KANSAS: Tornadoes leave path of devastation; ERD, local dioceses offer prayers, support
Episcopal News Service. May 8, 2007 [050807-03]
The small town of Greensburg in south central Kansas was devastated on May 5 as a tornado with winds up to 205 mph destroyed churches, schools, businesses and homes, claiming ten lives and injuring more than 60 people. Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD) and the Dioceses of Kansas and Western Kansas have offered prayers to the people of Greensburg and stand ready to provide support as needs are identified.
Bishop Dean E. Wolfe of Kansas said in a May 7 letter that more than 90 percent of the town had been destroyed, and victims and survivors were still being discovered. He offered prayers for those who have lost loved ones.
Wolfe noted that Kansas state has also been affected by widespread flooding in the aftermath of these tremendous storms. "Many are finding themselves displaced by these floods, and we anticipate damages in the aftermath of this flooding to be substantial," he said.
ERD reported that the tornado flattened buildings in the town's downtown district and most homes were destroyed or heavily damaged. There were reports of more than 75 tornado touchdowns in Kansas and Oklahoma on May 5. The storms generated flooding throughout the state of Kansas and President George W. Bush has officially declared Kiowa County, Kansas a disaster area.
Richard Ohlsen, ERD's director of Domestic Disaster Response, is in communication with the Dioceses of Western Kansas and Kansas and St. Francis Academy, an Episcopal Community Service organization that works with youth in Western Kansas. Both dioceses will attend the Kansas State Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters (KSVOAD) meeting in Haviland. Through KSVOAD, both dioceses will be able to coordinate their response with other faith-based and secular organizations.
The Kansas diocesan office and conference center have flooded basements due to heavy rains, Wolfe reported in his letter. "The diocesan office had three inches of water that damaged records and other stored items. The Bethany Place Conference Center has 16 inches of standing water, and we are told the boiler and water heater will need to be replaced. We are quick to realize how fortunate we have been in comparison to the losses sustained by others."
The Episcopal Diocese of Kansas is working closely with ERD and the Episcopal Diocese of Western Kansas to coordinate an effective response to this situation, Wolfe said. "We are people who believe thoughts and prayer must be accompanied by resources and action when neighbors are in need. We join with our brothers and sisters in the Episcopal Diocese of Western Kansas to offer whatever help we can, and we stand together as Kansans in this time of need."
Contributions for local needs and to assist ERD in responding to the needs of victims throughout the state can be made to:
The Episcopal Diocese of Kansas
Tornado and Flood Relief
835 SW Polk Street
Topeka, KS 66612
Donations can be made to ERD online
The full text of Bishop Wolfe's letter is available here