Just 16 months after it was wiped out by the killer F5 tornado which roared through Joplin, Missouri on May 22nd, 2011, the stake center of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has been rebuilt and is back in operation. According to one person posting a comment to KSL Channel 5, the building and its classrooms are smaller than before. Reconstruction did not begin until November 2011, around seven months after the tornado hit. The center was used by both the Joplin First Ward and Second Ward for its normal services, as well as for various stakewide events.
The chapel was formally re-dedicated on September 29th, 2012. Presiding was Elder Tad R. Callister of the Presidency of the Seventy, who offered the dedicatory prayer; Joplin Stake President Creed R. Jones, whose home was one of the more than 7,000 destroyed, conducted the session. Elder Callister warned that the new stake center itself will not save lives, but only dedication to Jesus Christ can save us. He added that there is no tornado, earthquake, job loss or other misfortune that can take away eternal blessings if members have faith in Jesus Christ and keep His commandments.
No LDS members are known to have lost their lives in the tornado. Eight church members rode out the storm inside the stake center in what turned out to be the only area of the building left standing -- the women's restroom. Also left standing was the wall upon which was hung a picture of Jesus Christ. The sheer magnitude of the disaster is reflected in the overall statistics; at least 75 percent of the city suffered some damage, and 20-25 percent of it was destroyed. Only 158 lives were lost.
As for the rest of Joplin, it continues its steady recovery from the disaster. According to a recent post on the Joplin Tornado Recovery Facebook Page, 75 percent of the homes damaged or destroyed are under permit for reconstruction. Volunteers to help in the continuing reconstruction are being solicited on the RebuildJoplin website. Joplin was also recently awarded $45.26 million in federal disaster recovery funds through the Community Development Block Grant program.
Showing posts with label disaster relief. Show all posts
Showing posts with label disaster relief. Show all posts
Monday, October 15, 2012
Monday, May 23, 2011
LDS Chapel Lay Directly In The Path Of The Killer F5 Tornado Decimating The South Side Of Joplin, Missouri; Now Confirmed To Be Destroyed
Update October 15th, 2012: On September 29th, the new stake center was finished and rededicated; updated post HERE.
Update: Four outstanding aerial view photos of the damage in Joplin are now available at the Daily Mail website . Since they're copyrighted AP photos, they cannot be published here. New casualty figures as of 4:50 P.M. on May 24th have now been posted. Have also found a much better aerial video, which shows Joplin High School and the destroyed stake center; it's embedded towards the end of this post
Upon learning of the killer F5 tornado which devastated the south side of Joplin, Missouri on May 22nd, 2011, I visited the Meetinghouse Locator at Mormon.org to determine if any facilities of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints might have been affected. The Meetinghouse Locator indicates that there is an LDS chapel located at 2107 S. Indiana, used by both the Joplin First Ward and the Joplin Second Ward, grouped within the Joplin Missouri Stake.
Media descriptions of the path of the tornado, which touched down around 5:41 P.M. May 22nd just west of the St. John's Medical Center and which was 1/2 mile wide and traveled six miles, indicate that the chapel may have been directly in the path of this tornado. Thus there was the possibility that this chapel had been damaged or totally destroyed. However, there was no initial confirmation of the chapel's status either by official LDS sources or by media sources. But Joplin High School, which incurred serious damage, is just across the street from the LDS chapel according to this map, and a local resident, Donald Davis, is quoted as saying, “Right across the street is a church...It’s demolished. It’s flattened.”
The only church across the street from Joplin High School is the LDS chapel. The LDS Church has now officially confirmed that the stake center was destroyed by the tornado, but that all missionaries in the affected area are safe and accounted for.
A graphic showing the path of the tornado is now available HERE.
Update: An individual has just posted a comment containing a link which shows that the chapel, which also served as the stake center, has been destroyed. This is further confirmed by a discussion thread on Babycenter. I've also just discovered that there is a Community of Christ chapel located at 1212 Goetz Blvd in Joplin; it's now been confirmed that it was far enough north of the tornado's path that it escaped damage. The Community of Christ (formerly RLDS) evolved separately from the LDS Church; the common ancestry makes them of interest in this story.
From a CNN iReport:
From another CNN iReport: Here are some resources which initially showed the extent and severity of the destruction. As of 4:50 P.M. on May 24th, the death toll has now reached 122, with 750 people injured and an estimated 8,000 structures damaged or destroyed. The National Weather Service has upgraded the tornado to an F5, with winds in excess of 200 mph. -- Interactive map of tornado damage HERE. -- Springfield News-Leader initial timeline of events HERE. -- Springfield News-Leader gallery of 68 initial photos HERE. -- Springfield News-Leader gallery of 43 aftermath photos available HERE. -- CNN Live Blog: Tornado kills 89 in Joplin, Missouri, updated periodically -- List of damaged buildings available HERE, but is frequently overloaded Just found this video that provides an aerial tour of Joplin after the tornado. The chopper is flying from west to east. At about the 1:20 point, they approach the large Joplin High School complex. Directly across the street is the remains of the stake center. They fly over the stake center, and you can see the blacktop parking lot behind it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWNwZ1IY2p0 ABC video: Local media sources to monitor include KY3.com, the Springfield News-Leader, and KOLR Channel 10. Those who wish to help with the recovery can consult the KY3.com website for instructions.
