For those in storm impacted areas - The U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced federal aid is available in New York State. Residents and business owners who have sustained losses in the designated counties can register for assistance online at http://www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA(3362). Residents with requests for clean-up help can call 211 in their area (211 of NENY and 211 Hudson Valley) or if 211 is unavailable they can complete the request form at www.nyvoad.org/debris.

LDR is a member of the New York Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NYVOAD), a partnership of agencies who work together on disaster recovery. NYVOAD is coordinating requests for household clean-up and mud-out in impacted areas across New York State.

For more information and daily NYVOAD Situation Reports from Hurricane Irene response visit www.nyvoad.org.

Ways your congregation can help:

Gather materials and assemble "flood buckets" used in clean up. Flood buckets may be dropped off at the following locations:

• Niagara Frontier (WNY) - Still in One Peace Crisis Services, 9365 Clarence Center Rd., Clarence Ctr., NY, Contact is Pr. Steve Biegner, stevebiegner@gmail.com, 716-868-1232.
• Genesee Finger Lakes - Trinity Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 761 Elmgrove Rd., Rochester, NY. Contact either Gary Roller, gwr67@peoplepc.com, or Frank Haak, (585)544-1095.
• Central Crossroads -
  • Syracuse area: King of Kings Lutheran Church, 8278 Oswego Rd., Liverpool, NY. (315) 622-2077;
  • Rome: First United Methodist Church, 400 N. George St., Rome, NY (315) 336-1740.
  • Utica area: New Hartford First United Methodist Church, 105 Genesee St., New Hartford, NY (315) 733-4227

Volunteer work teams to assist with clean-up, mucking out and rebuilding. Please email availability to admin@nyvoad.org providing type of assistance you can provide, number of volunteers, possible availability dates, and contact name, phone and email.

Give a donation to support LDR, Upstate NY Hurricane/Flood Relief, c/o Lutheran Homes Foundation, 108 Utica Rd., Clinton, NY 13323 (Checks made payable to "Lutheran Homes Foundation" - please note Upstate New York Hurricane/Flood in the memo line). Donations support the LDR staff working in Upstate New York hurricane impacted areas and to support long term recovery efforts.

Grace and peace,

Patsy Glista, AIM

LDR Coordinator, Upstate New York

Assistant to the Bishop for Operations, Upstate New York Synod, ELCA

(315)289-2686, pglista@upstatenysynod.org

As a programming note: Future updates on recovery efforts will be made through the biweekly Upstate Updates and in a more timely fashion through our website, Facebook page and Twitter account outlets.