We were up early this morning – at 6:40 – to meet the Emergency Management Directors for the local post office. Turns out, the storms also wrecked havoc on the postal system, strewing mail all over the place. Confidential information was just lying in the road and streets and paper was everywhere. Immediately they dispatched the post master and a team of volunteers to sort the mail. They filled four large mail carts by the time they were done.

Later that day, we helped set up a FEMA registration table where victims could sign up for assistance. We registered 19 families totaling 73 family members.

The weekend has been a busy one. In a neighboring town, we helped local officials set up a “store” where people could come get food. We also helped them work out logistics and by the time we left (only two hours) everything was in place. Before we pulled out, residents were already coming in getting food. I loved the setup because it gave the resident’s dignity. The people were given brown grocery bags and then were allowed to “shop” for whatever they needed.

One story that is truly touching is a family who lives in Hartsville and lost everything. Melvin and Karen and their two sons, Jay and John Patrick (both boys are 9 years old) were in their home during the storm. It is an absolute miracle they are alive.

When the tornado struck, two barns on the property were demolished and two sheds obliterated. When the tornado was passing over his home, Melvin said the pressure was so intense, his ears filled with unbearable pressure and it felt like someone was sitting on his chest.

Marvin jumped up to go grab his two sons and at that moment the walls blew out of the house like an explosion. Karen was watching TV in the living room and her sons Jay and John Patrick were upstairs sleeping. The family lost everything and after seeing the pictures it is unbelievable they are still alive. OBI’s construction coordinator Joe and a team of volunteers helped clear the land of debris so the family can quickly begin the rebuilding process.

This entry was posted on Monday, February 11th, 2008 at 2:37 pm and is filed under Jody Herrington, North America, US. Tornadoes. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.