In early June, the Midwest portion of the United States was devastated by a series of storms that produced tornadoes, record rains, and widespread flooding and destruction across the region. With cleanup and recovery efforts underway, government agencies are estimating the damage will reach hundreds of millions of dollars.

As waters continue to recede, WELS congregations are reporting that their members are safe, but many have experienced property damage—some even lost their homes. Worship facilities, for the most part, do not seem to be as severely affected.

WELS Relief has traveled to some of the hardest-hit areas in the Midwest to assess damage and help affected congregations develop long-term ministry plans. WELS Relief initially donated $100,000 to help with flooding problems in Iowa and Wisconsin and will continue to work with individuals, congregations, and communities that need assistance.

“I certainly encourage people to contact us if they need help,” says Pastor Philip Schupmann, chairman of WELS Relief. “We stand ready to help any of our congregations—their members and their communities.”

At the time this article was written, limited information was available since many areas were still flooded. For updates or for information on how you can support relief efforts, visit www.welsrelief.net.