Update: Four outstanding aerial view photos of the damage in Joplin are now available at the Daily Mail website . Since they're copyrighted AP photos, they cannot be published here. New casualty figures as of 4:50 P.M. on May 24th have now been posted. Have also found a much better aerial video, which shows Joplin High School and the destroyed stake center; it's embedded towards the end of this post
Upon learning of the killer F5 tornado which devastated the south side of Joplin, Missouri on May 22nd, 2011, I visited the Meetinghouse Locator at Mormon.org to determine if any facilities of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints might have been affected. The Meetinghouse Locator indicates that there is an LDS chapel located at 2107 S. Indiana, used by both the Joplin First Ward and the Joplin Second Ward, grouped within the Joplin Missouri Stake.
Media descriptions of the path of the tornado, which touched down around 5:41 P.M. May 22nd just west of the St. John's Medical Center and which was 1/2 mile wide and traveled six miles, indicate that the chapel may have been directly in the path of this tornado. Thus there was the possibility that this chapel had been damaged or totally destroyed. However, there was no initial confirmation of the chapel's status either by official LDS sources or by media sources. But Joplin High School, which incurred serious damage, is just across the street from the LDS chapel according to this map, and a local resident, Donald Davis, is quoted as saying, “Right across the street is a church...It’s demolished. It’s flattened.”
The only church across the street from Joplin High School is the LDS chapel. The LDS Church has now officially confirmed that the stake center was destroyed by the tornado, but that all missionaries in the affected area are safe and accounted for.
A graphic showing the path of the tornado is now available HERE.
Update: An individual has just posted a comment containing a link which shows that the chapel, which also served as the stake center, has been destroyed. This is further confirmed by a discussion thread on Babycenter. I've also just discovered that there is a Community of Christ chapel located at 1212 Goetz Blvd in Joplin; it's now been confirmed that it was far enough north of the tornado's path that it escaped damage. The Community of Christ (formerly RLDS) evolved separately from the LDS Church; the common ancestry makes them of interest in this story.
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| The remains of the Joplin LDS Stake Center |
From a CNN iReport:
From another CNN iReport: Here are some resources which initially showed the extent and severity of the destruction. As of 4:50 P.M. on May 24th, the death toll has now reached 122, with 750 people injured and an estimated 8,000 structures damaged or destroyed. The National Weather Service has upgraded the tornado to an F5, with winds in excess of 200 mph. -- Interactive map of tornado damage HERE. -- Springfield News-Leader initial timeline of events HERE. -- Springfield News-Leader gallery of 68 initial photos HERE. -- Springfield News-Leader gallery of 43 aftermath photos available HERE. -- CNN Live Blog: Tornado kills 89 in Joplin, Missouri, updated periodically -- List of damaged buildings available HERE, but is frequently overloaded Just found this video that provides an aerial tour of Joplin after the tornado. The chopper is flying from west to east. At about the 1:20 point, they approach the large Joplin High School complex. Directly across the street is the remains of the stake center. They fly over the stake center, and you can see the blacktop parking lot behind it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWNwZ1IY2p0 ABC video: Local media sources to monitor include KY3.com, the Springfield News-Leader, and KOLR Channel 10. Those who wish to help with the recovery can consult the KY3.com website for instructions.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
LDS Church Reports All Missionaries In New Zealand Safe And Accounted For After Devastating 6.3 Aftershock In Christchurch
Update February 28th: Death toll now 145; video of LDS missionaries describing their earthquake experiences available in this updated post.
The Mormon Times reports that Scott Trotter, a spokesman for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has confirmed that all missionaries serving in New Zealand are safe and accounted for after the devastating 6.3 aftershock which rocked Christchurch on February 22nd, 2010. Although the Mormon Times reports the magnitude as 7.0, all other sources still report it as 6.3. Details about the status of LDS Church members, their homes and church facilities as well as the providing of humanitarian aid will be updated as more information becomes available later Tuesday.
In the original September 2010 earthquake, only two LDS chapels, Fendalton and Avonside, sustained structural damage; all other local LDS facilities sustained only cosmetic damage at the worst. The LDS temple in New Zealand is located in Hamilton on North Island and is unlikely to be affected.
