Frequently Asked Questions

"FGLER"(we pronounce it "flagler") stands for "Florida-Georgia Lutheran Early Response", which is the name of our organization.

Florida-Georgia Lutheran Early Response, Inc. is a register Florida nonprofit corporation. We are an IRS 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation. We were formed for the purpose of providing disaster response training, equipment, and disaster response management services to our LCMS churches and their members.

FGLER has partnered with the LCMS Florida-Georga and SELC Districts to provide disaster response training, equipment, and management of disaster responses within Florida and Georgia. When a disaster strikes, FGLER is there to assist our LCMS churches in helping their members and communities recover. 

"LERT" stands for "Lutheran Early Response Team". It is the official title of the disaster response ministry for LCMS Disaster Response, the "parent" organization of our church's disaster response. Through LERT, volunteers are able to become directly involved in various aspects of disaster response ministry.

Simply join us! A good start is attending a basic LERT disaster response class to learn what this ministry is all about and how you can get involved. If your church has a LERT team or disaster response ministry, join them. If there has been a disaster in the state contact us. 

No, we accept individuals and groups. FGLER brings everyone together to work under the FGLER/LERT umbrella, without compromising any group/team identity. As members of the Body of Christ, we are united as one to serve Christ.

Simply join us! If you see something you want to get involved with, contact us or follow the link to get involved. We need volunteers to help us on responses, helping organize events, fundraising, and contributing to planning.

No. FGLER is not a membership organization. We welcome the voluntary participation of anyone who believes what we believe, supports our mission, and has a desire to proclaim the love of Jesus Christ through serving others after a disaster.

FGLER is affiliated with the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod (LCMS), a large Bible-based protestant denomination. We partner with the LCMS Florida-Georgia, SELC and English Districts, who oversee the churches in Florida and Georgia. Within the LCMS, we also partner with LCMS Disaster Response, which provides overall oversight, training, and resources for disaster response, and other LCMS Districts outside of Florida and Georgia.

While FGLER is associated with Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod (LCMS), and we work with and through our churches, FGLER welcomes participation by anyone who supports our beliefs and mission. Our work as an organization is in support of the LCMS proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and we are witnesses for Jesus Christ in the midst of disaster.

LCMS Disaster Response has a volunteer management website through which we post training and disaster responses. We ask that each volunteer with FGLER sign up on this website so you will be able to receive those training and response notifications, and to sign up for them. The website is www.LCMS-LERT.org.

Unfortunately, there is. We would love to see families and children involved in providing care after a disaster. This is a great way to teach children about service and caring for others. However, through experience we have learned that a disaster response or work site is not a safe place for young children. LCMS Disaster Response and FGLER have set a minimum age for participation at age 14. Also, one must be at least 18 years old to operate a chainsaw or Bobcat, get up on a roof, or work in a flooded house in the early stages of cleanup.

Maybe. LCMS Disaster Response LERT, and FGLER, policy is that a background check is not required to participate in training opportunities or local events. However, a background check IS required for disaster responses that involve: 1) an overnight stay at a host church, 2) volunteers working in the homes of disaster victims, or 3) volunteers working with minors. Background checks must be done through the LCMS-LERT system.

No. Unfortunately, background checks for working on LCMS LERT responses must be completed through the LCMS-LERT system. Background checks completed for another organization, church, school, or work may not have the same depth of check, or may not be done by the same company. LCMS Disaster Response uses a third-party vendor (Sterling Volunteers) and does not have access to background checks completed by other companies, or personal information; they maintain all confidentiality. Currently, background checks are paid for by LCMS Disaster Response, and are valid for one year from the date approved. 

Yes! One mission of FGLER is providing disaster response training to churches and volunteers. We encourage all of our volunteers to have basic disaster response training through LCMS-LERT, and to seek out additional training to enhance skills and broaden your capability as a volunteer.

FGLER posts all of our training opportunities on the LCMS-LERT system. We try to post all trainings on our FGLER.org website, which will provide a link back to LCMS-LERT. A full description of the training is found on www.LCMS-LERT.org.

