Responding to the Tornado

(Please see update at end of this article)

The EF2 Tornado that hit southwestern York County on November 16th 2011 tragically took three lives and injured several others. At least 5 homes were completely destroyed and several others had significant damage. Five of the affected families were members of York Baptist Association churches and their church members responded quickly with love, sweat, tears and support. As I responded with our Disaster Relief units I was impressed with how quickly and effectively our churches had already responded to the needs of the families and the larger community! Church members from Northside and Lifeway rallied around the Courtney family, Eastview supported the Haffner family, Calvary the Neely family and West End was there for the Ferrell family. Oakdale Baptist was one of the first to respond and quickly became the staging center for relief supplies and donations as well as volunteers. When the York County Emergency Management Service finally gave our Disaster Relief units clearance to enter the affected area our churches had already begun the work!

Rick Hamblin, YBA Men’ Ministry Director and Disaster Relief Director was on site Thursday evening as soon as we were allowed in. He began assessing the need and went back early Friday to complete the assessment and give our teams some direction. The YBA Disaster Relief Chainsaw Unit from FBC Rock Hill was on the scene early Friday morning and spent the day clearing the trees and limbs scattered “helter- skelter” around the area and were soon joined by a Recovery Team composed of members from FBC Clover, Central, Eastview and others that joined the clean- up effort during the day. It was simply amazing how much support from our churches and the community responded to this tragedy! The Red Cross, Samaritans Purse Disaster Services and Baptist Disaster Relief were prominent on scene but were by no means the only volunteers. The whole community was there, including at least two construction companies that donated heavy machinery and dump trucks to clear the debris, one was McCarter Construction, Angie McCarter is our Office Administrator and she and her husband Michael are members at Eastview. By Saturday evening, the “ lions share” of the cleanup and recovery had been completed!

The victims of this tragic day will never forget the pain inflicted upon them by natures power, but I also believe they will never forget the outpouring of love and support that their churches and the community provided them in the aftermath of that storm.

Update!

The York Baptist Association has set up a Tornado Rebuild Fund at Family Trust Credit Union and have received about $23,500.00 toward our goal of $70,000.00. We have estimated that it will take about that much to help the affected families replace the losses their insurance will not replace and help them transition to new housing. We will also be offering volunteer labor and in-kind material gifts as these families begin rebuilding.

Financial donations can be sent to the York Baptist Association Tornado Rebuild Fund at any Family Trust Credit Union or the our address at 434 Museum Road, Rock Hill, Sc  29732.

Those interested in volunteering labor of materials may contact Mike O’Dell at 803-327-6144.