The New Zealand Herald contains the most comprehensive on-site coverage of the quake and its effects. The quake struck on February 20th at 12:51 P.M. New Zealand time, right at the height of the lunch hour. Although the U.S. Geological Survey officially classifies it as an "aftershock" of the original 7.0 temblor on September 4th, 2010, the damage and the human cost appears much greater after this quake. Aftershocks continue, one as high as 5.7. Although the official death toll is 38 as of this post, it is feared it could reach as high as 300. Most of the city is currently without essential services such as gas, power, water, and phone. A number of sewer and water lines broke, flooding some streets and neighborhoods. Christchurch International Airport's new domestic terminal building, scheduled for completion in May 2012, has also suffered damage.
The effects weren't limited to Christchurch, either. The quake even shook off a massive chunk of ice from the country's biggest glacier some 120 miles (190 kilometers) east of Christchurch. Tour guides at the Tasman Glacier in the Southern Alps say the quake shook some 30 million tons of ice to off the glacier, forming icebergs in the lake. The falling ice created waves up to 11-feet (3.5-meters) high, which swept up and down the lake for 30 minutes.
There are several reasons why this aftershock was more destructive. First, it it was centered only three miles (5 km) from the city, closer to where people live and work. Second, it was much shallower. Third, it took place at lunch time, when many more people were in the downtown area. And finally, many of the buildings which were damaged most likely would not have been damaged had there not been the first quake in September 2010; what this means is that many buildings which appeared to have withstood the first quake were seriously weakened at the time, but the deficiencies weren't obvious to the untrained eye.
-- New Zealand Herald providing continuous Twitter-style updates HERE.
-- New Zealand Herald portal to numerous photos and videos available HERE.
-- Jarrod Booker provides a good first-person account HERE.
-- For those who don't want to wait for LDS Humanitarian Services to set up their donation portal, a number of donation options are spelled out HERE.
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| The relatively modern Pyne-Gould building, which has unfortunately become the symbol of the latest Christchurch earthquake |
In the original September 2010 earthquake, only two LDS chapels, Fendalton and Avonside, sustained structural damage; all other local LDS facilities sustained only cosmetic damage at the worst. The LDS temple in New Zealand is located in Hamilton on North Island and is unlikely to be affected.
The New Zealand Herald contains the most comprehensive on-site coverage of the quake and its effects. The quake struck on February 20th at 12:51 P.M. New Zealand time, right at the height of the lunch hour. Although the U.S. Geological Survey officially classifies it as an "aftershock" of the original 7.0 temblor on September 4th, 2010, the damage and the human cost appears much greater after this quake. Aftershocks continue, one as high as 5.7. Although the official death toll is 38 as of this post, it is feared it could reach as high as 300. Most of the city is currently without essential services such as gas, power, water, and phone. A number of sewer and water lines broke, flooding some streets and neighborhoods. Christchurch International Airport's new domestic terminal building, scheduled for completion in May 2012, has also suffered damage.
The effects weren't limited to Christchurch, either. The quake even shook off a massive chunk of ice from the country's biggest glacier some 120 miles (190 kilometers) east of Christchurch. Tour guides at the Tasman Glacier in the Southern Alps say the quake shook some 30 million tons of ice to off the glacier, forming icebergs in the lake. The falling ice created waves up to 11-feet (3.5-meters) high, which swept up and down the lake for 30 minutes.
There are several reasons why this aftershock was more destructive. First, it it was centered only three miles (5 km) from the city, closer to where people live and work. Second, it was much shallower. Third, it took place at lunch time, when many more people were in the downtown area. And finally, many of the buildings which were damaged most likely would not have been damaged had there not been the first quake in September 2010; what this means is that many buildings which appeared to have withstood the first quake were seriously weakened at the time, but the deficiencies weren't obvious to the untrained eye.
-- New Zealand Herald providing continuous Twitter-style updates HERE.
-- New Zealand Herald portal to numerous photos and videos available HERE.
-- Jarrod Booker provides a good first-person account HERE.
-- For those who don't want to wait for LDS Humanitarian Services to set up their donation portal, a number of donation options are spelled out HERE.
Friday, February 26, 2010
LDS Missionary Richard Lasson Reports Exceptionally Hard Winter In Mongolia, Massive Livestock Die-Off In Progress
Richard Lasson, who along with his wife are are serving a humanitarian mission with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Mongolia, report that Mongolia is experiencing its worst winter in 30 years. The country is having a weather phenomenon known by locals as a "dzud" -- a summer drought followed by a terrible winter with heavy snow. Temperatures have plunged to as low as -58F. As a result, close to 2.7 million livestock animals have died so far; Analysts predict another 3 million to 4 million animals could die before the end of 2010. The country's total livestock population is about 46 million head. What exacerbates the crisis is nearly 40 percent of Mongolia's 2.7 million population are livestock herders; the country depends significantly on foreign aid as it is.
