Tornados Rage Across the Midwest
A series of over 60 tornadoes ranging from F1 to F4 swept across Oklahoma, Missouri, and Arkansas and into Georgia, killing at least 22 people and leaving hundreds homeless and thousands without power or safe drinking water over the weekend.
Our US Disaster Response team has been on the ground since Sunday morning in Picher, Oklahoma, and Neosho, Missouri, a center of response for areas including Seneca, Racine, Granby, and Newtonia. Devastation is rampant in these small towns, with some houses wiped completely from foundations and cars tossed haphazardly into fields. Our team has been in contact with emergency management officials and ministry partners to find the best ways to meet needs and get help to the people who need it most.
Two tractor-trailer loads of relief product, totaling 50,000 lbs. have been sent to Picher, Oklahoma and Newtonia, Missouri, with an additional load of 40,000 lbs. of water being sent to Stuttgart, Arkansas. Additional requests for help are being assessed and our response will continue as needs arise.
2008 has been a record year for tornadoes, and this response is Convoy of Hope’s ninth U.S. response in just 5 months. Last year, Convoy of Hope responded to 16 U.S. disasters. “With so much disaster comes much opportunity to touch communities and impact lives,” says Kary Kingsland, director of U.S. Disaster Response. “We have an unprecedented opportunity to make a difference to people who are really hurting.”
You can help! You can have an impact on helping hurting people. Donate today to our U.S. Disaster Relief Fund. Your gift will be used for this and other U.S. Disaster Response efforts. If you have questions about this or other disaster responses, please contact the USDR team.