Situation Report
Spring Storms
June 1, 2011
Spring storms and tornadoes have swept across the Midwestern and Southern states, including the most recent June 1 tornadoes in the Springfield area of Massachusetts. The two most visibly devastating tornadoes in Alabama and Joplin, Missouri, have caused more than 430 deaths and the displacement of thousands more. Fourteen states have federal disaster declarations due to tornadoes, storms, or flooding. Communities have suffered damage or destruction to thousands of buildings, including homes, churches, hospitals and businesses
While many states are beginning the clean-up process, the flood crest continues down the Mississippi Valley. In Louisiana, for example, flood gates have been opened on the Mississippi and Atchafalaya Rivers, flooding numerous low-lying communities. The full impact of this flooding will not be known for several weeks.
An Alabama homeowner prepares for debris pick up. Photo by Tim Burkitt, FEMA
PDA response
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) has been responding to the needs with One Great Hour of Sharing and designated gifts for U.S. disaster response, and with members of the PDA National Response Team. During April and May, $120,000 has been sent to affected presbyteries as they address disasters within their areas.
Members of the PDA National Response Team (NRT) are working to help Presbyterian leaders as they organize their response for local communities. 30 NRT members, several making multiple visits, have responded to the requests of 29 presbyteries in the same period to represent the care and concern of the larger Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and to help with community response and needs assessments, and to offer emotional and spiritual care to church leaders and survivors.
The following information on Presbyterians in Joplin, Missouri, comes from a report by NRT members responding to that disaster.
Bethany Presbyterian Church
No members died, but the father of one member was killed; the man’s sister later died of a heart attack when she learned of her father’s death. 7 or 8 congregational members have lost their homes.
As far as the church building is concerned, Bethany is located toward the northern edge of the tornado swath, but well within the east-west field of the winds. The church building sustained damage to windows on several sides of the building and to parts of the roof, and internally sustained water damage to carpets and other interior components. The pastor, Rev. Rodney Peters, was moved when he saw the morning sunlight burst through a hole in the wall onto the sanctuary cross. He titled his photo of the sight, “Hope Rises from Tragedy”.
The church has adequate insurance coverage. The pastor was especially grateful that no one was present at the time of the storm and that artwork and the church’s sizable collection of electronic equipment and books were unharmed. Trees on the property were completely destroyed.
A disaster clean-up crew came and began cleanup on Monday afternoon, May 23. By Friday afternoon, May 27, the yard and its trees were cleaned up, and carpets and other damaged interior effects were piled together in the yard for removal.
Worship was held on Sunday with plans to allow people to verbally assess needs and to recount their experiences during worship.
In addition, Bethany has invited Peace Lutheran, which lost its church building during the tornado, to use its sanctuary.
First Presbyterian Church
First Presbyterian’s building is located away from the tornado zone and did not sustain damage to its building. However, the congregation has 25 families whose homes were destroyed or gone, and 11 others with roof damage.
One member who died symbolized the welcoming heart of First Church. He was at church every Sunday and greeted everyone with a warm smile and a “Good morning!” His last words to his “rescuers” were “Thank you!”
The member and his two roommates, all adults with mental challenges, were killed, as were the sister and brother-in-law of another member. As of Tuesday, several members were still unaccounted for. A couple dozen families and some frequent visitors lost their homes; some are staying temporarily with other church families.
First Presbyterian Church, which has about 370 members, has only one professional staff member, the pastor Dave Burgess. He has been at the church only 9 months and is trying to cover everything, with only a couple of support staff to help him.
PDA National Response Team members have been requested and are offering support and assistance.
Friday afternoon, NRT members attended the memorial service for a member that was killed. The pastor led a full congregation in a joyful service of praise and reflection on his life and the resurrection. NRT members mingled with people at the reception following the service and heard stories of resilience and recovery. Many people there had lost their homes and/or sustained noticeable, physical injuries and were staying with other church members or family.
A bulletin insert is available. Share with your congregation about the response to 2011 spring storms.
How can we help?
Please continue to stand in the GAP for survivors in this response.
Give
Gifts to One Great Hour of Sharing support this and other disasters immediately when they occur. Additional gifts to DR000148 support disaster relief and recovery around the world where most needed, and gifts to DR000015 support disaster response in the United States, including response to the many spring storms across the nation during the previous weeks.
ACT
- Request the PDA Rapid Information Network email newsletter to receive email notices about this and other disaster responses.
- Register your volunteer work team for upcoming or current opportunities around the United States by calling (866) 732-6121, or register your team’s interest online.
- Assemble Gift of the Heart Kits. After disasters, Church World Service hygiene, clean-up, school, and baby kits are often needed. Because congregations and other groups work throughout the year to keep the distribution sites stocked, the kits are ready to be disbursed as soon as disaster strikes. With recent storms widespread, there have already been many requests for kits, and they continue to arrive.
- More than 14,000 hygiene kits have been distributed since the spring storms began, and nearly 500 clean up buckets have been shared. Please consider this hands-on mission of assembling hygiene kits or clean up buckets. Instructions are now available as a bulletin insert.
PRAY
Pray for disaster survivors, loved ones of those who have been lost, congregations in the affected communities, and rescue workers helping in the response. Pray that the God of peace will guide all those involved, and that the hope of Christ will be evident through those offering assistance.
The Office of Theology and Worship has provided a new Service of pastoral care for those who have lost a home to earthquake, fire, flood, hurricane, tornado, or other disaster. It can be adapted for specific needs and local circumstances.