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We have already reached out to pastors in western NC and SC to see how they, their congregations, and communities fared through Isaias. Most of the responses we have received so far have indicated that except for some flash flooding in low-lying locations, they are not aware of any damage.

But even as the skies were clearing for many in the west, we saw more and more reports of flooding or serious storm and tornado damage in other areas of the Carolinas on the news and in social media posts.

Now we are turning to all of you to ask if you are aware of any damage in your communities across the Carolinas.

This information will help us determine how we can partner with others as part of our work with NC and SC VOAD (Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster), if we need to ask any of our MESS (Mental, Emotional, and Spiritual Support) Care Team to respond, or if we should apply for any grant funding to assist with local needs.

We would be very grateful for your help! You can contact us by phone or email.

We have also been in touch with the Disaster Response Coordinators in both the Southeastern Synod and Florida Bahamas Synod to offer our prayers and support as they recover from the most direct impact of Isaias.

Please join us in prayer for all those around the world impacted by disaster. There have been many disasters in the news this weekend!

Gracious God,
Your word of peace stills the storms that rage in our world. Bring hope to places that know devastation in the calm after Isaias. Bring comfort to those who grieve the loss of loved ones and property. Let your love be known through those who work to bring order in the chaos. Help us to shoulder the burden of suffering and make us bearers of the hope that can be found in you through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

This prayer is from the ELCA Worship Resource for Storms and Flooding, which is available here.

Thanks to those who have already reached out to us for project suggestions for God’s Work Our Hands Sunday!   Here are three suggestions for projects to support the work of LDR Carolinas now or in the future:

Clean Up Kits (aka flood buckets) 

We want to have these kits available before the next major flooding event happens here in the Carolinas!  Instructions are available here.  Unfortunately, we have limited storage space.  If possible when you assemble these kits, store them in your congregation but let us know how many are available.  We will keep an inventory of the available kits so that we can distribute them quickly when they are needed.   (If you do not have room to store them, let us know and we can make arrangements to gather and store them.)

Quilts

We have an ongoing need for new quilts.   These are given to homeowners when their home has been repaired or rebuilt.  Use the same guidelines for size and construction used for quilts for Lutheran World Relief.  Instructions are available here.  Again, we have limited storage space. Please let us know when you have quilts available for us.

Gift Cards

We use gift cards to purchase cleaning supplies, tools, and building materials as well as items to fill Blessing Baskets.  Those baskets are given to homeowners when the work on their home is complete.   Gift cards allow us to purchase items when and where they are needed with no concerns about storage space.  We suggest $25 gift cards for Home Depot, Lowe’s, Walmart, or Amazon. Mail these to LDR Carolinas, 1988 Lutheran Synod Drive, Salisbury NC 28144

Thank you for your ongoing support of the long-term recovery process following Helene in both NC and SC!

Congregational Preparedness Workshops

Learn how to help your congregation prepare before the next disaster impacts your community!  Bring a team from your congregation to a FREE Congregational Preparedness Workshop near you.  Choose from these dates and locations:

August 29: Christus Victor, Columbia SC
September 19: Our Father, Greensboro NC
October 17: Grace, Hendersonville NC
November 7: Friendship, Taylorsville
November 21: St Michael, Greenville

Workshops begin at 10 am and end by 2 pm on each of these dates.  Lunch is provided.  Pre-registration is required.  Use this QR code or register here.

For more information, contact Ruth Ann Sipe at ruthann@ldrcarolinas.org

2026 Preparedness Mini-Grants

Thanks to funding from the Michael Peeler/Virginia Casey Fund in North Carolina and the SC Synod, LDR Carolinas was recently able to provide Preparedness Mini-Grants up to $750 to 26 congregations and ministries. The proposed projects included first aid kits and training, Stop the Bleed kits, AEDs, fire extinguishers, emergency flashlights, Darkness to Light training, Unwanted Intruder training, and more.

NC recipients included:
Agape + Kure Beach Ministries
Emmanuel, High Point
Friendship, Taylorsville
Good Shepherd, Goldsboro
Good Shepherd, Raleigh
Lebanon, Cleveland
Lord of Life, Garner
Morning Star, Matthews
Old St. Paul, Newton
St. John, Taylorsville
St. Martin, Concord
St. Paul, Crouse
Shiloh, Lewisville

SC recipients included:
Bethel, White Rock
Colony, Newberry
Emmanuel, West Columbia
Messiah, Hanahan
Mt. Hermon, West Columbia
Pisgah, Lexington
Re: CenterGVL, Greenville
St. Matthew, Pomaria
St. Paul, Aiken
St. Peter, Pawley’s Island
St. Thomas, Chapin
Shepherd of the Sea, Murrells Inlet
SC Lutheran Retreat Centers
Trinity, Georgetown