One Year Later, WHI Working in Greensburg

The F5 tornado that struck Greensburg, KS, one year ago Sunday destroyed an entire community and provided an enormous challenge for disaster response organizations. The storm destroyed 95% of the town of 1500 residents and caused damage in five surrounding counties. World Hope International has responded throughout the year to aid in the long term rebuilding process following the May 4, 2007, tornado.

March 2008 was a particularly important month for WHI’s disaster response. Five volunteer teams from three states descended on the small Kansas town as a part of the “Blitz Month,” which was organized by the area’s long-term recovery agency. The effort was designed to take several house rebuilding projects from start to finish during the month of March.

WHI coordinated teams from East Parkway Church from Sacramento, CA, Romulus Wesleyan Church, Northshore Church, and Community Wesleyan Church from Michigan, and Westview Community Church from Manhattan, KS. Teams dedicated themselves to debris clean up, concrete work, roofing, painting, and repairs to a surviving home. Nearly 1000 volunteers participated in the month-long event. Sacramento team members Meagan Flonta and Tasha Yaholkovsky said, “After working so hard the first day, we wondered what we had signed up for. But each day after we were given new strength and more joy and by the end of the week, we wished it wouldn't end.”

WHI volunteers also hosted a dinner for the Greensburg community, feeding nearly 400 of the town’s 650 remaining residents. A volunteer team from Romulus, MI, distributed almost $12,000 worth of new appliances and house wares that were donated by Keystone Community Church. Pastor Steve Adams, who drove the items nearly 1200 miles from Michigan, said, “We were able to pinpoint who needed this stuff the most, that was different than what we’ve done in the past, and it was terrific.”

Rebuilding efforts will continue throughout 2008 in Greensburg. During the year, WHI will roll out new programs to improve the organization’s disaster response capacity in the USA. For more information about WHI disaster response, please visit our website.

To volunteer, please contact James Bond, Disaster Response Manager at:
disasterresponse@worldhope.net