Tornado disaster response

May 7, 2007: On May 4, 2007, the town of Greensburg, Kansas was almost completely destroyed by an EF5 tornado that killed 10 and injured over 50. Greensburg, Kansas tornado relief page.

Photo courtesy: The Wichita Eagle/Kansas.com

May 22, 2004: The village of Hallam, Neb. was struck by a tornado which destroyed everything in its path for several miles across southeast Nebraska. It was the most destructive part of a group of storms that spawned tornadoes, killed a 73-year-old Hallam woman and injured 37 others. According to the Lincoln [Neb.] Journal-Star the twister destroyed 158 homes and damaged at least 57 others in Lancaster, Saline, Gage and Cass counties.

May 3, 1999: Dozens of tornadoes ripped through Oklahoma City and its suburbs as well as Wichita, Kansas and nearby towns. One of the tornadoes went beyond "F-5" on the Fujita Scale of tornado intensity at times as it traveled for hours across 70+ miles of central Oklahoma. Orphan Grain train provided several truckloads of donated groceries to Lutheran volunteers and food banks in these two states. Orphan Grain Train's Iowa West Regional Division provided a semi-load of sheetrock for the volunteers helping to rebuild homes in Oklahoma City.

The Orphan Grain Train "Gospel Express" Winnebago motor home was in Mulhall, Oklahoma, from May 1999 through May 2000 as a temporary office for Lutheran Disaster Response workers who ministered to tornado survivors in that area of Oklahoma.

An online video of Orphan Grain Train's recovery efforts can be viewed here.

Cash contributions and gifts "in-kind" to Orphan Grain Train for "Domestic Disasters" made these tornado response and recovery efforts possible. If you would like to help this special ministry to those who have experienced the shock and devastation of tornadoes, floods, and other natural disasters here in the United States, please send your contribution payable to "Orphan Grain Train," PO Box 1466, Norfolk, NE 68702. Be sure to note "Domestic Disaster Fund" on your check or money order.

Orphan Grain Train is a member of the Lutheran Disaster Response coalition: A partnership of Lutheran agencies in cooperation with the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Lutheran Disaster Response has been a formal partner with the American Red Cross in times of domestic disaster since 1988.

January 1999: A severe tornado hit Little Rock, Arkansas. More than a year later Lutheran Disaster Response is still helping home owners there rebuild. Orphan Grain Train donated sheetrock for use by the volunteers who worked on this project during 2000.

March 1998: Tornadoes hit the cities of Comfrey and St. Peter, Minnesota. Lutheran Disaster Response of Minnesota requested the use of Orphan Grain Train's "Gospel Express" Winnebago motor home, as there was no temporary office space available at Comfrey for their recovery team to work from.

Orphan Grain Train loaned a "tool trailer" to this recovery project for storing and loaning out tools used for repair work. Orphan Grain Train also furnished high-pressure washers and moving carts.

June 1998: A tornado hit the town of Spencer, South Dakota, leaving only a few buildings standing. Nearly all of the 300 residents lost their homes. Orphan Grain Train (Norfolk, Neb., and Wisconsin divisions) delivered semi trailer truckloads of food to feed displaced people and the thousands of volunteers who helped clean up the town.