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CWS Update: Fall 2005 Tornadoes

November 16, 2005

SITUATION:
In the third outbreak this month, at least 23 tornadoes hammered parts of the Midwest and South on November 15, killing one person and wreaking havoc in Madisonville, Kentucky, and destroying homes in northwestern Tennessee. Along with tornadoes, thunderstorms in Indiana produced winds of more than 100 mph and as much as two inches of rain, causing scattered flooding in and around the Indianapolis area. At least one storm-related fatality was reported.

In Tennessee, the communities of Paris and Cunningham in Henry and Montgomery counties respectively, sustained heavy damage. Emergency officials in Paris, who relocated after their office building was struck, report "major destruction" to several neighborhoods throughout these areas.

On November 12, a tornado outbreak in central Iowa cut a 41-mile swath through parts of Dallas and Hamilton counties, just west of Des Moines. Governor Tom Vilsack declared both counties disaster areas. Early reports indicated that Stratford, a town of 750 residents, and Woodward, population 1,200, were the hardest hit by the rare November twisters. Local officials said at least 40 homes were destroyed in Woodward, along with as many as 30 in and around Stratford; at least nine tornadoes raked the state.

And earlier this month, on November 7, a tornado, packing winds of 158 - 207 mph, tore through parts of Indiana and Kentucky, killing 22 people. Eighteen deaths were confirmed in an Evansville, IN, mobile home community, and five were confirmed in the town of Newburgh, 20 miles east, near the Indiana/Kentucky border. On the Kentucky side, Crittenden, Butler, and Hart counties were hard hit -- with 30 homes destroyed, and 75 with major damage. Officials report at least half of those households are lacking adequate insurance.

President Bush declared two Indiana counties eligible for federal assistance -- Warrick and Vanderburgh. An estimated 200 homes were destroyed in Vanderburgh County and another estimated 200 were destroyed or sustained major damage in Warrick County. To date, no other states are eligible for federal assistance.

CWS RESPONSE
Disaster Response and Recovery Liaisons (DRRLs) Lura Cayton and Lesli Remaly are consulting with faith community leadership on long-term recovery in Indiana, Kentucky, Iowa, and Tennessee. Assessments continue throughout the region.

Remaly is in communication with Kentucky Interchurch Disaster Recovery Program, a long-time CWS partner, already engaged in fundraising and long-term planning to assist homeowners with rebuilding efforts. She will be on-site in the Kentucky and Indiana hard-hit areas beginning the week of November 28 for assessment, organizing, and training with local church and community leadership.

"The affected communities were mostly low-income and underinsured," reported Cayton, initially monitoring the situation in Indiana through the Indiana Voluntary Agencies Active in Disaster.

Contributions to support Fall 2005 Tornadoes recovery may be sent to your denomination or directly to:

Church World Service
Fall 2005 Tornadoes #6284
P.O. Box 968
Elkhart, IN 46515

Contributions may also be made by credit card online, or by calling: (800) 297-1516, ext. 222.

Media Contact:
Lesley Crosson, CWS/New York, 212-870-2676;
Jan Dragin, 781-925-1526;

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