When Storms Come
01/03/12 05:52
Last year made it into the record books as one of the worst tornado seasons. 550 people were killed, making it the deadliest season on 75 years according to the National Weather Service. Most of us have some images in our minds from the news pictures of Joplin Missouri.
The tornado season got off to an early start this week as a series of huge storms caused damage and devastation in Kansas, Missouri, Illinois and Tennessee. The intense storm system was a result of cold air blowing from the Rockies in Colorado and mixing with warm air from the Gulf of Mexico. At least ten people were killed and more than 150 injured as a result of the storms. Some people had a brief warning from the storm sirens before everything went black and the storm hit.
In the first town hit, Harveyville, Kansas, there was no warning of the tornado that carved a path through the town and left six people hospitalized. About a dozen homes were destroyed. But one of the first things people noticed, when they went out to survey the damage is that their church is gone. One of only two churches in town, the Harveyville United Methodist Church was totally destroyed. Where there once was a beautiful white church, there is now a pile of rubble. The church was one of the oldest buildings in town, constructed in 1885. The steeple toppled, the walls fell and everything, including the new sound system, was completely destroyed.
We were talking about that church last evening. Rev. Jane Ireland, a retired minister and member of our congregation served as pastor of that church. She was relieved to learn that no one was killed, but was wondering what is going to happen next. Power and phone lines are down, making communication with the community’s residents difficult. And talking to a former pastor who now lives in South Dakota isn’t the highest priority for those who are trying to salvage what they can before another storm system sweeps into the area. Storms are predicted for Friday across the region.
The Red Cross set up a shelter for those who lost their homes in Harveyville. Since there was no suitable building in town, they set up at a school in Eskridge, a small town to the northwest. No one came to the shelter. The people of Harveyville opened their doors to their neighbors and everyone was able to stay in town. That is the way it is in a small town. You help the neighbors.
Jane knows the people of Eskridge, too. There was a yoked parish of churches in Eskridge and Harveyville that she served, driving back and forth between the two small towns southwest of Topeka.
Tornadoes are rare in February in Kansas. But for the people of Harveyville they aren’t rare enough. It just took one storm to create chaos in the town. Four residents were trapped in damaged homes and were rescued by neighbors and emergency personnel. About half of the buildings in the town were destroyed or damaged so severely that they will need to be replaced.
Harveyville isn’t what one would call a large town. There are only about 250 residents. They drive to Topeka for medical care, for some of their shopping, and for other necessary services. Some of the folk drive that far to go to work each day. Now they have the task of cleaning up and rebuilding their town. Governor Sam Brownback issued a state of emergency for Wabaunsee County. Utility crews are scrambling to restore power to the area after the storm leveled hundreds of power poles.
The National Weather Service said that the Harveyville tornado formed and dissipated so quickly that there was no chance to update the severe thunderstorm warning to a tornado warning. Local officials say that the tornado sirens are old and probably wouldn’t have worked anyway. It took less than three minutes for the storm to work its devastation. No one had any warning.
The people say they will rebuild. Along with new homes, they vow to build a new church. A church, they say, is not a building. A church is the people. They promise to continue the life of their historic congregation. There will be plenty of steps required before construction begins. There will be forms to fill out, adjusters to meet, rubble to clear, plans to be formed, and probably a bit of fund-raising that will be required as well.
For this week, prayers of thanksgiving will be part of this Sunday’s worship wherever the people gather. No one was killed in a storm that clearly had the power to bring death to the small community. Three people remain in critical condition, so there will be prayers of healing as well. The people of Harveyville will not be alone in their prayers. The effects of their storm were felt at least as far away as Rapid City, were we gathered in the hallway of our church and heard part of the story as our choir prepared for its rehearsal and our youth prepared for confirmation class. At the opening of the class, the youth prayed for the people of Harveyville. None of them had ever been to the town. None of them had ever seen the Methodist church. All they knew was the story. And they know Jane. And somehow they felt a connection that was deep enough to make the congregation and other residents of Harveyville the subject of one of their prayers.
