Parkersburg-Iowa City... a look at the devastation in these areas.
Parkersburg Updates
The Needs of those hit by this tornado in and around Parkersburg, IA
July 11, 2008 Update
A. for TORNADO and flood debris CLEAN UP In Parkersburg, cedar Falls, and
cedar rapids:
1. The debris clean up process is winding down in Parkersburg. From
July 13 - 28, there will be a limited number of projects.
2. NOTE: From July 13 - 28, our key volunteer coordinator (pastor Neal
Ooms from Hope Parkersburg Church) will not be available to coordinate
volunteers.
3. From July 13 - 28, volunteers will need to go through the
AmeriCorps Volunteer Office. Their contact number is (703) 258-4784.
4. AmeriCorps office is in the Winnebago camper located on the far
south east side of Parkersburg (just north of the water tower). Volunteers
can also drive around and just ask folks if they need help and they may find
work, but it will be a hit or miss process.
5. Help is needed in other parts of Iowa. In Cedar Falls, we recommend
that volunteers be directed to Orchard Hill RCA. They are addressing needs
related to the tornado and especially the flood. To volunteer, connect with
Becky Bartlett via bbartlett@orchardhillchurch.org or her cell at 319-269-8999. Check out www.orchardhillchurch.org for up to date
information.
6. Help is needed at the New Hartford Elementary School. Clean up and
repair crews are there every day
7. Volunteers are needed in Cedar Rapids. Samaritans Purse is leading
the clean up effort. The contact number is 319 365-0942.
8. If you have a team to help in the Next Phase of Repair and
Rebuilding in Parkersburg, a coordinated effort of work will not begin until
the week of August 8. See Below.
B. THE parkersburg NEEDS ASSESSMENT PROCESS IS THE CRItical Next step
prior to the rebuilding phase:
1. The Christian Reformed World Relief Committee (CRWRC) has been asked
by the Parkersburg Ministerial Alliance and by Parkersburg officials to head
up a Disaster Response - Community Assessment of Unmet Needs for all
Parkersburg residents who suffered damage or loss due to the Tornado.
2. This Assessment will identify the unmet needs for each individual
or family. It will calculate the total cost to recover and it will
prioritize those with the greatest of unmet needs to those who really won't
need any further assistance. The assessment will look at the financial,
household, and personal needs. This assessment will enable the Parkersburg
residents to submit grant applications to access the financial assistance
that has come in through donations made for disaster relief. It will also
help our religious institutions like the RCA and CRC to provide financial,
volunteer, or even professional help to address the unmet financial (needs
perhaps not covered by insurance or FEMA), personal needs (such as healing
from the loss or stress management), and even spiritual needs that people
may have.
3. The Lead Assessor will be set up in a Drop In Center in Parkersburg
on July 28. The team of fellow assessors will arrive on July 29. They
anticipate the Assessment Process to take 8 to 10 days. The exact location
is unknown. Retired pastor of Parkersburg Christian Reformed Church - Frank
Pott is working on this (see below for contact info.)
4. The Assessors conduct a confidential and thorough interview. When
completed, each person or family is assigned a case number and the data
gathered is turned over to the Team Leader of a team of Case Managers.
These Case Managers will be professionals from the Lutheran and United
Methodist denominations brought in from other states. Only the Case
Managers will have access to the confidential report.
5. Each Case Manager will then coordinate the rebuilding process by
linking financial assets, volunteers, and professional services to the
neediest of victims and on down to the least needy.
6. Our Rapid Response Team is looking into the possibility of having
one Case Manager assigned to work exclusively with CRC and RCA victims.
That way - we will be able to match and coordinate the link between those
RCA and CRC resources and volunteers from all over the country to the
victims. We've even discussed the possibility of having RCA and CRC
congregations adapt a family - as a way of providing complete wrap around
services.
7. Our team is also mindful of ministering to those who are unchurched
and to employ the same process to minister to them.
* There are two critical Next Steps:
1. We need to make sure that every victim takes the time now to gather
the information that will help facilitate the interview process; and...
2. To prepare for a date and time between July 29 - August 6 to meet
with the Assessors at the Drop In Center.
Any members of our Rapid Response Team will be glad to assist any one who
may need help preparing for or scheduling the interview.
