AMAZON

Sunday, November 06, 2005

Deadly Winds Close to Home

Last night I went to sleep with the weatherman of one of the local TV stations describing the storm situation around Louisville and southern Indiana. This morning I awoke to the news that a “tornado ripped a 20-mile-long path through northwestern Kentucky and southwestern Indiana, killing at least 17 people and injuring 200 others.” The death toll is expected to grow.

At the moment it is too early to know all of the details of the damage of last night’s tornado. It is, however, another natural disaster to add to the list of death and destruction that has been growing since the tsunami of last December. And for me personally, this one has struck very close to home.

The area where the tornado ripped a devastating path is a hundred miles or less from Louisville. It is less than fifty miles from where I pastored a church for eleven years. In other words, this disaster hit closer to me than any of the preceding ones. I have already sent an email to our Conference office requesting information on how our churches are responding to the needs of people affected by the tornado. I have telephoned folks I know in southwestern Indiana to obtain information. I am praying for the victims.

I am also thinking about the status of those victims. From what I have determined thus far, the majority lived in the Eastbrook Mobile Home Park in Evansville, where the damage is described as “extensive.” Mobile homes are the most vulnerable to tornado damage and the folks who live in them are usually not wealthy. I ponder this in relation to all of the disasters of the past 12 months.

However, now is the moment for action; reflection will come later.

7 comments:

  1. How horrible! I have not watched the news today, so I was unaware. Prayers are ascending...

    ReplyDelete
  2. I have relatives who live in Evansville. I need to telephone them.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I, too, have relatives in southern Indiana that I need to contact.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I hope no one else was hurt. Too many natural disasters in the last year.

    I have a lot of relatives in Louisville, as that's where I'm originally from. I'm guessing they're okay as I haven't heard anything yet.

    My thoughts going out to all the folks down there too.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Punkmom: Thank you for your prayers. They are certainly needed.

    Abby: I pray your relatives are safe.

    Mike: I also pray that your relatives are safe.

    Squirl: Yes, there have been a significant number of disasters this year. More than I can remember in my lifetime. It makes me wonder…

    I didn’t know you were originally from Louisville! Tell me more?

    Thanks for your thoughts!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I just gave a rundown of the Louisville thing over in my comments on the Nest.

    Have you always lived in Louisville?

    ReplyDelete
  7. Thanks, Squirl. I was born in Louisville. Moved to Lexington when I was 18 for college. Then to Germany in the army. Back to Louisville for 6 years. Then to Elizabethtown, KY, for 6 years. Then St. Louis, MO, for 3 years. Then Cannelton, IN, for 11 years. I came back to Louisville about 7 years ago.

    I’ll check your blog for your Louisville history!

    ReplyDelete