Thank you for wanting to bring the disaster response ministry and training to your church! FGLER provides basic, advanced, and specialized disaster response training. Some of the FGLER Directors are LERT trainers, which enable us to tailor the training to your specific needs. Contact us for more information and to arrange training.

To start out, all volunteers are required to go through the basic LERT class, which provides a good foundation. We also offer Chainsaw training (basic, felling, and advanced), Flood, Bobcat Operator, Fist Aid for Volunteers (basic first aid, CPR/AED, and Stop The Bleed), and others that we can develop.

Following a disaster we work with the local LCMS church (if there is one) and other LCMS partners, to respond to the particular needs of their members and community. Oftentimes we are able to open an "operations center" at the church so we can house and feed volunteers and manage response jobs and operations. We may be working out of that church for only a few days, a couple weeks, or even a few months. Other times, there may not be a local LMCS church to work out of, so we may limit any response work we do to a weekend, where volunteers can come in, work, and return home at the end of the day. A response is also called a "deployment", as sometimes we may have deploy or travel a longer distance to respond.

When a disaster strikes it often leaves a wake of destruction and debris; electricity, food and water distribution are often disrupted; people's lives are turned upside-down over the shock of it all or grieving over the loss of property or life. This is a time when the love of Jesus Christ can be shown through acts of mercy. We provide tree, home, and debris cleanup at no cost to the homeowner. Sometimes the church we are working out of opens a temporary distribution center so people can get food and other supplies. We have a couple churches that have a feeding ministry, and bring their equipment in to cook free meals for the community and relief workers. And then there is providing prayer, spiritual support, and human care. Each response is different, depending on the particular needs of the community.

Much depends upon your physical abilities, interests, and skills, and upon the type of disaster being worked. Before any work can be done by volunteers, jobs need to be assessed to determine what needs to be done. For tree debris clearing it will be cutting, picking up, moving, and stacking limbs, branches and pieces of the tree. For a flood response there will be a lot of removing household belongings, flooring, drywall, furniture, and cabinentry, then cleaning and disinfecting. There may also be work in a distribution center, feeding the community or volunteers, and providing spiritual and human care with disaster victims. Whether you go out with teams or not, there is always a need for prayer! Because needs sometimes change, volunteers need to be flexible in what they are willing to do. There are additional ways to be involved listed on our Current Needs page.

Specialized skills are not required on most of our disaster response deployments. We look for volunteers who have a servant’s heart and are willing and able to work hard. If specialized skills are required, we will note this on the deployment information.

In each disaster situation, what we can do, and what we have to work with is different. A response may last only a day or two, a couple weeks, or even a few months. Some are close by (local) and some you may have to travel to. All responses are posted in the LCMS-LERT system, which allows you to see the date range we expect to operate. Generally, on responses longer than a few days we post by the week. You may sign up for as few or as many days as your schedule allows. Sometimes there is a cap on the number of volunteers we can handle, so a day or week may be full and you would be placed on a waiting list.

It depends on the disaster and what the local LCMS church has. Early on there may be no or limited electricity or water until those are restored. Sleeping arrangements are typically gender-segregated group rooms; sometimes a cot is provided, sometimes you may need to bring a cot or air mattress, and always you will need to bring your own bedding and pillow. We are usually able to cook meals or the church may provide them. Few churches have showers, so we may bring in a shower unit or make arrangement with a local gym or community center. Sometimes there is limited RV space and hookups, or you can "boondock". This information is always included in the response information on LCMS-LERT.

Maybe. FGLER provides some necessary tools and equipment on responses, depending on the type of work being done.  Any tools or equipment that volunteers need to bring will be noted in the deployment announcement.

Volunteers do need to bring personal items, such as sturdy work boots, work gloves and any personal Personal Protectice Equipment (PPE). If you do not have sturdy work boots, please wear shoes with thick soles. In disaster responses that involve work after a flood, we recommend bringing rubber boots. You may also bring your own tools or equipment, if you'd like. Please be sure any tools or equipment you bring are well marked so that you can keep up with them.

