The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) is assisting its districts along the East Coast in assessing and responding to the needs of local churches and members following the devastating impact of Superstorm Sandy, which came ashore Oct. 24, 2012, in New Jersey and left a wide swath of devastation in the Northeast. An LCMS team that included the Rev. Glenn F. Merritt, director, LCMS Disaster Response; the Rev. Bart Day, executive director, LCMS Office of National Mission; the Rev. John Fale, associate executive director, LCMS Mercy Operations; and the Rev. Carlos Hernandez, director, LCMS Church and Community Engagement, met with district and church leaders shortly after the storm to help determine the best response. Two weeks after the epic storm hit, Lutherans from 14 LCMS congregations continued to lend a hand to disaster-weary New Yorkers in an area that the Rev. Dr. David Benke, president of the LCMS Atlantic District, says was among the hardest hit. As of Nov. 15, 2012, the LCMS has provided a total of $114,500 in emergency grants for the Sandy response in the United States, all made possible by LCMS donors. In addition, LCMS Disaster Response previously awarded a $10,500 grant to the Cuban Lutheran Fellowship for storm response efforts in Cuba. Another $10,000 is earmarked for the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Haiti. In the last five years, the LCMS has provided more than $35 million for domestic and international disaster response efforts. Keep up to date on the LCMS’ disaster response effort at http://www.lcms.org/disaster. (Photos LCMS/Al Dowbnia)