"They went into the winter unprepared because they weren't able to have enough hay stocked up for their animals, and then the animals weren't that fat because they didn't have that much food in the summer time; and so now they've got a real severe winter; and so a lot of the country is covered with heavy snow, and they've had temperatures as low as 58 degrees below zero," Lasson says. Watch KSL Channel 5 news video embedded below:
The LDS Church released the following statement: "In response to severe winter weather in Mongolia the Church is partnering with Mongolian officials to distribute food, clothing, medicine, candles, fuel, and hygiene items to herder families and is providing funding to repair broken heating systems in school dormitories."
USA Today reports that officials have declared disaster status in more than half of Mongolia's 21 provinces, and more are set to follow. The Guardian reports that the United Nations has launched a $4 million dollar carcass-clearing appeal for Mongolia.
If you would like to help the people in Mongolia, Lasson suggests donating to the LDS Church's Humanitarian Fund, UNICEF or The American Red Cross and specify you want the funds to go to Mongolia.
"They went into the winter unprepared because they weren't able to have enough hay stocked up for their animals, and then the animals weren't that fat because they didn't have that much food in the summer time; and so now they've got a real severe winter; and so a lot of the country is covered with heavy snow, and they've had temperatures as low as 58 degrees below zero," Lasson says. Watch KSL Channel 5 news video embedded below:
Video Courtesy of KSL.com
The LDS Church released the following statement: "In response to severe winter weather in Mongolia the Church is partnering with Mongolian officials to distribute food, clothing, medicine, candles, fuel, and hygiene items to herder families and is providing funding to repair broken heating systems in school dormitories."
USA Today reports that officials have declared disaster status in more than half of Mongolia's 21 provinces, and more are set to follow. The Guardian reports that the United Nations has launched a $4 million dollar carcass-clearing appeal for Mongolia.
If you would like to help the people in Mongolia, Lasson suggests donating to the LDS Church's Humanitarian Fund, UNICEF or The American Red Cross and specify you want the funds to go to Mongolia.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
LDS Missionary Elliott Miller Relates Harrowing Escape From Tsunami In Samoa; Two Sister Missionaries In Tonga Still Missing
The 8.3 magnitude earthquake hit Malaela, Samoa while Elliot Miller, a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, was in the shower. At the time, he didn't think he was in danger. But only six minutes later, a wall of water would rush through the beachside village, sweeping away homes and people. Full story published by KTVA Channel 11 in Anchorage, Alaska; gallery of 34 photos of the disaster available on KSL Channel 5.
The overall death toll from the earthquake and tsunami that struck Samoa and nearby Tonga on Wednesday September 30th has now reached 160, according to this current KSL Channel 5 report. Dozens more are expected. At least 31 of the victims were from American Samoa. Miller, an LDS missionary from Brentwood, Tennessee, had only arrived in Samoa a month earlier, starting a two-year stint on the islands. After the ground stopped shaking, he heard shouts from outside urging him to get to high ground.
Throwing on shorts and his white missionary shirt, Miller ran from the cinderblock house to find other villagers running for the forest for lack of higher ground. Miller ran for the trees too, picking up two scared kids along the way. They scrambled up the trunk and watched the water rise around them. Miller prayed and worried that the tree would snap under the water's pressure. Finally, the seas receded. When villagers dared to return to the beach later in the day, they found that their homes had been taken by the waves. In the distance, Miller saw people collecting bodies. He has since been transferred to a missionary house in Apia, Samoa. The LDS Newsroom now reports that 26 of the dead are Latter-day Saints; 22 in Samoa and four in American Samoa. All missionaries assigned to the three locations have been accounted for except for two sister missionaries from the Tonga Nuku’alofa Mission serving on the Tongan island of Niuatoputapu, which borders Samoa. Efforts to communicate with people on the island have still not been successful. Update October 2nd: The two sister missionaries have now been confirmed to be safe and are assisting in caring for refugees in their area.
Another report indicates that the Apia Samoa Temple suffered no structural damage following the quake and subsequent tsunami — although the horn from the Angel Moroni statue atop the temple somehow snapped off and fell to the ground. Two chapels on Samoa's main island of Upolu reportedly suffered severe water damage. Flood waters also inundated the lower level of the Fa'aala stake center on the neighboring island of Savaii.
Rescue efforts are beginning. The United States, Australia and New Zealand sent in supplies and troops, including a U.S. Navy frigate carrying two helicopters that will be used in search-and-rescue efforts. The Hawaii Air National Guard and U.S. Air Force flew three cargo planes to American Samoa that carried 100 Navy and Army guard personnel and reservists. Doctors and nurses were sent to devastated villages, and a refrigerated freight container was being used as a temporary morgue for the scores of bodies showing up at a Samoan hospital. About 200 people camped inside the Mormon church in Leone, one of the hardest hit villages in American Samoa.
The overall death toll from the earthquake and tsunami that struck Samoa and nearby Tonga on Wednesday September 30th has now reached 160, according to this current KSL Channel 5 report. Dozens more are expected. At least 31 of the victims were from American Samoa. Miller, an LDS missionary from Brentwood, Tennessee, had only arrived in Samoa a month earlier, starting a two-year stint on the islands. After the ground stopped shaking, he heard shouts from outside urging him to get to high ground.
