Disaster Prep & Recovery

Watch the Hurricane Recovery 101 Training video HERE

72 Hour Lutheran – Be prepared for 72 hours after a disaster. A list of everything the supplies you will need to meet your household’s basic needs for 72 hours.
- Helpful tips for you, your family, and your congregation to be prepared for a disaster.
Order of Worship in the Aftermath of a Hurricane

Upbring Disaster Response – Prepared to step in and help families and communities in the aftermath of natural disasters – tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, or wildfires – in Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana.
American Red Cross – Immediate Disaster Assistance – If you have immediate emergency needs for food, clothing, shelter or medical care, visit one of the local offices of the American Red Cross or call toll-free number: 1-800-Red Cross. Donate to the Red Cross to assist with disaster relief.
Disaster Assistance – Apply for disaster relief or check status of your application
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
Hurricane Fact Sheet – A guide to help you before, during, and after a hurricane
How to Communicate Before, During, & After a Major Disaster
Houston Recovers – Resources for Houston Disaster recovery

Complete the Disaster Preparedness and Response brief survey
Worship in Times of Public Health Concerns – When anxiety is high in our culture, worship continues to be a primary location for the proclamation both of the good news of Jesus Christ and of the continuing compassion and care of God in the midst of our humanity. It is a place where we can find solace and reassurance in the midst of our fears. Great care should be taken to continue this central ministry of the church, especially in these times. Congregations are advised to use common sense and intentional action with regard to preventing the spread of pathogens while continuing to gather around the means of grace.
Congregational Planning Checklist for a Pandemic – This is a supplement for you and your congregation on how to plan for the impact of a pandemic in your church. A pandemic is something many of us have not experienced. Our goal at Lutheran Disaster Response is not to prepare you completely for a pandemic outbreak, but to give you a handle on what might occur and how to keep your congregation running if such a disaster occurs.

Communication

For the most current updates, please connect with us on social media:

Facebook
- Gulf Coast Synod Disaster Relief
- Gulf Coast Synod
Twitter
- Gulf Coast Synod

Donations are also accepted for our Synod’s Disaster Fund. This is an ongoing fund to support disaster response and recovery in and around our synod.

Emergency Management Coordinators for Counties in Texas

State of Texas Governor’s Division Emergency Management:
- - Chief Nim Kid 512.424.2208 website
  - Region 2 State Coordinator Shaun Miller 281.517.1353
  - Region 6 State Coordinator Jay Hall 281.531.4336
Brazoria County: Steve Rosa 979.864.1801 website
City of Houston: George T. Buenik 713.837.0311 website
Fayette County: Janet Carrigan 979.968.6469 website
Fort Bend County: Jeff Braun 281.342.6185 website
Galveston County: Mark Henry 281.309.5002 website
Harris County: Mark Sloan 713.881.3100 website
Jefferson County: Michael White 409.835.8757 website
Montgomery County: Darren Hess 936.523.3901 website
Washington County: Bryan Ruemke 979.353.7683 website

Emergency Management Coordinators for Parishes in Louisiana

State of Louisiana Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness: Executive Director James Waskom 225.925.7500 website
Calcasieu Parish (Lake Charles): Dick Gremillion 337.721.3800 website
East Baton Rouge Parish (Baton Rouge): Clay Rives 225.389.2100 website
Jefferson Parish (Kenner, Marrero, Metarie): Joseph Valiente 504.349.5360 website
Lafayette Parish (Lafayette): Craig Stansbury 337.291.5075 website
Orleans Parish (New Orleans): Collin Arnold 504.658.8700 website
St. Bernard Parish (Chalmette): John Rahaim 504.278.4268 website
St. John the Baptist Parish (La Place): Travis Perriloux 985.652.2222 website
St. Tammany Parish (Mandeville, Slidell):Dexter Accardo 985.898.2359 website

“

For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.

~ Jeremiah 29:11

“

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Contact Pastor Ele Clay:

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Born and raised in Taiwan, moved to Houston in 2014, Evangeline speaks Mandarin, Taiwanese, and English. She joined Faith Lutheran Church in Bellaire in 2015, moved to Berkeley for seminary in 2018, and recently returned to Houston after one year internship in Torrance and obtained her MDiv degree with Evangelism and Justice concentration. She had multiple work experiences for administrative tasks, including part-time assistant in TEEM office at PLTS. She embraces diversity, has passion for justice and service work, and commits to support the ministries of the Church.

