Tornado Disaster Response
Northwestern Wisconsin, June 2000
A tornado struck in the northwestern part of Wisconsin. It left a 30-mile path of destruction across five townships. The town of Siren was half-leveled by a tornado and four other townships of Burnett County were torn apart by the 200-plus mph winds. Two hundred of the 400 homes in Siren were damaged or destroyed.
Orphan Grain Train served meals to approximately 300 people for five days after the tornado. Mike Block, Orphan Grain Train Disaster Chairman for the Wisconsin Division of Orphan Grain Train, and Lee Belmas, of North Wisconsin Lutheran Care Ministry, drove Wisconsin Division’s truck and Emergency Response Trailer to Siren. All food distributed there was purchased with funds donated to the Orphan Grain Train.
Though there was much devastation, God’s miracles were also evident and people were comforted and helped through Christian love and service.