Brethren respond by the hundreds to tornado in Pennsylvania.

A tornado in central Pennsylvania prompted hundreds of Brethren volunteers to help clean up debris in the week following the July 14 storm. The F3 twister that hit Campbelltown and South Londonderry Township destroyed 32 homes and damaged dozens more, according to staff of the General Board's Emergency Response program.

The estimate of hundreds of volunteers came from Atlantic Northeast District disaster coordinator Tom Cope, who kept a record of at least 405 Brethren who did clean up. Southern Pennsylvania District disaster coordinator Leonard Stoner and district volunteers also lent support to the work, and Emergency Response director Roy Winter and assistant Diane Gosnell were among those in Pennsylvania following the tornado. In addition, a number of Brethren helped out at the Campbelltown fire hall.

Cope "discovered that there were more volunteers who responded to Campbelltown than we knew, literally unsung heroes when we don't know their names," said Gosnell. Winter told the story of a family in the Big Swatara, Hanoverdale Church of the Brethren who suffered the total loss of their house, and whose congregation was there within hours to give support. "We extend a thank you to everybody who went to a neighbor's house to help," Winter said. He asked anyone who is still in need of help following the July 14 tornado to contact his office at 800‑451‑4407.

In other news from the Emergency Response office, another tornado recovery project is planned in Hallam, Neb. The small town was nearly obliterated by an F‑4 tornado on May 22, and of the town's 170 homes only seven are repairable and the rest must be rebuilt. The General Board's Emergency Disaster Fund has allocated $15,000 for a long‑term rebuilding project to begin in early September. "We hope to get as many homes as we can framed up and dried in before winter sets in," reported Jane Yount, the General Board's disaster response coordinator. Emergency Response is looking for volunteers skilled in framing to staff the project.

Three flood recovery projects continue as well, in Poquoson, Va., following Hurricane Isabel; in Greenbrier County, W.Va., scheduled to be completed Aug. 28; and in Skagit and Snohomish Counties, Wash. To volunteer for Emergency Response projects, contact a district disaster coordinator or the Emergency Response office at 800‑451‑4407.

Source: Newsline 7/30/2004
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