Hurricane Florence Recovery – St. Paul’s, Wilmington

In late October 2018, five weeks after Hurricane Florence, Deacon GeoRene Jones, synod liaison for Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR), hosted LDR’s U.S. Program Director, Pastor Mike Stadie, as they met with some of our Coastal congregations to listen and see the damage after the storm.

While many St. Paul’s families sustained property damage, thankfully, all are safe and accounted for. Their 1880s building has weathered many storms, but this one toppled parapets, wrenched tiles from the roof, and left it vulnerable to extreme water damage. Inside, they experienced spalling plaster, peeling paint, disintegrating wood, and mold growth, as well as ruined stained glass, missing windows, and copper architectural details thrown from towers like children’s toys