Midwest Tornadoes

Dear friends in Christ,

The devastation and horror of tornadoes continues to descend upon Midwest towns and cities. Last night, May 8, a third wave of tornadoes tore through the Oklahoma City area, striking many of the same communities affected in May 1999. Disaster News Network reports, "In the suburb of Moore, some 300 homes were destroyed or damaged, according to a local on-duty-emergency management officer. Midwest City, Del City and Choctaw were also hit, with about 100 homes destroyed or damaged in those areas." In Kansas seven tornadoes were spotted, and four in Illinois, one in Missouri.

In the last ten days an unprecedented total of 304 tornadoes have been reported in the Midwest. The number of damaged and destroyed homes is in the thousands. The death toll has reached 42.

Lutheran Disaster Response (a cooperative ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod) is presently responding directly in Missouri, Kansas, and Tennessee, the hardest-hit states so far. Assessments are taking place in other states. In all areas LDR is also working closely with other faith-based disaster organizations, through the coordinating efforts of Church World Service.

Bob Tribble (LDR coordinator for the Southeast Synod, ELCA) and John Sims (LDR coordinator, Lutheran Services in Tennessee) are active in Tennessee. They are working closely with Will Rabert, United Church of Christ disaster responder. Will told me this morning, "Jackson looks like downtown Baghdad." There were twelve deaths in Jackson. Nine million dollars of damage also occurred in Dyersburg, north of Memphis. Bob reports hail as large as golf balls and soft balls. Over 2,787 structures were damaged or destroyed.

Larry Gustafson (LDR coordinator, Lutheran Family and Children's Services of Missouri) is assessing needs in west and southern Missouri. He is coordinating Lutheran efforts with Christine Iverson (LDR Coordinator in Kansas). Worst damage is near the Kansas state line and south in the Pierce City area. Further south, the town of Stockton took a tremendous hit, with the entire downtown reduced to a pile of rubble.

Christine Iverson and Rocky Mease (Kansas District Chaplain) continue to assess damage. Keith Kohlmeier (new Kansas District President) and Bishop Gerald Mansholt (Central States Synod) are meeting with clergy in affected areas. Christine reports that "Lutheran pastors" are "walking the neighborhoods doing sidewalk support." One of the pastors remarked that driver's licenses and tax records were found miles from the people to whom they belong. The people they are meeting are in the midst of trying to find and save the pieces of their lives scattered by the tornado. One teenage boy talked about loosing the keepsakes that were all he had left from his dad who died six years ago.

As I write this report, the immediate needs and damages still are being assessed and interfaith efforts are beginning. Some areas still are inaccessible or closed. I will keep you updated, as additional information is available. In some communities local volunteers have begun the major cleanup. LDR is responding to immediate needs, and is already organizing for long-term recovery, support of caregivers, and work with traumatized children and adults. The first emergency disaster grants have been sent, and additional funds will be provided as specific needs are identified.

According to the NOAA National Weather Service, there is a warning that the storm cell due this Saturday will be stronger than the one that struck yesterday.

How can you help?

You can help by your prayers of support for those who have been affected and for those who are reaching out to help. The prayers of God's people are more powerful than these deadly tornadoes.

You can help by volunteering for clean up and repairs, once those needs are known and the systems for response are in place.

You can help by your contributions, which enable the church to respond at once and makes it possible to offer help and hope for the long haul.

To contribute:

ELCA DOMESTIC Disaster Response - "Midwest Tornadoes"
Box 71764
Chicago, Illinois 60694-1764

Credit card gift line: 1-800-638-3522
Credit card gifts via the web: www.elca.org/disaster

LC-MS World Relief and Human Care - "Midwest Tornadoes"
P.O. Box 66861
St. Louis, MO 63166-9810

Credit card gift line: 1-888-930-4438

Yours in Christ,

Gil Furst

Gilbert B. Furst (written on May 9, 2003 at 11:15 a.m.). Director for ELCA Domestic Disaster Response (Division for Church in Society) and Lutheran Disaster Response (a cooperative ministry of the ELCA and LC-MS) 8765 W. Higgins Rd., Chicago 60631 PHONE: 773-380-2822 FAX: 773-380-2493 Please visit our new website