3. Please be prepared to let them know the number in your group, all
of your contact information, the congregation you represent, your available
dates, the skills and resources you have to offer, and any other info. that
may be helpful.
4. During the first week of August, we will work with the Case
Managers along with Nancy and Becky to match volunteers with the people in
Parkersburg (and beyond)
D. Pray:
1. The good people living through and working with the victims of the
tornado and floods are tired! The emotional toll is setting in deeper for
many! Your Prayer Matters!!
E. Financial Assistance:
1. For resources needed to assist the tornado and flood victims, please
consider making a gift to the RCA Classis of Pleasant Prairie. Please memo
"Disaster Relief" and send to:
Pleasant Prairie Classis
c/o Rev. Mel Voss
712 3rd Ave. NE
Belmond, IA 50421-1234
Mel's phone number is (641) 444-7150 and his email is: mcvoss@kalnet.com
2. The distribution of funds gathered are being managed and distributed
by the Rapid Response Team. The Criteria, Priorities, Process, and
Accountability Measures are fully in place. The team made its first gift on
July 8 and the team is likely to offer more installments on July 23.
3. The amount gathered by the Classis to date is: $22,274.00
4. We thank each and every one of you! We know much more will be
needed. Please consider offering your gift to help us help those who need
our help most.
June 11, 2008 update
A. PARKERSBURG:
Please keep praying for the people who are sorting through their lives. The
ongoing rains have gotten in the way of clean up. My sense is that
discouragement is hitting those who were hit by the tornado and those doing
their very best to help. Prayer Matters! Don't forget these people.
Brenda Schipper, our Rapid Response Team Leader along with Neal Ooms, the
pastor of Hope RCA in Parkersburg say there is plenty of work yet to be
done. So please pass this on to those who may be interested in serving.
To clarify, Brenda in particular has been working primarily with our area
RCA and CRC church members. Her role is to match up volunteer work groups
from our RCA and CRC congregations from all over the Midwest with the RCA
and CRC members in Parkersburg who lost their homes or suffered significant
damage. Brenda and Neal have been working closely with the authorities in
Parkersburg.
Brenda is a teacher in the Aplington-Parkersburg School District - and she
still has some classes yet to teach. In addition, her son is getting
married next weekend. Brenda is still engaged as a go between but will be
limited in her capacity to help - as you can easily understand. And so for
the next couple of weeks, if you have a work group that wants to come and
volunteer, please note the following changes:
1. You can contact Rev. Neal Ooms. His cell # is 319 415-3401. Neal
can give you an idea where there are needs. His email is: ccubfan79@mchsi.com Brenda's contact info is: 319 404-2460 and her email
is brendaschipper@yahoo.com
2. This following step is critical: There is a new government team
coordinating the recovery efforts. All volunteer teams need to connect with
this new team. The Sheriff's office is no longer handling or coordinating
the recovery efforts in Parkersburg. This new team of coordinators has been
established by FEMA. The numbers to this new team office are:
- 413 949-9352
- 908 892-4317
If you want to learn more or want to volunteer, you
can call this office directly for an update of needs and ways you can help.
You need not go through Neal or Brenda, but you can if you desire to connect
your volunteers with the Parkersburg area RCA and CRC churches.
The new check point where volunteers need to
register is now located on the far SE Side of Parkersburg, about a few
hundred yards NORTH EAST from the big blue water tower (toward New Hartford
on Hwy 57) at Circle Drive and Newell. Volunteers must register with this
office.
For every hour of volunteer labor, it does save the
city some money and so even if you or your team links with Neal, TJ or
Brenda, they still need to register with this office so that those volunteer
hours can be logged in and your team can get to the places of greatest need.
Related to getting out in the fields to remove
debris in the farm fields, you can still work through TJ Hanken @
319-404-0417. Right now, no one is able to get out in the fields given all
the rain.
B. FLOODS IN IOWA
As numerous churches in the Classis of Pleasant Prairie have been deeply
impacted by the tornado, some of the same churches and a number of other
churches are now being impacted through the flooding in Iowa.
Here's what we know:
1. New Life RCA in Iowa City / Coralville IA is evacuating their church
facility and they could be displaced for up to 2 months. They are exploring
temporary or even permanent options, so we'll keep you posted. There are
some members of the church who may suffer significant damage as the rivers
rise and crest in the next 24 to 36 hours.
