Disaster Response

Do you need PHYSICAL
disaster response assistance?

Volunteers are NEEDED!
Sign up with LERT today.

GIVE a Financial Donation Today!
Donate online here or mail a check.

Congregations and families across Florida and Georgia continue cleaning up after Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
We have two churches with flooding and other churches with exterior damage. We are in the process of contacting congregations to determine the extent of staff and members who have been affected by the storm.

How can you help? Volunteers are needed! Contact Jay Wendland directly if you are not LERT trained but are willing and able to volunteer. (LERT volunteer opportunities are listed below)

Your financial donations are also needed. Please prayerfully consider giving financial assistance directly to the FLGA District Disaster Response Fund at flgadistrict.org/give.

Volunteers are needed!

We are collecting gift cards to distribute to churches, schools, and families affected by the recent hurricanes. 

Gift Card Examples:

  • Walmart
  • Lowes
  • Home Depot
  • Target
  • Grocery Stores (Publix, Food Lion, Winn Dixie, etc.)

Mail gift cards to:
Florida-Georgia District
Attn: Disaster Response
5850 T.G. Lee Blvd Suite 500
Orlando, FL  32822

The Lutheran Early Response Teams (LERT) ministry responds to immediate and long-term needs following natural and man-made disasters, working through LCMS districts and congregations, international Lutheran churches and other partners. LERT builds partner capacity to respond with Christian care to needs within the church and their communities.

Anchored in Christ Curriculum
LCMS Disaster Response has developed Bible study resources under the title Anchored in Christ to offer hope, comfort, and peace in Christ to a congregation and its surrounding community during a time of crisis.  

Anchored in Christ can be used for a single Bible study or congregational event, or the four modules can be used over an entire year to bring extended comfort and hope to a congregation and community during a time of trial. You can choose from two kinds of Anchored in Christ kits, both available at no cost. Click here to learn more!

We have provided some helpful resources for you as you prepare for the hurricane season. Please read the information in the links below. 

FLGA District Tropical Storm Helene Preparation Email_9.24.2024
• FLGA District Hurricane Prep Email
NOAA 2024 Hurricane Season
CDC—Preparing for Hurricane or Other Storms

The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod’s disaster response ministry responds to immediate and long-term needs following natural and man-made disasters, working through LCMS districts and congregations, international Lutheran churches, and other partners. We build partners’ capacity to respond with Christian care to needs within the church and their communities.

God calls us to be His hands reaching out to bring what peace, relief and assistance we can to those who suffer the devastating effects of disasters.  To that end, the Florida-Georgia District is training congregation members to be certified as a Lutheran Early Response Team (LERT) member.


Following a disaster, people with chainsaw skills are in high demand.  That is why the Florida-Georgia District wants to equip Lutheran Early Response Team (LERT) members the ability to provide this service safely and efficiently. There are currently no available sessions. Read more about what training entails below.

During the training, you will learn the following:

  • How to cut down trees
  • How to buck and limb fallen trees
  • The physics of felling trees
  • How to clear debris in a safe and beneficial manner
  • Safety with chainsaws
  • Personal protective equipment(PPE)

The chainsaw training serves to increase our dedicated volunteers’ capabilities and give them added capacity to extend mercy to those who haven’t the means or skills to perform this dangerous work in their communities.

If you would like to sponsor a LERT training or chainsaw training event, please contact Jay Wendland, FLGA District Disaster Relief Coordinator at 407-258-5041 or you may email Jay at jwendland@flgadistrict.org.

LERT is a mercy-based group, “We show the love of Christ to people who are hurting and in need.

To access more resources from the Florida-Georgia District, click the button below!