United Methodists Mount Assistance after Tornadoes Hit in Five States

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United Methodists in Nebraska, Michigan, Louisiana, Iowa, and Texas are responding to the devastation caused by a series of tornadoes that have struck the midwest and southern United States during turbulent spring weather.

Spring is the optimum time for tornadoes as seasonal changes bring clashes between cold and warm weather systems, according to The Weather Channel. The global climate crisis has contributed to making seasonal extremes even more intense, leading to greater property damage, personal injuries and loss of life.

Affected areas are listed in chronological order of storms. Donations to aid recovery can be made via each annual conference or through the United Methodist Committee on Relief's U.S. Disaster Response and Recovery.

Omaha-Lincoln, Nebraska

The Great Plains conference website reports: "At least seven tornadoes damaged hundreds of homes, destroyed businesses and caused injuries in the Lincoln-to-Omaha corridor along Interstate 80 (on April 26), with the strongest twisters appearing to have touched down in the western and northern suburbs of Omaha." News reports said the damage was extensive.

Rev. Hollie Tapley, Great Plains Conference disaster response coordinator, told the conference she alerted conference early response teams and reached out to disaster response teams in neighboring Missouri and Arkansas for additional help. Bishop David Wilson asked for donations to aid tornado victims.

Portage, Michigan

James Deaton, content editor for Michigan Conference Communications, reported on the aftermath of four confirmed tornadoes that struck southwest Michigan May 7.

"At least four confirmed tornadoes struck southwest Michigan on May 7 between 6 pm and 7 pm, causing extensive damage to homes, businesses, and infrastructure, and thousands of lost power," Deaton wrote. "Governor Gretchen Whitmer declared a state of emergency in Kalamazoo, St. Joseph, Branch, and Cass counties shortly after the severe storms passed through.

"The newly purchased home of the Rev. Dr. April Gutierrez, who begins her appointment as co-pastor of Portage: Chapel Hill United Methodist Church on July 1, was in the tornado’s path. A week before she and her family were scheduled to move, her home experienced multiple downed trees and roof damage. No other United Methodist churches or parsonages were impacted."

Deaton wrote that the Michigan Conference has received a $10,000 emergency grant from the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) for immediate relief efforts in Kalamazoo and St. Joseph counties. The Michigan Conference partners with a disaster relief organization, After the Storm, to provide aid to victims of extreme weather events.

Westlake, Louisiana

Conference communications director Todd Rossnagel reported that the Rev. Amy Castro, pastor of Westlake UMC, drove home to southwest Louisiana in severe weather May 13 after her May 11 graduation from Southern Methodist University's Perkins School of Theology in Dallas, Texas.

"When she got close to home, she received a call from Mayor Hal McMillan, who was sitting in the church parking lot," Rossnagel wrote.

The mayor told Castro: "It's not good."

Rossnagel continued: " The tornado, along with straight-line winds, struck the southern portion of the church's campus. Windows were shattered, a shed was blown across the property into a nearby field, and several structures including the church's sign, a blessing box, a Boy Scout shed, and the playground were destroyed."

Remarkably, Westlake's sanctuary escaped harm. "The south end of the campus may be a disaster area, but the sanctuary was saved. Thank God – we have a place to worship on Sunday, which is a huge blessing; it could have been so much worse," Castro told Rossnagel..

Westlake churches helping their United Methodist neighbors with relief and recovery include First Baptist Church, First Pentecostal, Sulphur United Pentecostal Church, and Bellview Baptist Church.

"The body of Christ is truly coming together," Castro told Rossnagel.

Greenfield, Iowa

Iowa Conference disaster response coordinator Pastor Catie Newman issued an initial report May 21 on tornadoes that crossed the state May 20. Iowa and Nebraska also were hit by tornadoes and strong storms in late April, leading Bishops David Wilson of the Great Plains Conference and Kennetha Bigham-Tsai of Iowa to issue a video urging prayer and donations for storm victims.

"There have been six communities impacted by tornados and winds and many other reports of isolated damage (power outages and trees down)," Newman wrote on the conference website. "Greenfield, Iowa has been the hardest hit with extensive tornado damage."

The Weather Channel termed the town of Greenfield "obliterated" by the storm. Iowa Bishop Bigham-Tsai issued another pastoral letter May 22 urging Iowans to pray for all Iowa residents affected by violent storms.

Newman urged Iowa United Methodists to avoid storm-affected areas until damage assessments are completed. "We will be in the way at this time," she wrote. Instead, she offered alternatives for helping:

Pray. Pray for those affected, those grieving, those in the shelter, and those responding.  

Donate. Make a financial gift to Iowa Disaster Response, Special Advance #223.

Reach out. Do you know someone who was affected by this disaster? Call them, send them a note or text. Knowing that others care and are praying makes a huge difference. It’s the best of who we are as a connectional church.

Make kits. Clean up buckets and hygiene kits are necessary during before, during and after a disaster. For instructions, go to https://umcmission.org/umcor-cleaning-kit/ or www.midwestmission.org/kits for information on how to make clean-up buckets and other kits.

Newman also invited Iowa United Methodists to consider getting Early Response Training or training as a United Methodist Volunteer in Mission. The programs are administered by each annual conference, so United Methodists outside Iowa should contact their own annual conference for information.

Temple, Texas

The Weather Channel's website reported that a tornado May 22 caused serious damage to homes and businesses in Temple, Texas, a small city about halfway between Waco and Austin. Most damage was reported on the west side of town. There were no injuries reported, but damage will take a long time to recover, according to news accounts. More severe weather was predicted to be a significant threat again over the Memorial Day weekend.

Three United Methodist churches are in Temple: Oak Park, St. James and St. Paul UMC. None of the churches' telephones were answered on May 23 when Insight attempted to reach them. The Central Texas Conference had no information about disaster response on its website May 23.