The youth preparing for confirmation in our congregation are beginning to learn a lesson that comes to us again and again as we continue our life’s journey: we are all in this together. The things that happen to one affect all. The concerns of people in far away places – even those we have never met – become our concerns. When we sing, “We are one in the Spirit,” it is not just some sentimental expression of emotion. It is a serious statement of a real connection.
It looks like it is shaping up to be another tough year for storms. It might be a good year for extra prayers as well.
The tornado season got off to an early start this week as a series of huge storms caused damage and devastation in Kansas, Missouri, Illinois and Tennessee. The intense storm system was a result of cold air blowing from the Rockies in Colorado and mixing with warm air from the Gulf of Mexico. At least ten people were killed and more than 150 injured as a result of the storms. Some people had a brief warning from the storm sirens before everything went black and the storm hit.
In the first town hit, Harveyville, Kansas, there was no warning of the tornado that carved a path through the town and left six people hospitalized. About a dozen homes were destroyed. But one of the first things people noticed, when they went out to survey the damage is that their church is gone. One of only two churches in town, the Harveyville United Methodist Church was totally destroyed. Where there once was a beautiful white church, there is now a pile of rubble. The church was one of the oldest buildings in town, constructed in 1885. The steeple toppled, the walls fell and everything, including the new sound system, was completely destroyed.
We were talking about that church last evening. Rev. Jane Ireland, a retired minister and member of our congregation served as pastor of that church. She was relieved to learn that no one was killed, but was wondering what is going to happen next. Power and phone lines are down, making communication with the community’s residents difficult. And talking to a former pastor who now lives in South Dakota isn’t the highest priority for those who are trying to salvage what they can before another storm system sweeps into the area. Storms are predicted for Friday across the region.
The Red Cross set up a shelter for those who lost their homes in Harveyville. Since there was no suitable building in town, they set up at a school in Eskridge, a small town to the northwest. No one came to the shelter. The people of Harveyville opened their doors to their neighbors and everyone was able to stay in town. That is the way it is in a small town. You help the neighbors.
Jane knows the people of Eskridge, too. There was a yoked parish of churches in Eskridge and Harveyville that she served, driving back and forth between the two small towns southwest of Topeka.
Tornadoes are rare in February in Kansas. But for the people of Harveyville they aren’t rare enough. It just took one storm to create chaos in the town. Four residents were trapped in damaged homes and were rescued by neighbors and emergency personnel. About half of the buildings in the town were destroyed or damaged so severely that they will need to be replaced.
Harveyville isn’t what one would call a large town. There are only about 250 residents. They drive to Topeka for medical care, for some of their shopping, and for other necessary services. Some of the folk drive that far to go to work each day. Now they have the task of cleaning up and rebuilding their town. Governor Sam Brownback issued a state of emergency for Wabaunsee County. Utility crews are scrambling to restore power to the area after the storm leveled hundreds of power poles.
The National Weather Service said that the Harveyville tornado formed and dissipated so quickly that there was no chance to update the severe thunderstorm warning to a tornado warning. Local officials say that the tornado sirens are old and probably wouldn’t have worked anyway. It took less than three minutes for the storm to work its devastation. No one had any warning.
For this week, prayers of thanksgiving will be part of this Sunday’s worship wherever the people gather. No one was killed in a storm that clearly had the power to bring death to the small community. Three people remain in critical condition, so there will be prayers of healing as well. The people of Harveyville will not be alone in their prayers. The effects of their storm were felt at least as far away as Rapid City, were we gathered in the hallway of our church and heard part of the story as our choir prepared for its rehearsal and our youth prepared for confirmation class. At the opening of the class, the youth prayed for the people of Harveyville. None of them had ever been to the town. None of them had ever seen the Methodist church. All they knew was the story. And they know Jane. And somehow they felt a connection that was deep enough to make the congregation and other residents of Harveyville the subject of one of their prayers.
The youth preparing for confirmation in our congregation are beginning to learn a lesson that comes to us again and again as we continue our life’s journey: we are all in this together. The things that happen to one affect all. The concerns of people in far away places – even those we have never met – become our concerns. When we sing, “We are one in the Spirit,” it is not just some sentimental expression of emotion. It is a serious statement of a real connection.
It looks like it is shaping up to be another tough year for storms. It might be a good year for extra prayers as well.