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January 9 Tornado Updates
The Carolinas were struck by multiple storms and tornadoes on January 9. The three tornadoes we are most aware of occurred in Chapin SC, Bamburg SC, and Claremont, NC.
The Chapin tornado, an EF-1, began as a waterspout on Lake Murray and damaged a few homes. No assistance has been requested for unmet needs, but we remain in contact with pastors in the area.
Bamburg, SC was hit with an EF-2 tornado (video here). Most of the damage was to businesses, but many residents have been affected by downed trees and power outages which caused them to lose perishable food.
While there are disaster response crews on-site clearing damage, power has been restored, and residents have shelter, the local food bank has been hit with many requests. The Cheese and Cracker Box Food Pantry has been providing food and other assistance to residents affected by the storm.
Since most of the damage was to downtown businesses, they will likely remain busy as some residents may be out of work while their places of employment are rebuilt. Assistance to businesses affected by disaster generally comes from FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) and the SBA (Small Business Administration).
LDR Carolinas, through the SC Lutheran Synod Disaster Fund, has requested a grant of $500 to help the local food pantry as they provide food and clothing to those in need. We suggest that congregations and individuals who want to help provide monetary support to the food pantry.
The address for the pantry is Cheese and Cracker Box Food Pantry, PO Box 303, Bamberg SC 29003. More information about their ministry, which formed in the 1980s after a previous tornado, is available here.
Claremont, NC was struck by an EF-1 tornado which damaged several homes. Most of these homes have been deemed a total loss. Many of these residents have been in a Red Cross shelter since the storm. St. Mark’s Lutheran Church has been helping the residents who have been displaced by providing food and other assistance as they are able.
LDR Carolinas, through the NC Lutheran Synod Disaster Fund, has requested a grant of $500 to help St. Mark’s provide food for those staying in the Red Cross shelter. As the community transitions into long term recovery, LDR Carolinas will explore additional grants through LDR. If you or your congregation wish to help, please send financial donations to St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, PO Box 550, Claremont NC 28610-0550.
For these two sites, LDR Carolinas is also in conversation with UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief), Lutheran Services Carolinas, and other VOAD (Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster) partners as we determine how best to be of assistance.
Financial contributions may also be made to your local synod office (marked for Disaster Response) or to Lutheran Disaster Response (www.elca.org/disaster).
Happy New Year
We just received this New Year’s greeting from FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) Region 4 – which serves eight states in the Southeast, including the Carolinas. Now is a great time to think about preparedness and this includes some great tips, so we decided to share it here.
If you want to learn more about individual or congregational disaster preparedness and response, we invite you to join us for our book study on A Ready Hope. We meet on Zoom Tuesday evenings at 7:00 pm through February 6. Click here to register! A free copy of the book is available to congregations in NC & SC that participate in the study.
This year resolve to be prepared, here are some resolutions that we can all make to be better prepared.
- Make an emergency plan: choose a safe place to meet, learn evacuation routes, and establish an out-of-town contact.
- If you have a pet, make sure you have a photo of you and your pet together in case you get separated during a disaster.
- Get to know your neighbor and invite them to be a part of your emergency plan.
- Snap photos of important documents and save them in a secure place or online.
- Set up group text lists so you can communicate with friends and family during emergencies.
- Take a class in CPR and first aid.
- Keep and update emergency supplies; remember to include cash.
- Have back-up power sources available to charge devices in case of a power outage.
- Snap pictures of your property for insurance purposes.
- Check your insurance for coverage on disasters like floods, hurricanes, and earthquakes.
- Sign up for alerts and warnings. Download the FEMA App to get real-time alerts, safety tips, and locate open shelters.
- Remember, you don’t need to spend money to start disaster preparedness planning, Visit the low and no cost tips page on Ready.gov for additional information on how to get started.
Winter Holiday Safety Tips
Winter is upon us, as anyone can tell who has poked their nose outside this morning (our low temp was 25 degrees). There is also snow in the mountains for the second time, and while the east coast has had plenty of weather that other times of the year might seem tropical, the temperatures that followed were anything but tropical.
Winter weather preparedness in the Carolinas takes on many forms – from cold weather and snow to ice storms and even nor’easters that bring all of the above along with a tornado or two. How do you prepare? Well, take what you started for hurricane season and adapt. Add some cold weather options. Close up your house with plastic instead of plywood. Add a little TLC for your cars to make sure they start and take time to find your ice scraper! Ready.gov offers these tips for winter weather safety.
Winter also brings holidays in which we all add lights both inside and outside our homes. These also come with safety concerns. Too many lights in one socket can trip breakers or blow fuses, and extension cords became hazards – both for tripping and, if they are not in good condition, a fire hazard. State Farm offers these holiday safety tips, and the Electrical Safety Foundation offers these tips.
No matter what the weather, or the holidays, preparedness for the unexpected should always be high on our priority list – whether it is a blanket in the car in case we get stranded, or buying everyone an ice scraper for their stocking, or sharing our travel plans with friends and family. We hope you have a wonderful and safe holiday season.
LDR Carolinas