Tornado Disaster Response
Greensburg, Kansas
March 31, 2009 - Camp Greensburg Now Closed
Volunteer operations at Camp Greensburg have ceased now that its mission is complete. Orphan Grain Train sent four semi-tractors and special moving equipment to the camp this week to remove bedroom, office, and kitchen units back to Norfolk, Nebraska, so they are ready to deploy to future disasters.
Feb. 25, 2008 - An update from Chuck Jedele, LDR Site Coordinator:
LUTHERAN DISASTER RESPONSE UPDATE FROM GREENSBURG, KANSAS
The following update was shared by Chuck Jedele, Lutheran Disaster Response Site Coordinator in Greensburg, Kansas.
VOLUNTEERS - Our volunteers’ hours were ten times better in January 2008 than December 2007. We had 850 volunteer hours given through Lutheran Disaster Response. The expected number of hours for February should be about the same. We have all the volunteers we can use effectively in March already signed up. Seven students and Dr. Janet Lack from Midland Lutheran College, Fremont, Neb., were our most recent volunteers. They worked very hard at demolition, warehouse cleaning, and roofing. What an enthusiastic group! All other groups and individuals were so much appreciated, too!
SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS TORNADO RECOVERY ORGANIZATION (SCKTRO) - The organization under which LDR does its work, has a new director, Barb Neslund. The past director, Kathleen Blair, was honored at a recent meeting for her dedicated and unselfish service.
PEACE LUTHERAN CHURCH is worshipping every Sunday and Wednesday evening during Lent in a portable building at their previous site. The congregation is studying options for ministry and whether to rebuild. They hope to make some decisions in an April meeting.
THE NUMBERS GROW - As I drive the streets each week, I have to find new landmarks to guide my way. Where there was a slab and a broken tree, now there is a new foundation. Where there was a foundation, now there is a house. Some figures: permits issued by the city - 698. Of these 335 were for buildings to be repaired, 101 for new homes, 39 for permanent commercial buildings. Great progress!
THANKS - I thank you for the prayers for this ministry of care for your neighbors. I thank those who volunteered their time and talents. I thank those who have given money and needed items to LDR. I thank those who have helped broadcast the news and needs. I thank those who will come to volunteer. Praise the Lord for all!
In His Service,
Chuck Jedele
LDR Site Coordinator
Jan. 25, 2008
Chuck Jedele, Lutheran Disaster Response Site Coordinator for Greensburg, Kansas, in 2008 reported: “There are jobs to be done in both good and bad weather. Good weather jobs include: Putting siding on a house, putting a roof on a house, making foundations for new homes and replacing windows. Bad weather jobs include: Sheet rock work, plumbing, wiring for electricity, installing trim on doors/windows/flooring, ceramic tile work, cleaning, installing carpet and installing interior doors and cabinets.”
A mobile chapel facility was delivered to Greensburg on Thursday, Aug. 30, 2007. A pre-dedication service was held for church members of Peace Lutheran, Greensburg and Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Pratt. The chapel, built with a grant from LCMS World Relief and Human Care, joins a mobile office unit for relief coordinators that was also recently sent to the town.
This temporary worship center has been used by three different church groups in Greensburg since 2007. Orphan Grain Train will remove the building when it is no longer needed at Greensburg to store it for response to needs resulting from future disasters.
James Bond of the South Central Kansas Tornado Recovery Organization (SCKTRO) Building Committee, Rocky Meise, Disaster Response Coordinator for the Kansas District of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod and Kathleen Blair, Case Management Coordinator for SCKTRO, were present at the pre-dedication with John White of Orphan Grain Train.
John White, OGT Kansas Division chairman, Rev. Ray S. Wilke, OGT president, Bernie Wrede, OGT board member and Vern Steinman, OGT disaster relief coordinator with signs illustrating the cooperative effort between Orphan Grain Train, LCMS World Relief and Human Care and Laborers for Christ.
The mobile chapel unit’s special frame foundation was constructed by Laborers for Christ next to the site of Peace Lutheran’s former church building after Labor Day 2007 and was officially dedicated. This is where Peace Lutheran will re-build. When the church is finished using the mobile chapel, the unit will be put to use in another disaster relief situation.
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On Friday, May 4, 2007, the town of Greensburg was almost completely destroyed by an EF5 tornado that killed 10 and injured over 50. Other communities damaged by the storm included Claflin, Ellinwood, Macksville, and Holyrood.
Orphan Grain Train is cooperating with the Kansas District LCMS and LCMS World Relief and Human Care in responding to the needs of those affected by the tornado.
If you would like to support Orphan Grain Train’s Kansas tornado relief efforts, donations for the “Tornado Relief Fund” may be sent payable to Orphan Grain Train, PO Box 1466, Norfolk, NE 68702-1466.
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