May 27, 2008

NEW YORK – Church World Service has increased its appeal responding to spring storms to $95,000. The Memorial Day weekend storms follow a busy spring storm season, with more communities across the U.S. recovering from disaster this year than in the last 10 years.

A powerful tornado cut a 50-mile long path of destruction across north-central Iowa Sunday, killing six and destroying hundreds of homes. Nearly one third of homes and businesses in Parkersburg, Ia. have been destroyed. Four people were killed in Parkersburg, an agrarian town of 2,000 people. Two were killed in nearby New Hartford.

Emergency Response Specialists are in contact with Iowa voluntary agency and faith-based response groups already planning to assist in recovery in Parkersburg. CWS material resources may be provided and long-term recovery support, in the form of grants, training and project development is likely.

In Minnesota, the Town of Hugo is hosting a meeting tonight for residents affected by Sunday's tornado. CWS personnel are in contact with voluntary agency and faith-based response groups. At least 27 homes were destroyed and an estimated 500 were damaged in a tornado that struck Hugo on Sunday.

Communities across northern Colorado are recovering from a spate of tornadoes last week, and have just been declared eligible for federal disaster assistance. A May 10 tornado struck Picher, Okla., a community already struggling with pollution problems from decades of heavy metals mining and its effect on a marginalized, Native American community. CWS is in touch with a long-term recovery group already meeting to address unmet needs in Larimer and Weld Counties. CWS will provide a long-term recovery Tools and Training workshop for the committee, and possibly a grant to support this nascent group.

And in Oklahoma, long-term recovery is underway in Ottawa County, which received a federal disaster declaration. Picher, Okla.'s history with pollution, and that a government-backed buyout is underway that would mean most residents would move, CWS expects to assist in this community's recovery in multiple forms.

The $95,000 budget will include assistance grants to Long-Term Recovery Groups, staff deployment and material resources.

Contributions to support this emergency appeal may be sent to your denomination or to Church World Service, P.O. Box 968, Elkhart, IN, 46515. Please designate: 2008 Spring U.S. Storms (#627-D).

Church World Service