Photo essay: Christ’s mercy after Baton Rouge flooding

Roger Drinnon

8 years ago

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Story by Roger Drinnon

Photos by Erik M. Lunsford

Apart from the large piles of debris that line entire roadsides, many houses appear undamaged from outside until you walk inside. In the balmy late-summer weather of Louisiana, the stench of “black mold” comes quickly, and its smell lingers, as workers wear protective masks to avoid breathing in its spores. There is also drywall dust in the air, as moldy sections of flood-damaged walls must be cut away quickly and insulation must be removed during the “muck-out” phase of flood recovery.

It’s a dirty job that some Lutherans are glad to volunteer for, especially given that about 140 families of members from nearby Trinity Lutheran Church and those who are part of its staff and school were affected. Overall, about 40,000 homes were impacted by the flooding.

Thanks to the generosity of donors across the LCMS — whom the Synod relies on as de facto disaster responders — LCMS Disaster Response, in coordination with the LCMS Southern District, has provided approximately $200,000 in grants to help with flood-recovery efforts. This includes providing gift cards for victims’ immediate needs, grants to help fund the volunteer camp and grants to help families with children attending Baton Rouge Lutheran School.

In the aftermath of the flooding, local residents have been looking after one another, and members of Trinity have been assisting victims while also organizing and strategizing recovery efforts.

Large piles of debris line entire roadsides in the aftermath of the unexpected deluge that poured down in August.

A hand-drawn poster sent from Our Savior Lutheran Church, St. Charles, Mo., to Trinity Lutheran Church includes Ps. 46:1.

The Rev. David Buss quizzes students on the Ten Commandments at Baton Rouge Lutheran School during a visit Sept. 14. Generous donors across the Synod made it possible for LCMS Disaster Response to provide grants to keep children in the school, as families cope with the economic hardships brought by the flooding.

Volunteers like Don Teijelo of New Orleans have been essential in the muck-out efforts for flood-damaged homes.

The Rev. David Buss is a key figure in the flood recovery as he works with LCMS Disaster Response, the LCMS Southern District and Lutheran Church Charities to coordinate recovery efforts.

Thanks to the generosity of donors across the LCMS — whom the Synod relies on as de facto disaster responders — LCMS Disaster Response Director Rev. Ross Johnson, right, in coordination with the LCMS Southern District, presents Trinity Lutheran Church Pastor Rev. David Buss with $10,000 in gift cards to help provide for flood victims’ most urgent, essential needs.

LCMS Disaster Response Director Rev. Ross Johnson, center, leads a prayer with Paulette and Joseph Parker, parishioners of Trinity Lutheran Church. The two church members suffered damage to their home from the August flooding. Also present is Trinity Lutheran Church Pastor Rev. David Buss, left, and the Rev. Ruben Dominguez, pastor at El Buen Pastor Lutheran Church, McAllen, Texas.