Storms happen, but when there’s a tree that falls or your house is damaged, who is ready to help? Our Missouri District LERT (Lutheran Early Response Team) is ready to respond with clean up crews and the loving care of the Gospel. LERT teams are made up of LCMS-trained volunteer church members who are ready to lend a hand in the early days of clean up after storms do damage.

How does it work? People can reach out to the Missouri District’s Regional District Disaster Coordinators to alert them about storm damage in their area. Coordinators begin to contact and work along side a local congregations and LERT volunteer teams leaders who might be able to assemble and deploy for the needed clean up and ministry efforts.

Help is commonly offered due to downed trees and home damages from high winds, tornadoes, or flooding. Volunteers have a variety of tasks: removing debris, organizing supplies, or engaging with hospitality, but all team members are trained to share the love of God with comforting Gospel care and prayer. Home owners experience a greater sense of care when we serve together in organized teams alongside local and state authorities.

Safe and effective service requires training and support. The Missouri District partners with congregations to host these trainings, with some being planned for the fall. We encourage all congregation members to register to receive notifications on training events and deployment needs at www.LCMS-LERT.org. It’s free to register with no obligations asked of registrants, and is an easy and central place for you to receive LERT updates on trainings and events.

Local LERT teams must stay prepared, meeting often to talk about areas in need, discuss team availability, register new volunteers, resupply outdated safety equipment, raise funds for deployment supplies such as flood buckets, do maintenance on tools/engines, discuss protocols/jobs (see list of descriptions in the manual) and encourage team members with prayer and a devotion. By meeting regularly, LERT team members remain excited to serve God’s love near or far. To receive more information, follow us on Facebook and register today to receive Missouri District LERT updates at www.LCMS-LERT.org.