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Chris is passionate about networking and identifying new ways to support individuals and congregations as they grow a deeper, bolder, more consequential faith. Chris maintains the LEAD website, supports LEAD's signature coaching, and collaborates on the 10 Minute Toolbox.

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Peggy Hahn serves as the Executive Director for LEAD, aligning passionate leaders, resources, and practices to grow Christian leaders who grow faith communities in our world. Peggy is a frequent speaker and author who is never without a pile of books to read and seeks coaches and mentors for herself in an ongoing quest to learn and grow. Peggy is committed to listening to pastors and leaders of all ages for insight into the ways they are growing in their own faith and what LEAD can do to support them in their development as leaders.

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John Roalson began his work in the Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod in May of 2023 as the gift planner with Lutheran Foundation of the Southwest.

John received his undergraduate degree from Texas Lutheran University. Prior to coming to the foundation, John worked in the financial services industry for 20 years. He resides in Katy with his wife, Paula and has two daughters, Hannah & Abigail – all of whom also graduated from Texas Lutheran. John is a member of Christ the King Lutheran Church in Houston.

John is available to meet with individuals and couples to help them plan legacy gifts that will bless family and loved ones, the ministries of our church, and other non-profit organizations that are important to them. He also works with congregations to assist them in being prepared to receive, celebrate, and steward legacy gifts from members and friends of the congregation. Low-cost, professionally managed investment options for congregations and other ministries are available through Lutheran Foundation of the Southwest and the ELCA Foundation.

I have been an office administrator for 15+ years, with a great amount of time in the health industry. I love making organizations organized and running smoothly.

I have lived in Texas most of my life. My husband Ernie and I have 3 grown daughters and 2 grandchildren. Outside of work I love to work on our small farm, crochet, cook and spend time with family and friends.

A native Houstonian, Chris graduated from Concordia University in Austin and went to seminary in Berkeley. His first call was in Philadelphia. In 2003, he moved to New Orleans to serve as Mission Redeveloper for House of Prayer in Harvey. Following Hurricane Katrina, Chris relocated to Houston where he was called as Mission Developer and founding pastor of Celebration in Cypress, where he served for over 7 years. Chris is a member of the Order of Lutheran Franciscans. He enjoys traveling and joining friends for trivia at local venues.

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Prior to serving on Synod Staff, Tracey Breashears Schultz served Zion Lutheran Church in Houston, Texas. Prior to that, she served at MacArthur Park Lutheran Church in San Antonio. A graduate of The University of Arkansas, Tracey received her Masters of Divinity from Wartburg Theological Seminary, and her Doctor of Ministry from the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago.

Before her journey toward ordained ministry, Tracey was a Spanish teacher and a trainer for a medical software company.

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Blog | Twitter | Facebook

Serving as bishop of the Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America since 2007 is an honor, a challenge, and a joy. It has given me the opportunity to work with many gifted pastors and committed people of faith. We’re creating communities that make disciples who serve the world in Jesus’ name.

For information updated weekly (sometimes daily) on news, events, ideas, books, schedules, and so on, visit my blog.

Evangelism is one of my passions, and our synod’s highest priority. Evangelism is making fully devoted followers of Christ, who taught love of God and neighbor as the greatest commandments. Every congregation is a mission, and every pastor is a missionary.

Together we plant new congregations, send missionaries, prepare rostered leaders, support companion synods, camps, campus ministries, and more. Our vision is to be a network of growing, Christ-centered, outwardly-focused congregations passing the faith to the next generation.

Biographical Information

Born: August 2, 1961, Columbus, Ohio

Wife: Susan

Children: John and Yuliana

Parents: Warren and Patricia Rinehart

Undergraduate studies: Bachelor of Music in organ performance from Valparaiso University, a Lutheran university in northern Indiana, 1983

Seminary: Masters of Divinity from Trinity Lutheran Seminary, Columbus, Ohio, 1988.

Calls:

St. Paul Lutheran Church, Davenport, Iowa (1988-1994)
Christ Lutheran Church, Charlotte, North Carolina (1994-1997)
Grace Lutheran Church, Conroe, Texas (1997-2007)
Bishop, Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod (2007-present)

Currently Serving:

Texas Lutheran University Corporation Board
Houston Coalition for Immigration Reform
Board of the Houston Coalition for Mutual Respect

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