November 7, 2005

South Indiana Tornado Update

Edited by Daniel R. Gangler, Director of Communications
Indiana Area of The United Methodist Church
Paid for through your conference apportionments.

South Indiana tallies damages

By Susan Kim
Disaster News Network

Search and rescue was ending on Monday in tornado-stricken Indiana and Kentucky. Twenty-three people are dead, with more than 100 injured, some news reports say that up to 200 people might still be missing.

Residents were not yet allowed back in their homes on Monday, and churches opened their doors to house and care for tornado survivors.

Eighteen of the fatalities were in the Eastbrook Mobile Home Park in Evansville, Ind., which was the hardest hit community when the twister roared through around 2 a.m. as people slept. The neighborhood was situated in a location extremely vulnerable to tornadoes -- an open farm field where 350 mobile homes sat with no sheltering basements.

On Monday, Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels declared a state of emergency for the area and asked the federal government for disaster assistance.

The tornado first touched down near a horse racing track outside Henderson, Ky., then crossed the Ohio River into Indiana.

In Kentucky, faith-based disaster responders reported that Munfordville was hard hit. Some estimates there indicated up to 30 businesses were destroyed and 100 homes were demolished.

The twister was Indiana's deadliest in more than two decades, and is also the deadliest U.S. tornado of 2005. Indiana emergency officials said that siren warning systems were activated but residents said they failed to hear them. One local fire official said the sirens aren't designed to wake people up.

Several teams of hazard researchers have argued that, if U.S. emergency management officials want to reduce the death rate from tornadoes, they will have to provide improved neighborhood planning that reduces vulnerability. Currently, researchers have found, families with few resources continue to live in some of the most tornado-prone locations.

Studies have shown that the current tornado-related death rate for people in mobile homes is equal to the overall U.S. tornado death rate from 1925. The tornado death rate for people living in mobile homes is 20 times that of a permanent home dweller.

Editor's note: As reported last night, the Baker Chapel UMC was destroyed. According to the Rev. Steve Johnson of Evansville, the parsonage of the Rev. Bob Coleman received serious damage when the chimney collapsed into the house through the master bedroom. Fortunately, the Colemans had left the room minutes earlier when they heard the warning sirens. Coleman is senior pastor of Methodist Temple UMC in Evansville.

Bishop Mike Coyner toured the tornado damaged area on his return trip from Lake Junaluska, N.C., site of the last week's Council of Bishop's meeting and the Connectional Table meeting.

The United Methodist Committee on Relief has agreed to send emergency funds for recovery efforts. No Advance number has been assigned to date for South Indiana Tornado Relief.

Volunteers, supplies and money needed for South Indiana survivors

Volunteers are now being organized to help with the Evansville tornado relief efforts. If you wish to assist in recovery efforts, please contact

• Elsie Miller at South Indiana Conference at 800/919-8160 or emiller@sicumc.org,
• or Pastor Randy Anderson, Cell 812/568-4746, Church 812/867-3920.

Volunteers need to report to Newburgh UMC, 4178 Hwy 261, Newburgh, Ind. Contact Pastor Mark Dicken at 812/573-1910. He is helping organize relief efforts from Newburgh UMC.

Epworth UMC in Newburgh is acting as a shelter as well as feeding people. If you wish to assist this effort, contact Pastor Mike Monahan at 812/853-8107.

Supplies needed are flood buckets/cleaning supplies, health kits and diapers. Please deliver these items to Hazelton United Methodist Church, Main & Third Streets in Hazelton. Please call 812/784-2318 before delivering relief items.

South Indiana Conference Volunteer in Mission Coordinator Carolyn Ellis suggests that volunteers coming into the area wear clothing that identifies them as United Methodists and that they carry papers identifying them as United Methodists so that they might be allowed into restricted areas.

Here is contact information for those coordinating the South Indiana Conference disaster relief.

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