On the night of December 10th, Mayfield residents were awoken by one of the worst tornadoes in US history. The tornado ripped through Kentucky and the surrounding states. Mayfield was hit hardest.
Per The New York Times…
Officials said there were at least 70 deaths in Kentucky, where many had been trapped inside a flattened candle factory, and there were six fatalities in a roof collapse at an Amazon warehouse in Illinois after severe weather ravaged the country on Friday.
Dozens of people were feared dead, and communities across the Midwest and South were digging through rubble on Saturday after a string of unseasonably powerful storms and tornadoes swept across six states overnight.
Gov. Andy Beshear of Kentucky said that at least 70 had been killed, and the state’s death toll could increase to more than 100. The state was hit by four tornadoes, he said, including one that stayed on the ground for more than 200 miles…
“This has been the most devastating tornado event in our state’s history,” Mr. Beshear said at the briefing. “The level of devastation is unlike anything I have ever seen.”
One local authority from Mayfield estimates that 460 families were displaced and 1200 jobs were lost.
As we’ve seen in past disasters, God is writing a different story. This is an opportunity for the church to come alongside and care for those in need. We hope you’ll join us!
Here’s a miraculous story of how two babies survived the incident, despite being carried away by the storm.
Ministry Activities include:
- Family Support – Adopt a family for the day and serve them in whatever capacity they may need. That might include clearing rubble from their home, accessing supplies or coordinating with local authorities and churches to find resources, job opportunities, a church community, etc.
- Kids Camp – Facilitate sports, fun activities and Bible lessons for kids and youth in the Mayfield area. This helps encourage families that are deflated in the wake of the tornado as their kids have something fun and constructive to do together.
- General Cleanup – Local authorities estimate a 2-year cleanup process. Remove rubble, clear roofing material from nearby fields and everything in-between. As you can see from the pictures, there is a LOT of cleanup work to do.
- Sorting and Resourcing Donations – Donations have flooded the area in a short time, leaving boxes upon boxes of clothes, tarps, toys and other stuff stacked in containers and church gymnasiums. Help sort these donations and get them to families in need.
Come with a servant’s heart and a willingness to do whatever is needed. Each day may look different and things might change day-to-day depending on the need.