2. Cedar Hills RCA in Cedar Rapids has volunteers helping sand bag but
to the best of their knowledge, they are not aware of anyone in their
congregation who has been flooded out.
3. 1st RCA of Evansdale has a few families who must or may have to
evacuate their homes in the next day. Right now, there are a lot of members
whose basements have sustained some water damage.
4. Bridge of Hope RCA in Waterloo has one family who lost everything
and there are a few more that are risk of flooding out. This family keeps
the Bridge of Hope portable church equipment trailer with them during the
week. After bringing the trailer to a safe place, they returned to their
home and it was too late. The Dunkerton family who lost their home, farm,
and chicken business are having trouble with their insurer and are
struggling. Again, there are a lot of basements that have taken in water.
..
5. Orchard Hill RCA in Cedar Falls has a couple dozen families whose
homes have sustained some flood damage and among them are a number of
families whose home is a total loss. This church had four homes that were
destroyed in the tornado and had many other families whose homes suffered
damage. Becky Bartlet, team leader of Orchard Hills relief efforts
commented that one of the families who lost everything in the tornado was
among the first on the scene to help rescue those caught in the floods.
WOW! The local chapter of the city Fire Department are living temporarily
at the Big House - a home next to the church used for ministry purposes
6. The congregations of Stout, Pleasant Valley, Hope, 1st Aplington,
and Bethel all have numerous members whose homes stayed clear of the tornado
only to have their basements take on water.
The problem for so many of the people in all of these congregations is that
they did not know that their homes could fall prey to flood waters and
therefore they did not have any flood insurance or may not have had enough
coverage for the amount of damage that their homes have sustained.
In addition, there are farmers throughout Iowa who have battled the rains to
get their crops in (some planting 2 or 3 times). The concern is that the
damage caused by the amount of rain could end up being more than the damage
from the tornado.
The Classis of Pleasant Prairie is continuing to raise funds to help with
the emergency needs. If you or your church would like to help, please make
your checks out to the Classis of Pleasant Prairie, memo Disaster Relief.
Checks can be sent to:
Pleasant Prairie Classis
c/o Rev. Mel Voss
712 3rd Ave. NE
Belmond, IA 50421-1234
Mel's phone number is (641) 444-7150 and his email is: mcvoss@kalnet.com
The Ways you and your church can respond and help.
The tornado that hit Parkersburg, New Hartford, Dunkerton... damaged or
destroyed the homes and businesses of several families who belong to a
number of our RCA and CRC congregations in the area. They are:
- Bridge of Hope RCA in Waterloo, IA 1 home and total family farm was destroyed near Dunkerton, Iowa
- Orchard Hill RCA in Cedar Falls, IA 3 homes destroyed 1 home damaged
- Center Community RCA in Grundy Center 1 home destroyed
- Pleasant Valley RCA in Holland, IA; 7 homes destroyed 5 homes damaged 1 death
- The Reformed Church in Stout, IA; 6 homes destroyed 3 homes damaged
- First RCA in Aplington, IA; 4 homes destroyed 2 homes damaged 1 death
- Bethel RCA in Aplington, IA 6 homes destroyed 5 homes damaged
- Hope RCA in Parkersburg, IA 28 homes destroyed 9-15 homes damaged
(The church facility and parsonage had some damage as well, both edifices
will need a new roof, windows...)
- Lincoln Center CRC, in Grundy Center, IA 2 homes destroyed
1-2 homes damaged
- Parkersburg CRC, in Parkersburg, IA 15 homes destroyed 10-12 homes damaged 2 deaths
(Their former pastor who just retired suffered extensive damage to his home)
This means that some 70+ RCA and CRC families have lost their homes and
another 40+ homes were damaged.
The reason why so many of our RCA congregations have been affected by this
storm is because each of these congregations have member families who live
in Parkersburg and New Hartford, but they belong to the above mentioned RCA
churches located around Parkersburg and New Hartford.
- There are members of the above congregations who are being treated at
area hospitals or are recovering at home
- Many of these congregations have less than 100 member families. This
means that 10% to 20% of their churches membership are suddenly displaced.
