Severe Storms Update5/29/2024 connecting needs, responses, and prayers after the storms Over the last two weeks, communities from the Texas Gulf Coast to the Great Plains, across the Ozarks and the midwestern United States have seen significant severe weather, intense hail and thunderstorms, multiple deadly tornadoes, and broad paths of wind damage and destruction. Memorial Day Weekend weather made a particularly widespread impact. Week of Compassion has been in touch with local church leaders and partners as they assess immediate needs across these various regions. It is still early and needs will continue to shift as the impact of these multiple storms becomes more evident. Week of Compassion is committed to accompany communities affected by these recent storms right away, and for the long term. Ongoing responses are underway in the Houston TX area, following significant thunderstorms and flooding in the last few weeks. Oklahoma communities continue clean-up efforts following significant storms in Claremore this weekend, on top of last month’s EF-2 tornado in Sulphur, and related storm damage and power outages in Bartlesville and elsewhere across the state. Last week’s storms in Greenfield IA and much of the greater Kansas City area have included straight-line winds, tree and structural damage, and extended power outages. North Texas has endured consecutive days of tornadoes, hailstorms, massive rainfall, and widespread power failures. Long-term recovery groups in western Kentucky who have been working on rebuilding from the 2021 tornadoes are now responding to the new needs from the past week’s storms, which included an EF-3 tornado in the Dawson Springs area. Forecasts for this coming weekend show significant weather moving into the northeastern United States, and meteorologists are looking ahead, braced for an unprecedented summer hurricane season. Rev. Ronny Nowell, Disaster Response Coordinator for the Great River Region – a partnership program with Week of Compassion – is working alongside Week of Compassion to connect with congregational leaders and ecumenical partners to assess damage, storm impact, and response needs in northwest Arkansas following the major tornadoes over Memorial Day Weekend. He offers a meaningful reflection: [Northwest Arkansas was] hit by several tornadoes on Sunday, May 27. Those storms continued across the state causing damage and loss of life in 10 counties. The destruction is hard to imagine, and I don’t have words to describe the miles and miles of homes damaged and destroyed, 100-year-old trees uprooted and laying everywhere. Tens of thousands of us are without power with no real estimate of when that work might be completed. Several of our churches sustained damage as well. But amid all this tragedy one thing shines through every day and that is the kindness of people to each other. Neighbor helping neighbor. People driving around passing out cold water to workers. The Line Workers who have come in from all over the US to work in these hot and dangerous situations to try and restore our electrical grid. … If you look for God’s action, you are sure to find it, even in a disaster. When storm, emergency, and crisis come, we always ask: HOW CAN WE HELP? Make a gift to Week of Compassion, marked ‘US Storms’. 100% of designated contributions support immediate responses and long-term recovery.  use in worship announcements, newsletter, or social media (right-click then 'save image as' to download) The reality and impact of climate change means more frequent weather events, occurring both more often and with greater severity. Week of Compassion remains alert to emerging needs and committed to long-term response. Week of Compassion is praying with you and for you. We offer a prayer in this season – to use in your own devotion, to forward to others and to share in your social media, and to include in your worship service however it best serves your community. Grace and peace …  Comments are closed.
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