When disaster strikes in the community, local Lutherans seek to serve their neighbors in need, demonstrating Christ’s compassion for people by promoting hope, healing and wholeness for disaster survivors.

Just before 5 p.m. local time in Japan (early morning in the US) on March 11, 2011, the largest earthquake ever to hit Japan with a magnitude of 8.9 struck. The earthquake has caused the potential of a tsunami with waves up to 30 feet. Your gifts to ELCA Disaster Response, designated for the Pacific Earthquake & Tsunami, will be used entirely (100 percent) in response to this disaster.

→ Download these Prayer Resources (pdf file) prepared in response to the earthquake and tsunami in Japan for for personal and congregational use.

→ Our blog post, “Japanese Congregation Near Epicenter Contacted“ helps us connect with our brothers and sisters in this grieving land. 

Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR) is a collaborative ministry of the ELCA and The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. Locally, Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area (LSS/NCA) is the Lutheran Disaster Response affiliate for the Metro D.C. area.

• Contact: Deacon Kati Miller-Holland, 202-723-3000 ext. 200

Volunteers assembled One+Plus Disaster Response Kits at the 2009 Martin Luther King Day Service Breakfast, cosponsored by LSS/NCA and Lutheran Volunteer Corps, ready to help neighbors in need.

Have you prepared yourself and your family for a natural disaster? For National Preparedness Month in September 2008, the Rev. Kevin Massey, director, Lutheran Disaster Response, narrated this brief video to help you formulate a preparedness plan.

Watch Video