 volunteers will serve together, including our friends from Lutheran Servants for Christ and Southeastern District, LCMS. We expect as many as 500 people from Spartanburg seeking assistance tomorrow. Pray for the Lord to be glorified.

Greetings from Spartanburg, South Carolina! This weekend, LCC is on a Short-Term Mission Trip to help people in this community who are still feeling the effe...

05/25/2026

This Memorial Day, we remember the heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation.

As we honor their courage, we also hold close the families, friends, and communities who carry their memory every day. We pray that God’s comfort surrounds all who grieve. ❤️💙🇺🇸

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” – Psalm 34:18

05/03/2026

LCC Disaster Response recognizes 21 new sawyers that completed LCMS basic and intermediate chainsaw training on May 1st – 2nd at Camp Manitoqua in Frankfort, IL. These new sawyers joined another 23 chainsaw team volunteers from the NID in clearing trees around this Christian camp from storm damage and to make trails passable. Thank you to our knowledgeable instructors, team leaders and volunteers willing to learn how to use their skills to help those in need. One of the new sawyers sent a text that read, “I sure appreciate the fabulous training and belonging to a great team! It is a blessing!”

04/30/2026

Today LERT volunteers worked at 3 homes. Mr. L. has a large farm property with a long driveway. As the tornado siren sounded for the third time on April 17, he saw the tornado heading straight toward him. Many trees and limbs along his driveway uprooted and fell, blocking his access. Neighbors cut a path for him to get through, but he wondered how he would get the rest of the downed trees cut that were along the driveway and all over his property. The team worked all day cutting and dragging the wood and brush to burn piles as well as cutting firewood length for future burning. Mr. L. was overwhelmed with everything that got done to clear his land and for being there for the day with him. At another home they also carefully and successfully removed an uprooted split leaning tree that was over a neighbor’s fence and a utility box. The homeowner was so relieved to have this done without causing any further damage.

At Miss P.’s home, the lift team removed hangers from several trees in her yard. Another team had worked at her home over the weekend removing fallen trees and limbs. She is so grateful that we returned to make her yard safe, as she knew she could never afford what was done. She expressed her sincere thanks for helping and caring for her. It is a blessing to serve!