Heartland hit by storms, ways to practically support, more on the horizon
In this week’s edition, we’re talking about major storms that took place over the weekend. States in the heartland — including Nebraska, Iowa, and Oklahoma — all saw significant damage from tornadoes. Events like this, especially in light of other conflicts in the world, can feel heavy and raise a lot of questions. But there are practical ways we can help those who are hurting.
Weekend storms
Over the weekend, a series of tornadoes left a trail of destruction in Nebraska, Iowa, and Oklahoma. Last Friday night, the National Weather Service issued a tornado emergency — the strongest possible tornado warning — for eastern parts of Nebraska. Families took shelter as tornado sirens sounded throughout neighborhoods. Hundreds of homes and buildings were damaged.
Convoy team members are on the ground helping distribute multiple loads of supplies, which will serve as a tangible reminder to residents that they will be able to overcome this devastation.?
“Thank you for your partnership that allows Convoy to be ready,” said Convoy of Hope’s National Spokesperson Ethan Forhetz. “And we are ready for the next round of storms to hit, as well.”
The following evening, more tornadoes formed and pushed through parts of Oklahoma, wreaking havoc on communities and infrastructure and leaving at least four people dead. Convoy of Hope delivered essential supplies to Sulphur and Ardmore, including sports drinks, food, water, totes, tarps, rakes, hygiene kits, and more.?
Convoy continues to keep a close eye on the storm systems in case more storms develop over the next few days, and remains ready to help in Nebraska, Iowa, and Oklahoma as individuals and families grapple with the loss of their belongings and, for some, their loved ones.?
How can you help?
We can all do something to help those facing the unexpected. Here are a few key ways that you can support Convoy’s response:?
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1. Give — During the early stages, financial support is critical to the effectiveness and longevity of Convoy’s response in these communities. Not only do our team members seek to meet immediate needs — with supplies like food, water, and hygiene kits — but they also consider and factor in long-term recovery efforts. If you feel led to give a gift of support towards the Nebraska response, you can do that here.
2. Pray — At Convoy of Hope, we value prayers for our team members here in the U.S. and abroad. Our staff and volunteers are at the front lines of traumatic situations, and we’re grateful for prayers for their safety and well-being as they meet needs, as well as prayers for the continued success and integrity of all of Convoy’s work. Thank you for considering adding Convoy to your prayer list and for joining us in this.?
3. Volunteer — Last but not least, we have all kinds of volunteer opportunities. We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: Volunteers are the bread and butter of Convoy of Hope. Our volunteers step up in significant ways to be tangible hope to their communities and neighbors.?
When it comes to disaster response, volunteers have the opportunity to go through extensive field training before they are deployed during a disaster.
Visit here to see what volunteer opportunities are currently available.?
On the horizon
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