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Last week one of the oldest and most interesting American cities drowned. The consequences are not yet fully known. It seems certain that more than a million people are without homes. The mayor of New Orleans has indicated that the death toll in his city could well exceed 10,000. Family members are separated, not knowing the fate of their loved ones. Those who have survived have experiences enormous hardship and suffering. They are now being transported around the country. It is impossible to fully imagine their fears concerning the future. They lack home, employment and perhaps, in many cases, hope. This catastrophe is national in scope. This is so, not simply because of implications for the economy, but because the people of the Gulf region are fellow citizens. The responsibility of the nation is to provide whatever resources and support are necessary to insure immediate care and long-term security. At this point, sending money seems the most effective way to help. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has a Domestic Disaster Fund. It was established some years ago. Money is used for immediate supplies, items not covered by insurance and other agencies and counseling. Logic says that counseling needs of people will be exceedingly great. Funds are also being gathered through our Synod to help congregations in the area of the hurricane. Some congregations have been swept away and others have been severely damaged. The ministry of these congregations must continue. They cannot do so apart from help. As time proceeds, there will be additional ways of assisting. There may be opportunities to help resettle victims. It is also possible that eventually teams of people may be needed to help with rebuilding. The response of the national government to the destruction caused by the hurricane should be of great concern to the whole nation. By any standard it was inadequate. It causes me to wonder what has been done over the past four years to prepare for the disasters most everyone believed possible. The irony is that a hurricane and subsequent flooding of New Orleans has long been cited as one of the three most likely disasters for the nation. The people of the Gulf Coast deserved a far more effective rescue effort. The problem was not with the people actually engaged in the relief. It was with the policies and the resources available. The crisis was one of national leadership. As recently as a year ago, the Administration in Washington made a huge cut in funds requested by the Army Corps of Engineers and state and local government for flood control in the area. Allowing development in the wetlands that nature had devised to gather-in water is another prime reason for the flood. We should remember that just within the past few months, the limits on development in 20 million acres of wetland were removed. There are logical consequences to be paid for such an irresponsible policy. Then, too, the war in Iraq, a war that should never have been fought, has consumed needed resources (people and equipment) and diverted attention from some of the most basic of all government responsibilities. I wonder what lessons we shall learn from this disaster. It is not likely to be the last one. Ronald K. Johnson, Pastor
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