hello

[Mike Rinehart]

Dear Gulf Coast Leaders,

 

Sorry I’ve been off the grid. Our home is fine, but we have no power,
internet, cell phone, text messages or land line. I’ve been soooooo
isolated. No damage to our house, but our neighborhood’s a mess, like
everyone’s. This morning I preached at Holy Comforter in Kingwood, and then
I headed to Brenham for power, phone and internet. Thanks to Pastor Lawrence
Bade, it looks like we might set up a temporary office here. Of course, our
deepest concerns are for our folks in Galveston. More on that below.

 

Communication

PLEASE CALL THE SYNOD OFFICE AND LET US KNOW THAT YOU ARE OKAY, AND WHERE
YOU ARE. 281-873-5665. Or, if you have internet access, BLOG in at
http://futurewithhope.org/blog/?cat=119. We’ve started an Excel spreadsheet
with what we already know and will post it tomorrow so you can look up
people you want to check on, until the phones are more reliable.

 

People

One of the first things we’ll try to do is get you information on people and
congregations. Staff are all fine. Reyna’s has the hardest time. Her
neighborhood is flooded and a tree is down on her car port. Pastor Doug
Guthier is in West Houston and ELCA VP Carlos Peña is in College Station.
Pastors Mike and Sharon Burns are okay in Sugarland. 

 

Situation

Galveston as you probably know is not open yet. No power, water, sewer,
phones, grocery stores, gas, etc. 1,948 have been rescued since the storm,
394 by air. We’ll get you info as it comes in. In the Houston area 99% of
Entergy customers are without power. They are saying “weeks” now. One report
I heard said one month to get everyone back on line. Obviously, some will
come on sooner. Last night we had a lot of rain. Bayous backed up. I-45 was
closed in places, as well as 610, Beltway 8 and the Katy Freeway. Tomorrow
is supposed to be dry, so recovery efforts will step up. They’re still
asking people to stay home. They’re not ready for businesses to gear up and
rush hour traffic to begin.  

 

Phones

The synod office phones are being forwarded to Assistant-to-the-Bishop Peggy
Hahn’s cell phone. At some point this week, we will forward the synod office
phones to St. Paul’s Brenham, where there are six lines and hopefully
volunteers to take calls and be make calls to find everyone.  

 

Volunteers

If you or someone you know are willing help out with calling pastors and
congregations as well as receiving calls at our temporary office at St. Paul
Brenham call the synod office line: 281-873-5665. 

 

Focus

 

The first 72 hours of a disaster are Search and Rescue, then we move into
short-term recovery, which will last until the end of the year at least.
Then long term recovery. In the search and rescue phase people are often on
their own as communications are down. We know it will be hard to reach some
folks, but we’ve already a head start. Tomorrow we will step up with
assessing the damage. 

 

שלמ

 

Mike Rinehart

 

For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing,
but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.  – I Corinthians 1:18

 

Michael Rinehart, bishop

The Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

12707 I-45 North Frwy, Suite 580

Houston, TX 77060-1239

281-873-5665

www.GulfCoastSynod.org <http://www.gulfcoastsynod.org/> 

 

cid:image001.jpg at 01C8E732.76E2DF60

 

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