Throwing on shorts and his white missionary shirt, Miller ran from the cinderblock house to find other villagers running for the forest for lack of higher ground. Miller ran for the trees too, picking up two scared kids along the way. They scrambled up the trunk and watched the water rise around them. Miller prayed and worried that the tree would snap under the water's pressure. Finally, the seas receded. When villagers dared to return to the beach later in the day, they found that their homes had been taken by the waves. In the distance, Miller saw people collecting bodies. He has since been transferred to a missionary house in Apia, Samoa. The LDS Newsroom now reports that 26 of the dead are Latter-day Saints; 22 in Samoa and four in American Samoa. All missionaries assigned to the three locations have been accounted for except for two sister missionaries from the Tonga Nuku’alofa Mission serving on the Tongan island of Niuatoputapu, which borders Samoa. Efforts to communicate with people on the island have still not been successful. Update October 2nd: The two sister missionaries have now been confirmed to be safe and are assisting in caring for refugees in their area.
Another report indicates that the Apia Samoa Temple suffered no structural damage following the quake and subsequent tsunami — although the horn from the Angel Moroni statue atop the temple somehow snapped off and fell to the ground. Two chapels on Samoa's main island of Upolu reportedly suffered severe water damage. Flood waters also inundated the lower level of the Fa'aala stake center on the neighboring island of Savaii.
Rescue efforts are beginning. The United States, Australia and New Zealand sent in supplies and troops, including a U.S. Navy frigate carrying two helicopters that will be used in search-and-rescue efforts. The Hawaii Air National Guard and U.S. Air Force flew three cargo planes to American Samoa that carried 100 Navy and Army guard personnel and reservists. Doctors and nurses were sent to devastated villages, and a refrigerated freight container was being used as a temporary morgue for the scores of bodies showing up at a Samoan hospital. About 200 people camped inside the Mormon church in Leone, one of the hardest hit villages in American Samoa.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
LDS Church Reports All Missionaries Safe And No Damage To Church Buildings After Devastating 7.1 Earthquake In Honduras
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints reports that all missionaries working in the area are safe after a devastating earthquake struck Honduras. In addition, Church officials also report they had not received any word on any structural damage to church buildings. The Church is positioning itself to provide aid and recovery assistance to the affected area; after earthquakes in other areas, assigned LDS missionaries are diverted from normal proselytization to assisting in recovery efforts.
The earthquake, which struck at 2:24 Honduras time on May 28th, 2009, registered 7.1 on the Richter scale, lasted about 30 seconds and was centered around Honduras' Roatan Island, approximately 80 miles (130 km) northeast of La Ceiba. It originated at a relatively shallow depth of 6.2 miles. So far, at least six people are known dead and another 50 injured. Some 60 houses and scores of other buildings across the north of Honduras were wrecked. The quake also caused damage in 42 municipalities in the country; hardest hit were the municipalities of La Lima and El Negrito, in the department of Yoro (northeast), in Tela (north) and Gracias (west) city. In El Progreso, 231 km north of Tegucigalpa, the bridge La Democracia collapsed. Some damage was also reported in Belize. The quake was also felt in southern Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, and northern Nicaragua. Seventeen aftershocks, all at 4.0 or greater, have since been reported.
The following YouTube video of an AP report in Spanish shows the destruction:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PoUdhOprcEw
And here's another video in Spanish, from CNN International:
Schools have been closed and electrical, telephone, and Internet services have been interrupted.
San Pedro Sula, near the quake's epicenter, is to host a general assembly of the Organization of American States on June 2nd and 3rd. Two hotels in San Pedro Sula are reported damaged, and the city's primary road link to the interior was interdicted with the collapse of one of the two spans of the La Democracia bridge. A CNN report has a good photo of the damaged bridge. It appears the conference will continue despite the quake.
The earthquake, which struck at 2:24 Honduras time on May 28th, 2009, registered 7.1 on the Richter scale, lasted about 30 seconds and was centered around Honduras' Roatan Island, approximately 80 miles (130 km) northeast of La Ceiba. It originated at a relatively shallow depth of 6.2 miles. So far, at least six people are known dead and another 50 injured. Some 60 houses and scores of other buildings across the north of Honduras were wrecked. The quake also caused damage in 42 municipalities in the country; hardest hit were the municipalities of La Lima and El Negrito, in the department of Yoro (northeast), in Tela (north) and Gracias (west) city. In El Progreso, 231 km north of Tegucigalpa, the bridge La Democracia collapsed. Some damage was also reported in Belize. The quake was also felt in southern Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, and northern Nicaragua. Seventeen aftershocks, all at 4.0 or greater, have since been reported.
