In the past week, a rash of deadly tornadoes and heavy storms has blown across the central and southern United States leaving over 40 dead and thousands in need of assistance. World Renew Disaster Response Services (DRS) is responding initially through its Regional Managers in many hard-hit states including Arkansas and Mississippi.
World Renew DRS Regional Managers, Len and Carrie Blauwkamp, are on their way to Arkansas this weekend to assess the damage in the impacted communities, and to meet with partners as recovery plans start to emerge.
While there, the Blauwkamps will get a first-hand understanding of the impact of the storm as they talk with tornado survivors and better understand the human side of this terrible disaster.
“As we talk with people who survived the tornadoes, we will provide any emotional or spiritual support we can,” said Len. “We will also help them understand the next steps they can take to rebuild their lives and homes.”
Len and Carrie will also meet with other national and local recovery organizations to coordinate response activities. This will help to ensure that multiple agencies aren’t serving the same communities and that there are no people who fall through the gaps.
Their ultimate goal is to lay the groundwork for the long-term recovery ministry that World Renew DRS is known for. This includes assisting in the development of the local recovery group, conducting unmet needs assessments that identify the most vulnerable disaster survivors in a community, and providing repairing or rebuilding damaged homes. This often involves World Renew volunteers working in the community for several years.
In Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, for example, World Renew currently has teams of volunteers going door-to-door to assess any remaining unmet needs from the tornadoes that devastated the area last spring.
“Our Unmet Needs Assessment volunteers identify vulnerable households who still have financial, household, structural or emotional needs as a result of the May 2013 tornadoes,” said Bill Adams, World Renew DRS Director.
Many factors can cause delays in people being able to rebuild. This includes changing building codes, the wait for insurance claims, and the need to determine levels of federal assistance. Recovery organizations are often overwhelmed by the extent of the need after a major disaster, and need a way to identify and prioritize the real unmet needs in the community. World Renew’s Unmet Needs Assessment teams provide this crucial information so that the next step of home reconstruction can take place.
“We know that in the face of these new tornadoes, World Renew’s presence will be needed for the next several years,” said Adams. “Please pray for Len and Carrie as they make these initial visits and for the tornado-affected communities as they begin this long journey of recovery.”