At Hope RCA, the figure is 1/3rd to 1/2 of the congregation is homeless or
needing to do repairs to their homes.
- Contrary to assumptions, not everyone has family to stay with.
Many members are living in hotels 30 or 40 miles away, others are seeking
temporary housing. Those who do have family are doubling up, some families
are tripling up.
- It is possible that the Red Cross will leave Parkersburg after
the weekend (June 9) which will leave the town more isolated.
- Residents of Parkersburg continue to sift through their homes,
removing what they can and then each resident is responsible to get their
debris to the curb in order for the city to come and haul it way in dump
trucks. Clean up in the city is far from over.
- Debris is strewn throughout farm fields west of Parkersburg all
the way to Dunkerton. Because of the rain, the fields cannot be cleared
until the fields dry out some. This could take weeks. In addition, many
farmers have not been able to get their seed in the ground. Because of
ongoing rains, numerous area farm fields are under water.
- These churches are doing their best to get their arms around the
needs of those in their congregations and to reach out to those who do not
have a church family to support them. The ramifications of the devastation
are huge for the families and congregations struggling to serve the needs
around them and keep their offerings on schedule. Imagine these
congregations seeking to minister to the needs around them while 5% to 40%
of their members are "digging out" and trying to put their lives back
together again. The toll cannot be underestimated, currently and in the
weeks and months to come.
- At Hope RCA, the basement has been turned into a free clothing
and supply center. They have enough clothes for the moment, but after the
Red Cross does leave, food will become a huge need because there is no place
to shop or eat.
- As we move further away from the tornado, the growing need will
move to emotional toll, financial concerns, and the challenges of
rebuilding.
OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE:
A. Prayer:
These families and congregations need your prayers of encouragement and
intersession for weeks and days to come. RCA and CRC pastors are reporting
members and town's people moving from the adrenalin rush to exhaustion and
are moving toward the "predictable" stages of grief as the shock wears off.
Those same pastors are experiencing similar symptoms of shock and stress.
The physical, emotional, and spiritual losses are only beginning.
Scripture teaches us that the power of the Holy Spirit is unleashed when
called upon. The Holy Spirit is in the business of lifting up those who are
hurting and broken. We have seen God do this in times such as this. Only
God can bring forth the good from such a tragedy. That's his promise and
our opportunity. It's our call to pray.
B. Physical labor needed to clear the debris:
The affected RCA and CRC congregations have formed a Rapid Response Team.
This team is comprised of terrific leaders from the area RCA and CRC
congregations. This team is serving as the communication and temporary
coordination link between the needs on the ground and those from the outside
who want to help. They are working to identify the needs of the victims in
Parkersburg, of the members in their congregations in particular, and of the
unchurched in Parkersburg.
1. Clearing out the debris from the homes in Parkersburg:
Brenda Schipper, an elder at Hope RCA in Parkersburg is spearheading this
team in Parkersburg. Her cell is: (319) 404-2460 and her email is brendaschipper@yahoo.com . If you or your group want to volunteer, please
contact her in order to get clarity of the needs in order to determine if
you or your team of volunteers are a good match to address the needs on the
field.
>From there, we ask you to contact our Reformed Church World Services (RCWS)
office in order to coordinate your volunteer trip. Our RCA number is 616
698-7071. Mary Hondorp , assistant to David Dethmers (Coordinator of RCWS)
can be reached at extension 214 or at mhondorp@rca.org. Nancy Ellens, who
serves on the Mission Volunteer Program of the RCA is also helping to
coordinate volunteer groups and her extension # is 243. Her email address
is: nellens@rca.org
2. Clearing out the debris in farm fields:
Miles upon miles of farm land needs to be cleared before the fall harvest.
The clean up of the fields is totally dependent upon the weather. This is a
great summer project for young people who want to help. The team leader in
charge of scheduling work crews is T J Hanken. TJ is the area youth pastor
in Aplington. His number is 319 - 404-0417. He will ask you to provide the
size of your youth group and dates that will work for you. He will take
your contact information and will get back to you. Please Note: As long as
it keeps raining every four or five days, it will be too wet for any groups
to come.
Below are additional Directions you will need to follow:
a.) You will need to Register with the Butler County Sheriffs office.
