Latest round of U.S. storms claims more than 250 lives
Birmingham, Alabama
By NCN News Staff
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Multiple tornadoes touched down this week across the southern U.S., causing massive amounts of damage and killing more than 250 people. Reports state it's the deadliest tornado outbreak in the U.S. since 1974 when 307 were killed.
The Weather Channel reported more than 250 tornadoes touched down across the South between Monday, April 25, and Wednesday, April 27.
Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, and Virginia were among the worst-hit areas. Northern Arkansas and St. Louis, Missouri, were hit just a few days earlier, too, with southern Missouri also dealing with significant flooding after a breached levee.
Nazarene churches exist throughout the affected region and information is starting to be made available concerning Nazarenes.
"In the wake of violent storms, District Superintendent Mark Berry and I are cutting the South Alabama District Assembly short today (Thursday) and will end at noon," General Superintendent Stan A. Toler posted on the Board of General Superintendents Facebook page Thursday morning. "The bad weather hit during an ordination service, where four were ordained."
Attendees were asked to remain at the church for their safety.
"Pastors and delegates report homes of church members destroyed, deaths, losses, and people missing," Toler continued.
At least two Nazarene families on the Alabama South District lost everything.
"The North and South Alabama districts and the South Coastal Wesleyan District will join together to form an emergency response. An offering was received in the session for these needs."
The Alabama North District Nazarene Missions International and Nazarene Youth International conventions and district assembly planned for this weekend have been cancelled due to the storms. Alabama North District volunteers have been mobilized along with Nazarene Disaster Response Rapid Response teams from Michigan and North Carolina.
An unconfirmed report states Boley, Alabama, Church of the Nazarene Pastor Jimmy and Ethel Earnest lost their home and automobiles, but they are safe.
The Georgia District was hard hit in the northern area of the state with major destruction of buildings and property. Ringgold, Georgia, was virtually wiped out, according to reports received in the Georgia District Office. Rossville, Fort Oglethorpe, Rome, and other areas have trees down and widespread power outages. No injuries in these areas to members of the church have been reported at this time.
The storms also were destructive in the Griffin/Barnesville area, said the district. One couple who attended the Griffin First Church of the Nazarene was killed and family members were injured and hospitalized with some undergoing surgery Thursday morning.
Property destruction and downed trees are prevalent in the middle Georgia area.
In Tennessee, Camp Garner Creek, a Nazarene campground, sustained flooding again. There was major flooding there last year on May 4, almost one year ago. That was referred to as a "100 year flood," but just 12 months later, the creek overflowed its banks once again.
Three buildings had flood water inside, and a tree fell on the new creek pedestrian bridge that was constructed to replace the one destroyed last year. The new bridge is intact, however.
There are no reports of damage to churches on the Tennessee District at this time.
Earlier this week, tornadoes hit Missouri and Arkansas. At least two churches were damaged and a church building roof collapsed on two youth group members in St. Louis. Fortunately, no one was hurt. For specific information from both affected districts, click here: "Tornadoes damage churches in Missouri, Arkansas".
Nazarene Disaster Response is still working in Fayetteville, North Carolina, after recent tornado damage there. Initial NDR clean-up efforts began Sunday, April 17, after the first wave of tornadoes with 22 volunteers. NDR reports more than 200 homes were destroyed and another 250 sustained substantial damage in several neighborhoods.
Donations and Crisis Care Kits will be used by NDR to support current and ongoing relief efforts. To find out more about Crisis Care Kits,