The following YouTube video of an AP report in Spanish shows the destruction:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PoUdhOprcEw
And here's another video in Spanish, from CNN International:
Schools have been closed and electrical, telephone, and Internet services have been interrupted.
San Pedro Sula, near the quake's epicenter, is to host a general assembly of the Organization of American States on June 2nd and 3rd. Two hotels in San Pedro Sula are reported damaged, and the city's primary road link to the interior was interdicted with the collapse of one of the two spans of the La Democracia bridge. A CNN report has a good photo of the damaged bridge. It appears the conference will continue despite the quake.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
LDS Missionaries In Central Italy Accounted For And Uninjured After Devastating L'Aquila Earthquake Which Has Killed 179 And Injured Over 1,500
In the wake of a deadly earthquake in central Italy, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints confirmed that its missionaries located in the area are fine and accounted for. Church spokesman Scott Trotter said there are four missionaries from the Rome Italy Mission in that area, but they are O.K. "They are safe and are communicating with the mission president via cell phones", Trotter said. "They have plenty of food and water and are staying in their apartments until local authorities say it is safe to go out".
A couple of comments posted to the Deseret News story since initial publication indicate that the situation is fluid, and that the missionaries may now be staying in a temporary "Tent City" until their apartment is judged safe.
Here's an al-Jazeera report on the earthquake:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEYSdwsxM-s
The quake in L'Aquila, about 75 miles northeast of Rome, registered 6.3 on the Richter scale and was followed by several aftershocks. According to the latest CNN report, the quake has now claimed 179 lives, with more deaths expected since anywhere from 70 to 100 people are believed to be trapped in the wreckage. Italy's Civil Protection agency reported at least 1,500 injured and 50,000 without shelter.
"I can say there's hardly a building which was left without some sign of what has happened in the historical center of L'Aquila", Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said during a visit to the stricken region. "All the public buildings have been affected".
And already some controversy has arisen in the wake of the quake. An Italian scientist who predicted a major earthquake around L'Aquila weeks before disaster struck the city was reported to authorities for spreading panic among the population. After the first tremors in the region were felt in mid-January, seismologist Gioacchino Giuliani predicted a large quake was on the way, based upon concentrations of radon gas around seismically active areas. He was reported to police for "spreading alarm" and was required to remove his findings from the Internet.
A couple of comments posted to the Deseret News story since initial publication indicate that the situation is fluid, and that the missionaries may now be staying in a temporary "Tent City" until their apartment is judged safe.
another Anonymous | 12:59 p.m. April 6, 2009
The info is incorrect. My brother in law is one of the four missionaries. They are not in their apartment. Matter of fact my wife and I have been forwarded emails from the mission pres. They are not allowed to go back IN their apartment until it is safe. They are sleeping in a tent until further notice, and have plenty of clothes and blankets. They have been with the people in the town since it has happened...
Cami Grigg Davis | 1:01 p.m. April 6, 2009
My little brother is one of the four missionaries serving in L'Aquila, and they are not in their apartment. They were awakened at 3:30 am their time by a 6.3 earthquake, and have since been helping athorities find survivors. They are currently going to be staying in the "Tent City" that has been made for tens of thousands of people who have lost their homes, my little brother being one of them. I ask that everyone please keep all the missionaries, and their families, and the families in Italy who have been effected by this tragedy to be in your prayers. Thank you.
Here's an al-Jazeera report on the earthquake:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEYSdwsxM-s
The quake in L'Aquila, about 75 miles northeast of Rome, registered 6.3 on the Richter scale and was followed by several aftershocks. According to the latest CNN report, the quake has now claimed 179 lives, with more deaths expected since anywhere from 70 to 100 people are believed to be trapped in the wreckage. Italy's Civil Protection agency reported at least 1,500 injured and 50,000 without shelter.
"I can say there's hardly a building which was left without some sign of what has happened in the historical center of L'Aquila", Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said during a visit to the stricken region. "All the public buildings have been affected".
And already some controversy has arisen in the wake of the quake. An Italian scientist who predicted a major earthquake around L'Aquila weeks before disaster struck the city was reported to authorities for spreading panic among the population. After the first tremors in the region were felt in mid-January, seismologist Gioacchino Giuliani predicted a large quake was on the way, based upon concentrations of radon gas around seismically active areas. He was reported to police for "spreading alarm" and was required to remove his findings from the Internet.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
LDS Missionaries Joe Bolke And Matt Simpson Participate In Rescue Effort In Silver Lake Hills Apartment Fire In Fenton, Michigan
Two missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have been hailed as heroes for their efforts to rescue several people from the burning apartment complex in Fenton, Michigan, where they were living while serving a mission in the area.
