“You who live in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shadow of the Almighty, will say to the Lord, ‘My refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust’” (Psalm 91:1-2). 

Friends:

Last night, Hurricane Milton hit Florida as a powerful Category 3 hurricane, bringing storm surge, heavy rains, winds and tornadoes. Milton is one of the strongest hurricanes to hit the area in decades. At least four people have died, and millions are without electricity. This storm is particularly devastating because many communities were only beginning to recover from Hurricane Helene, which hit the Southeast just two weeks ago.  

Working alongside the Florida-Bahamas Synod and other partners, Lutheran Disaster Response will continue to respond. We anticipate that our greatest impact will be reaching those in underserved areas and in the long-term, community-focused recovery and care for which Lutheran Disaster Response is known. 

You may designate your gift to “hurricane response” or make a general gift to Lutheran Disaster Response; the latter provides us with the flexibility to go where help is needed most. 

With gratitude,

The Rev. Daniel Rift
Director, ELCA Service and Justice Giving
ELCA World Hunger and Lutheran Disaster Response

P.S. Find information and resources about Lutheran Disaster Response's hurricane relief at ELCA.org/hurricanes.