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Archive - Article 51
Tornadoes Ravage Eastern United States
11/15/02
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Sunday, November 10th, 2002 was a beautiful and balmy day. After
a week of cooler than normal weather, a bright and sunny Sunday
was a welcomed relief. However, by nightfall it was apparent
that the warm weather was creating havoc from Mississippi to
Ohio. The line of severe thunderstorms was racing across the
eastern United States at speeds of sixty miles per hour. Not
only were heavy rain, hail, severe cloud to ground lightening
and deafening thunder being reported but also tornadoes began
to develop.
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Multiple tornadoes were spawned throughout the night and into
Monday morning. By day break the full impact of the devastation
and destruction was beginning to be told. From Carbon Hill, AL,
an hour northeast of Birmingham, to Mossy Grove, TN, a small
valley community nestled in the Appalachian Mountains, to Ohio,
Maryland and Pennsylvania, tornadoes had caused major property
damage and loss of life. In Tennessee seventeen people perished
and thirteen different tornadoes touched down.
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Well-built homes were leveled leaving the foundations as reminders
of dreams and hopes for the future. Mobile homes were tossed
about and crushed like tin cans under the feet of men. Trucks
and cars were used as missiles flying through the night air.
Nothing seemed to be spared. One church congregation enjoying
a beautiful time of worship, were suddenly told to crouch under
their pews, waiting for the tornado to relinquish its hold on
their community. When they emerged, there was moderate damage
to the church but eight members of their community had lost their
lives to the storm including a five-month-old baby.
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Early Monday morning, David Lorency, International Field Director
for Operation Compassion, mobilized its Disaster Relief team.
Within hours Operation Compassion had personnel on the ground
assessing needs and directing resources and needed supplies.
By Thursday, Operation Compassion had delivered three trucks
full of cleaning supplies, blankets, water, clothes detergent,
ice chests, clothing and beverages.
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While the disaster teams in these locations have changed their
emphasis from recovery to clean up to restoration and many organizations
will begin to leave these ravaged areas, Operation Compassion
has committed continued help and assistance for the long haul.
Plans and strategies for resource placement and replacement are
being developed, as complete restoration will take months to
years.
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This type of massive response will take the involvement of everyone.
The cost will be astronomical but not insurmountable. While you
might not be able to physically go to the disaster site, you
can still be a part of the disaster team. Sponsoring a semi truck
loaded with disaster relief supplies will assure your continued
involvement while helping to defray the expense of this massive
disaster relief effort. Interested persons, churches or agencies
can sponsor a semi truck for pennies on the dollar of valued
product. For further information, please contact Operation Compassion
at the address and telephone numbers list below or visit our
web site.
Tim Burdashaw
Communications
Anyone interested in donating finances or products or providing
a corporate lead may contact:
Operation Compassion
David Lorency, President
114 Stuart Road, NE
Suite 370
Cleveland, TN 37312
423.728.3932 - Office
423.596.4200 - Fax
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