Both KUTV Channel 2 and KSL Channel 5 in Salt Lake City have focused their stories on Elder Joe Bolke, from Cottonwood Heights, Utah. During the early morning hours of Friday February 13th, Elder Bolke and his companion, Elder Matt Simpson, found their complex ablaze. Elder Simpson, who hails from Reno, Nevada, had moved in to the first-floor apartment just a few days prior and said he woke up when sparks from the vinyl siding began shooting past his window. "God woke me up," he said. They dashed outside without their shoes into the cold Michigan night and started yelling to get others awake. Their quick thinking helped save lives at the apartment complex, including a mother and her 7-week-old baby, who had to be lifted from a second-floor balcony. They placed themselves in harm's way, along with other rescuers - as they worked, the building's vinyl siding was dripped melting plastic down.
A February 13th story in the Flint News provides more harrowing details about the fire itself, which first erupted around 3:30 A.M. on February 13th at the Silver Lake Hills Apartment Complex in Fenton. Many people escaped with only the clothes on the back - some even left behind wallets and keys. The aforementioned mother and baby were the only casualties; they were hospitalized with burns, but are expected to fully recover.
You can see the sheer magnitude of the destruction in the above photograph. According to a February 18th story in the Tri-County Times, there were 18 apartment units, 15 of which were occupied, in the 3500 building that were involved in the fire. All apartments were either burned or suffered smoke and water damage. Several vehicles were severely damaged from the heat. According to apartment management, units had working smoke detectors and sprinkler systems.
There were 27 people living in the building and all residents have been able to obtain alternate housing. The fire chief said the estimated dollar loss is still being figured at this time and the fire remains under investigation with the Michigan State Police.
Fire investigators believe the fire began in an exterior stairwell on the west end of the building. Fire Chief Robert Cairnduff said he has heard plenty of rumors that the fire was caused by an arsonist. He said at this early stage, arson cannot be ruled out, but explained that fire investigators are leaning more toward an accidental cause. Samples of debris from where the fire is believed to have started was collected and is being analyzed to determine if any accelerants were used.
And the community opened their hearts and their wallets up so wide that on February 23rd, WJRT Channel 12 reports that the apartment management can no longer accept any more aid, because they have too much. People donated enough to fill the complex clubhouse and two apartments. The complex is donating the surplus to area churches and other charities.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
LDS Church Members Among The Numerous Victims Of The Wildfires Near Melbourne, Australia; Priesthood Leaders Organizing Recovery Assistance
LDS Church News reports that three homes of Church members were among the over 800 homes destroyed by the deadliest series of wildfires in Australia's history, according to a Church Welfare report.
No members or missionaries were injured in the fires, which as of this post have claimed the lives of 181 people, left 5,000 people homeless, and burned 1,100 square miles (2,850 square kilometers) of land — the majority of which is located in Australia's southeastern state of Victoria. However, numerous member families were evacuated by the fires, which did not damage any Church property.
Blazes had been burning for weeks in the area, but turned deadly February 7th when scorching temperatures and high winds created a fire storm that swept across the region. Temperatures reached the 100s, with a maximum of 118F in Melbourne and 104F in Canberra on February 6th. Experts predict the death toll will rise to near 300 as authorities are able to search devastated areas.
Elder John Larsen, the Church's Pacific Area welfare specialist, explained that shifting winds blowing at or near 60 mph fanned the flames into furnace-like conditions and made it nearly impossible to know which direction to run from the flames. Numerous individuals actually lost their lives while fleeing the fires; their incinerated vehicles and bodies were found by recovery teams after the fact. Elder Larsen said the fire situation began to improve February 9th when extreme temperatures and winds tempered, in answer to prayers by many.
Local priesthood leaders have contacted government agencies and the Red Cross to determine what type of humanitarian aid from the Church would be of greatest worth. Church members have also been giving blood, and all members are being asked to pray for those affected by the disaster, and to ask the Lord to temper the elements to limit further destruction. Priesthood leaders are also organizing cleanup crews to be deployed once the burned areas are re-opened by authorities. Police have treated the areas as crime scenes because they suspect arson; one late report from Australia indicates police believe they are closing in on one suspect, a motorcyclist who was behaving suspiciously in the area of one of the fires. There have also been isolated reports of looting.
Australians have dug deep into their pockets to create a wildfire relief fund, which has now exceeded A$45 Million as of this post. Click HERE if you want to donate.
Here's a YouTube video of an Associated Press report which shows the sheer magnitude of the disaster:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eeq1za1HQ8
And the threat is by no means over with. Firefighters, some from as far away as New Zealand, are working furiously to prevent two separate blazes from joining together. Currently, temperatures have dropped into the upper 60s/low 70s, but are expected to jump back into the 80s next week.
The fires were the product of a perfect confluence of favorable events; prolonged drought, high temperatures, strong winds, flammable grasses, and eucalyptus trees which burn like a torch when set alight. A Scottish woman describes her experience HERE.
Monday, February 9, 2009
LDS Church Sending Supplies And Volunteers To Help Ice Storm Victims In Arkansas And Kentucky Who Are Still Without Power
Although their efforts do not always get commensurate publicity, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints participates in many disaster relief efforts in the United States and throughout the world. Assistance is provided to all in need regardless of religious affiliation; you can view an archive of disaster relief stories published by the LDS Church HERE.
