Rebuilding after a storm takes time – a long time. It’s hard to believe it’s been two years since Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee pounded our region and devastated the lives and homes of our friends, loved ones and neighbors. Committed to the long-haul of recovery from these storms is Lutheran Disaster Response-Eastern PA (LDR – EPA).
Flood Angels
This September, two years after being evacuated from her flooded out Luzerne County home, 96-year old Mrs. B is finally moving back in. Flooding from Hurricane Irene left six feet of water on the first floor of her three-story house making it uninhabitable. While she has stayed with her daughter in Ohio, LDR-EPA volunteers have been busy clearing out debris, mud and mold, installing drywall and doors, building back steps, replacing kitchen cabinets, and painting from floor to ceiling.
Grateful and blessed for their hard work, Mrs. B and her family have one word to describe the volunteers – “Angels.”
Double-Whammy
Life is also getting back to normal for Tera Morris and her four children in Glenside, Montgomery County. Heavy rain seriously damaged the roof of Tera’s home and the ceiling to her daughter’s bedroom. When her insurance claim was denied, she didn’t know where to turn. Tera tried to do some of the work herself, but after she lost her job, the money for repairs ran out.
“It was a double-whammy. As a parent you’re supposed to provide shelter for your children and my shelter was falling apart,” explained Tera, who through a Montgomery County assistance program was connected to LDR-EPA.
A team of volunteers worked every weekend for three months in the spring to get the home back in shape. They repaired the chimney and the roof, installed dry wall and painted, and replaced part of the ceiling of her daughter’s room.
“It’s just beautiful,” Tera said with tears in her eyes. “I was so blessed. It was such a God-send to me. The volunteers were so nice and patient with me and I really appreciate it. I don’t know what I would have done without this assistance.”
For information about becoming an LDR-EPA volunteer, contact Julia Menzo (Southeastern PA) at 267-464-7740, jmenzo@libertylutheran.org; or Ruth Doty (Northeastern PA) at 610-770-9205, rdoty@lutherancongregationalservices.org.
You can also support LDR-EPA by clicking here to donate securely online.
This is one of many stories featured in the Fall Edition of Liberty Lutheran’s At Liberty Newsletter. Click here to view the complete digital newsletter.
