Almost 300 tornadoes occurred on Wednesday and killed that many people and more. The last count I heard was 318 dead from the Southern U.S. to Canada with Alabama bearing the brunt of it and in particular Tuscaloosa. The devastation is overwhelming:
Chances are good that I know someone who was hurt or killed, and I’m sure I’ll be finding out very soon. I am and will be mourning those who died, praying for those left behind and looking for a way to help. It was helpful to me personally to remember what happened to another town that was devastated a few years ago (2007) — Greensburg, Kansas. Virtually the entire town was wiped out:
Greensburg, KS May 16, 2007 – The center of town resembles a bomb site twelve days after it was hit by an F5 tornado. Cleanup and reconstruction will take years. Photo by Greg Henshall / FEMA
Thankfully, Greensburg made a decision, and they were able to bounce back with help and forward thinking, and now it’s Tuscaloosa’s turn.
Greensburg today:
Some may think it’s a little too soon to say something about Greensburg’s comeback, but obviously, I disagree. Yes, there needs to be mourning for those who lost their lives, but there should always be a specter of hope while it’s occurring.
If you want to help the victims of the tornadoes, I’m putting my plug in for Samaritan’s Purse, which is an organization I’ve been involved with and supported for several years. They have very low overhead; almost everything goes to those in need. The best part of their help is the people who come with it. The ones I’ve known are doing it as an act of love, and it’s obvious. There is also the Red Cross who always needs donations to continue their help, and I’m sure Greensburg will be doing their part to help.
For more information on Greensburg, please visit their site GreensburgGreenTown.org
RAFrenzy 