What to do in a time like this
By: Dr. Jeff Fuller
Spotlight: Moore, Oklahoma.
This seventh largest city in the state is a part of
the Oklahoma Citymetropolitan area was hit hard by a tornado on Monday, May
20. We are talking about an area that is
21.9 square miles, with a population of 56, 315. Moore is the home of 3 high school campuses,
5 junior high schools encompassing 7-8 grade students, and 23 elementary
schools. Through the city government, Moore
has its own 911 Center, Police and Fire, as well as other departments and
entities one would find in a town this size.
The Washington Post published on Tuesday, May 21,
2013, “Clean up efforts are underway in the wake of a deadly, destructive
tornado that carved a devastating 20 mile path south of Oklahoma City
Monday. The massive storm, up to a mile
wide with estimated winds of at least 200 mph, flattened entire neighborhoods
and destroyed an elementary school in Moore. Ok. The state medical examiner’s office confirmed
24 people dead.”
Entire neighborhoods were flattened, with rescuers
assigned the grizzly job of combing the wreckage of two elementary schools as
darkness covered the destroyed communities.
“The whole city looks like a debris field,” said Glenn Lewis, mayor of
Moore. The raging storm blew in right
behind a twister on Sunday in the same area that killed two people and injured
more than 30. The same area was also hit
in 1999 by a twister, following roughly the same path, packing winds up to 300
mph, killing 46. For this storm, the
residents had a 16 minute warning before the tail touched ground and worked his
havoc for a little over 40 minutes.
Authorities have also stated that 240 are reported injured,
including 60 kids.
Out of the rumble stories of conquest and God’s care
are emerging.
“I had to hold on to the wall to keep myself safe
because I didn’t want to fly away with the tornado,” one girl told a local
television station.
Reports are that seven children were found drowned
in a pool at the school. Witnesses said
teachers at the school used their bodies as human shields to protect the
children.
A teacher, Rhonda Crosswhite, reportedly in one of
the two schools extensively damaged was asked what she did during the storm. She said, “And then I did something teachers
aren’t supposed to do. I prayed out
loud.”
These are things we understand. It was just two years ago we are facing our
own storms, as areas of north Alabama were hit by a number of tornados which
claimed both lives and property. It was
something that radically changed the landscape and lives of many families. It is not something we will forget easily.
James Spann wrote on May 21 in a blog: “The best analogy
to the Moore, Oklahoma tornado yesterday is the Hackleburg tornado on April 27,
2011. Moore tornado…length 17 miles;
EF-5; top winds 200-210 mph; Hackleburg tornado…length 132 miles; EF-5; top
winds 210 mph.”
In the midst of this catastrophic event, I find
hope. As I shared the ones earlier in
the article, I am also reminded that there were those who ran in and
assisted. Those first responders were on
the scene seconds after the storm and began the process of taking care of the
needs, doing search and rescue, with no thought of their own safety. I applaud them. In the days to come a multitude of agencies
and organizations will begin the work of recovery, as they meet the needs of
others.
I spoke with Mel Johnson of the Alabama Baptist
State Board of Missions Disaster Relief office.
Mel is a great friend and director of the DR office, traveling the
country with crews from various churches and associations within our
state. He said that at this time,
Alabama will most likely not be called into service, because Oklahoma Baptist
and bordering states have large and well organized Disaster Relief teams.
Posted to www.ALSBOM.org
on Tuesday, Mel wrote: “I have been in contact with our partners in ministry
and state response leadership in Oklahoma…state authorities have requested that
volunteers not deploy to the disaster areas.
It is essential that only emergency responders and those related to the
Oklahoma disasterresponse plan be the only personnel on the scene…”
On the television, NBC was conducting a special on
Tuesday evening after the storms. Journalist
Harry Smith said, “FEMA is here but also the faith based FEMA has
appeared…anyone who has been through this knows that you have to wait a long
time for government but these Baptist men get it done today.”
How very grateful I am to be a part of such a great
organization which others see as beneficial and worthwhile.
While we might not be able to go, there are two very
important things you and I can do:
Give.
Individuals and churches can give through the Alabama Baptist State
Board of Missions toward Oklahoma Relief.
These monies will go directly to the need, to survivors who are
attempting to put their lives back together in the days to come. What is wonderful truth about giving through
the ALSBOM DR, 100% of the contributions sent through the State Board of
Missions to assist this response effort will be forwarded to Oklahoma Baptist
Convention and used to provide for the assistance to survivors. Thank God for Alabama Baptist and the
Cooperative Program.
Pray. Take
time every day over the next few weeks to remember these folks as they suffer
and sorrow, and get back to the task of rebuilding their lives. “Prayer is not part of our ministry, prayer
IS our ministry,” wrote Johnson, “and [our] opportunity to partner by remaining
in God’s will.” Paul said, “be persistent in prayer.” (Romans
12:12 HCSB)
Soon we will catch up on some of the recovery issues
and how God is providing in extraordinary ways.
Until next time…
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