That number is 319 267-9111. Without proper registration, you will not be
allowed past the check points.
You will be asked 1) how many in your group,
2) what skills you offer, and 3) what equipment you have available.
b.) Please be self sufficient by bringing in your own water, food, and
tools. There is a nearby Arby's at the corner of Hwy 20 and Hwy 14. There
are a couple of local grills in Aplington - BUT it is best if you are self
sufficient.
c.) If it is raining, please stay away completely.
Additional things to do:
a.) Consider recruiting a volunteer coordinator in your church who will be
the key contact person for your church group - who then can work with Brenda
or TJ.
b.) Stay tuned to the Synod of the Heartland website at
<http://www.heartlandsynod.org/> www.heartlandsynod.org . We will be using
the website to communicate needs and opportunities for service.
3. Rebuilding (in the weeks and months to come)
If you would like to serve on a team (or coordinate a team) that will be
help later on this summer (and beyond) with the rebuilding phase of this
recovery process, those efforts will be coordinated through our Reformed
Church Worlds Services office (not Brenda). Please contact Mary or Nancy to
coordinate your trip. To learn more, visit the RCA web-site at www.rca.org and then click on to Reformed Church World
Service.
C. Financial:
There are huge financial needs that are already surfacing among the
congregations hit by this storm. Here is what we know:
- Many of these RCA congregations are addressing immediate requests
for benevolence
- Many of the victims are senior citizens who are on a fixed
incomes
- Many of these congregations may have less giving units as people
find temporary or permanent housing away from the Parkersburg area
- Many members in these congregations have lost their place of
business or their job.
- With 5% up to 40% of the giving units in these congregations
focusing on repairing or rebuilding, it is possible that some of these
churches may have a difficult time fulfilling their budget commitments.
Below are a number of ways you can financially help - and we honestly say
these are listed in priority::
1. You can write a check to the Classis of Pleasant Prairie and memo -
"Disaster Relief". Checks and offerings can be sent to the stated clerk and
treasurer Rev. Mel Voss at 712 3rd Ave. NE Belmond, IA 50421-1234. Mel's
phone number is (641) 444-7150 and his email is: mcvoss@kalnet.com
The monies given to this fund will be managed by the above mentioned Rapid
Recovery Team. Included on this team are deacons from area RCA and CRC
churches that did not experience damage. This team will be great stewards
of monies given.
These funds will go to help in areas of rent, deductibles, food, shelter,
clothing... Many of the victims need to purchase a car by the end of the
weekend, and will have deductibles of $500 to $1,000. We are confident
these individual leaders will be prudent stewards of the funds given to the
Classis.
2. If you wish to give directly to Hope RCA in Parkersburg, you can
send your check to PO Box 208, Parkersburg, IA, 50665. Pastor Neal Ooms'
office phone is: 319-346-1575. His e-mail address is ccubfan79@mchsi.com
Please note that you would like your gift to go to benevolence, building, or
for general operating expenses.
3 You can give to the RCA World Services (RCWS) fund. You can give by
logging onto the RCA website www.rca.org go to the
Reformed Church World Services page and then make a payment by credit card.
You can send a check to RCWS at 4500 60th St. SE Grand Rapids, MI 49512.
Memo "Parkersburg Disaster Relief " Offerings given to the RCWS will go
directly to coordinate the relief efforts that are now underway and will
continue all the way through the rebuilding phase of this recovery effort.
You can follow the same process for giving to the CRWRC.
4 The Parkersburg Area Ministerial Alliance are establishing an
ecumenical fund - to be pooled among all ecumenical partners to address
specific needs.
This special fund will be used to hire a rebuilding coordinator who will
work with all denominational groups to rebuild new homes. Checks can me
made to the Parkersburg Ministerial Alliance, of which Rev. Neal Ooms
(pastor of Hope RCA) is the chair. . Mail your check to PO Box 208,
Parkersburg, IA, 50665.
5 You can also give to the local Disaster Relief Fund sponsored by
Lincoln Savings Bank, 932 Parrott, Aplington, IA, 50604, 319-347-2305.
This is our opportunity to be a part of the good that God intends to bring
through this tragedy. May God bless you for your generosity as you respond
to the needs and opportunities that have emerged through this tragedy.
Parkersburg Updates