Yes. LCMS Disaster Response and FGLER require anyone who wants to operate a chainsaw on a LERT- or FGLER-sponsored response to have completed the LERT Chainsaw Safety & Use class. No exceptions. We place a high importance on the safety of our volunteers and want to make sure that all of our chainsaw operators and teams have had this baseline training, and operate a saw in a safe and efficient manner. FGLER offers this LERT Chainsaw training.

There is no charge to serve on any of our disaster response deployments. Food and lodging are provided at no charge for volunteers. Volunteers are responsible for their own transportation costs. For training events, there may be a nominal cost to help cover the training expenses.

FGLER has two Bobcat mini-track loaders, which greatly multiply the work we can do on tree and debris removals, We are always in need of trained operators on a response. We will gladly provide training to adult volunteers. We can usually arrange for this training at your location, on a response, or maybe at a chainsaw training.

Maybe. We may be able to accommodate parking and hookups for an RV or camper. This is evaluated on a site-by-site basis. Please see specific response deployment information, then ask the Site Coordinator before bringing an RV or camper.

Yes! There are several ways to help: pray for the volunteers and victims; cook meals for volunteers; be a good "listener" on a team and sit and talk to homeowners; do damage assessment; work in the office; maintain the tools and equipment; and more.

Yes. You do not need to be a Lutheran for FGLER to assist. We do not discriminate on who we help based on race, religion, gender, or other social or economic factors. However, FGLER volunteers generally do not work on rental or commercial property, and we do not do insurance work. 

God graciously provides the financial and material blessings we need to provide disaster response services. Through the generous donations of supporters, and through disaster response grants from LCMS Disaster Response and other organizations, we are able to do what we do. We do not charge homeowners for the work we do on their property, nor do we expect any donation to FGLER in return. Just as salvation is a free gift through Jesus Christ, our work is a free gift.

Yes. FGLER is an IRS 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation. All contributions to FGLER are tax exempt to the fullest extent. 

Yes! FGLER is a Recognized Service Organization (RSO) of The Luthern Church - Missouri Synod (LCMS). That means that our beliefs, values, and operations are consistent with those accepted by the LCMS. This is an important designation, similar to an accreditation.

As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, FGLER is dependent upon the generous donations of people, churches, and businesses to operate. Financial contributions are always welcome! The Ways To Give page on our website enbles you to make an electronic donation through Paypal, Venmo, or Vanco. These third-party sites are secure and confidential, and FGLER does not see or have access to your credit card information.

FGLER also conditionally accepts in-kind donations of equipment, supplies, and services. Please contact us to see if your in-kind donation is needed, and make any necessary arrangements with us. 

Your financial and in-kind donations are tax deductible to the extent allowed by Internal Revenue Code. A receipt for your donation for your tax records will be provided for donations over $75 in value. 

FGLER does not receive or seek any funding from federal, state, or local governments. FGLER exists because of generous and faithful gifts from financial supporters. We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit ministry working throughout the southeastern United States to provide material and spiritual support to hurting individuals and families. We operate with a dollar-in/dollar-out funding process in which EVERY penny given with designation goes directly to that cause until the need is met. All our Directors are volunteers and do not receive compensation for their services. We acknowledge all gifts and ensure that donated money is used as intended.

In order for us to fulfill our mission and operate we need to raise funds. We are always looking for the support of churches, individuals, businesses and organizations. We would love to work with you on holding a fundraiser. Please contact us and we will provide you with an information packet and assistance.

While FGLER gratefully accepts donated equipment, we do have some restrictions on what can be donated. Please contact us to work with you on this donation.

FGLER is enrolled in Thrivent Choice®. You can designate us to receive your Choice dollars. We also can use Thrivent Action Team® cards, which we use to help pay for training and disaster response expenses.