And the many victims of the January bout of severe weather, to include ice storms, in Arkansas and Kentucky, are no exception. On February 7th, 2009, the Deseret News reported (official LDS news release HERE) that the Church is sending supplies and volunteers to help residents cope with the aftermath of the severe weather outbreak. Even now, thousands remain without power because the ice snapped so many trees and downed so many power lines.
The Church has provided three trucks filled with hygiene kits, blankets, cots, first aid kits, water, diapers, generators and chain saws. LDS work crews, many affiliated with the community service group Mormon Helping Hands, are helping in the recovery effort, and monetary donations have been made to the American Red Cross.
The Nashville Tennessean offers more details. About 500 LDS members from various stakes in Franklin, Madison, Nashville and McMinnville are heading to the area to help clear trees and repair homes. The crews are beginning in Fulton, Mayfield and Murray, Ky., where there are Mormon chapels. From there, the groups will be divided into teams and sent into the community, where they will help fellow church members and their neighbors (Mormon and non-Mormon alike). One LDS church leader in Kentucky compared the ice storm destruction to a Category 5 hurricane, saying that every single tree in his area is down.
As an added bonus, many of these same church members got valuable experience when they also helped to clean up in the aftermath of Katrina.
Some people question whether the LDS Church spends enough money on humanitarian causes. They will ask why we spend money on temple construction, arguing that the money should be given to the poor. But LDS dedication to the poor is irrefutable. We believe that it is important to care for God's children BOTH physically (through our international humanitarian program), AND spiritually (through our temple-building program). If one lacks life's basic necessities, it can be difficult to develop the spiritual. If one lacks a connection with God, it can be difficult for even the richest man to see meaning in life at all. We must attend to both humanity's physical and spiritual needs; to neglect one is to negate the other.
Another reason we spend money on "impressive" temples is that, unlike LDS chapels, temples are considered to be literal houses of God. Just as the ancient Israelites dedicated much of their resources to building a holy temple, Mormons believe that sacrificing to build temples is one way of honoring God. The beauty of the temple also helps those who worship there recognize that they are in a special place; it sets a spiritual tone that helps them draw closer to God.
While the Church does make great efforts to improve the living conditions of Mormons and "non-Mormons" alike, had many of these faithful members been forced to choose between monetary aid or the opportunity to worship in that temple, the choice would have been obvious. We must not neglect people's spiritual needs.
And the many victims of the January bout of severe weather, to include ice storms, in Arkansas and Kentucky, are no exception. On February 7th, 2009, the Deseret News reported (official LDS news release HERE) that the Church is sending supplies and volunteers to help residents cope with the aftermath of the severe weather outbreak. Even now, thousands remain without power because the ice snapped so many trees and downed so many power lines.
The Church has provided three trucks filled with hygiene kits, blankets, cots, first aid kits, water, diapers, generators and chain saws. LDS work crews, many affiliated with the community service group Mormon Helping Hands, are helping in the recovery effort, and monetary donations have been made to the American Red Cross.
The Nashville Tennessean offers more details. About 500 LDS members from various stakes in Franklin, Madison, Nashville and McMinnville are heading to the area to help clear trees and repair homes. The crews are beginning in Fulton, Mayfield and Murray, Ky., where there are Mormon chapels. From there, the groups will be divided into teams and sent into the community, where they will help fellow church members and their neighbors (Mormon and non-Mormon alike). One LDS church leader in Kentucky compared the ice storm destruction to a Category 5 hurricane, saying that every single tree in his area is down.
As an added bonus, many of these same church members got valuable experience when they also helped to clean up in the aftermath of Katrina.
Some people question whether the LDS Church spends enough money on humanitarian causes. They will ask why we spend money on temple construction, arguing that the money should be given to the poor. But LDS dedication to the poor is irrefutable. We believe that it is important to care for God's children BOTH physically (through our international humanitarian program), AND spiritually (through our temple-building program). If one lacks life's basic necessities, it can be difficult to develop the spiritual. If one lacks a connection with God, it can be difficult for even the richest man to see meaning in life at all. We must attend to both humanity's physical and spiritual needs; to neglect one is to negate the other.
Another reason we spend money on "impressive" temples is that, unlike LDS chapels, temples are considered to be literal houses of God. Just as the ancient Israelites dedicated much of their resources to building a holy temple, Mormons believe that sacrificing to build temples is one way of honoring God. The beauty of the temple also helps those who worship there recognize that they are in a special place; it sets a spiritual tone that helps them draw closer to God.
While the Church does make great efforts to improve the living conditions of Mormons and "non-Mormons" alike, had many of these faithful members been forced to choose between monetary aid or the opportunity to worship in that temple, the choice would have been obvious. We must not neglect people's spiritual needs.
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