Salvation Army response to Leap Year tornadoes
Salvation Army emergency disaster services (EDS) teams across the Midwest responded immediately to the devastating effects of tornadoes that killed 24 people in the Central Territory in late February and early March, 2012.
Within hours, EDS mobile feeding units were providing food and hydration, as well as emotional and spiritual care, to survivors and emergency responders in numerous locations throughout Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Nebraska and Missouri. Among the hardest hit areas were southern Illinois and Indiana, which experienced violent, EF-4 tornadoes.
After meeting survivors' immediate needs-food, clothing, shelter, bedding, medicine, baby products-EDS began its recovery phase, which included clean-up and emergency financial assistance along with other Salvation Army social services.
Midland Division
Thousands of meals, snacks and drinks were served in Harrisburg, Ill., after 40 percent of the city was destroyed.
More than a thousand meals and snacks were distributed in the Springfield, Mo., area, and meals were served in Branson, Mo., through mobile feeding units traveling throughout the areas and at stationary locations. The Branson Corps sustained significant damage and was inaccessible for more than a week. Other communities receiving an EDS response in Missouri included Buffalo, Cape Girardeau, Cassville, Joplin (still in recovery from last year's devastating tornado), Kimberling City, Lebanon and Oak Ridge.
Kansas and Western Missouri Division
In Harveyville, Kan., many families lost everything they owned in the tornado. More than 2,000 people received meals, snack and drinks, as well as clothing, medicine and other immediate needs.
EDS teams also worked in Crawford County, Kan., serving meals to residents and volunteers who assisted with clean-up and repair work.
Indiana Division
More than 10,000 meals were served in hard-hit Southern Indiana by EDS units. Henryville received extensive tornado damage, which became dangerously obscured by fresh, wet snow. The small town of Marysville was almost completely destroyed. EDS teams also responded to the towns of Borden, Nabb, New Pekin and Otisco plus communities in Clark and Washington counties.
To comfort those affected by the tornadoes, The Salvation Army forged a partnership with the HOPE Animal-Assisted Crisis Response organization. Canine/therapist teams brought smiles and joy to the survivors. Captain Cynthia Shiels reported, "People came up to the dogs and gave them hugs. You could see their faces light up and their stress levels begin to go down. Pretty soon they'd open up about their experiences and needs."
Other Responses
In mid March EDS teams in the Eastern Michigan Division responded to a tornado that destroyed 20 homes in Dexter, Mich., while teams in the Western Division responded to a damaging tornado in North Platte, Neb. Teams provided food and hydration to survivors, emergency responders and volunteers after the storms and during clean up efforts.