Tornado Aftermath Update

By Pr. Rich Futrell

With a local-resident escort, I was able to get past the Sheriff’s cordon at Joe Bald and Stone road.  It was then that we made our way to visit the five households in our parish affected by the Leap-Day tornado down the Stone-Road corridor.

The first folks we visited had significant house damage.  Part of the roof was gone with many shingles.  The tornado took out windows (and a shoehorn).  But other than frazzled nerves, both were well at the house.  Even more, a construction crew was already making repairs!

However, the tornado didn’t even touch the next two homes we visited.  Although the households in the affected area didn’t have power or potable water, these two families were handling the aftermath in stride.  One household had temporarily moved to a local motel.  The other had bought water from the Branson West Walmart and had a battery-operated radio for updates.

The last two households had suffered some damage, but nothing as serious as the first house we visited.  One person’s home had a couple of windows blown out with many glass fragments on the carpet.  The other household lost its garage door and pump house.

Considering that a tornado had just given us a strong dose of mayhem, all were enduring and resilient.  Even an elderly woman about whom I was keenly concerned was in strong spirits.  All were thankful, realizing what could have been, and affirmed that “things” can be replaced but not human life.

The damage was surreal.  Close to the lake down Stone Road, I saw a roof still in the torn treetops.  The tops of many trees were shorn of their upper limbs, and many were uprooted.

But most impressive to me was the local response.  The local government had to have an up-to-date, emergency-response plan because everything was happening quickly and orderly.  The Stone County Sheriff department worked to keep everyone out of the affected area except residents and repair crews.  After seeing the area, that was a sound decision.  Line workers were repairing and replacing poles, downed transformers, and wires.  They were everywhere!  As I saw them, I marveled and rejoiced that we had so many at the right time and place!

Indeed, as Scripture teaches, God puts all the various governments in place for our well-being.  Sometimes, governments abuse their God-given role.  But yesterday, I thanked Him for a solid, local government and its timely response.

If you read this and live locally, thank those in the Sheriff department.  Thank those rebuilding from the debris and damage.  This is, indeed, a good day to be living in the Ozarks!

Soli Deo Gloria