Many of us know that a rare EF3 tornado passed through Rocky Mount, North Carolina on July 19. But after the news coverage of this localized disaster faded, most of us have not heard much more.

In the first few days after the tornado hit (the relief stage) NC VOAD (Voluntary Agencies Active in Disaster) partners like the American Red Cross, the NC Baptist Men, and others showed up quickly to provide emergency food and shelter and to clear debris and tarp homes. NC Emergency Management has also been at work. Together, they have determined that 80 homes in Nash County were affected; 8 of those were completely destroyed. Still more were affected in nearby Edgecombe County.

We have been in contact with Rev. Alice Johnson Curl, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Rocky Mount. Her home, the church, and the homes of church members were undamaged, but she has been active in their community recovery effort. She wrote in the most recent church newsletter:

“The most concentrated destruction was in Dortches, a small town outside Rocky Mount. Many houses were completely destroyed; many had significant damage; there was other property damage such as cars and outbuildings. Pfizer, the largest employer in the Rocky Mount area, had major damage to the loading/shipping dock part of the plant. With all this loss, there were only a few people who sustained injuries… Bob and I live in Dortches. Our home was not damaged, but four of our neighbors had their homes leveled; many lost at least part of their roofs; many had other damage to their homes and property…

[The] Wind of the holy presence of Jesus is stronger than any threats or challenges or storms, even an EF3 tornado that decided to touch down in our small community. Jesus was there on that afternoon. Jesus is still here. Jesus will always enter – because Jesus comes and goes wherever He chooses. And where He chooses to be is with all His beloved always and forever.”

Read her entire reflection here.

The effort now moves to short-term recovery. That is the work of helping families begin to return to their daily routines of work and school. LDR Carolinas has applied for a solidarity grant from the churchwide Lutheran Disaster Response ministry to aid the work in Nash County. Those funds will be administered by a coalition including town officials in the community of Dortches, Pastor Curl, and other church leaders, to help pay for short-term needs like deposits for temporary housing, insurance deductibles, or rental of storage units.

Representatives from NC Emergency Management, the local United Way, and other organizations already at work in these communities are meeting to coordinate their efforts for long-term recovery for everyone whose lives have been impacted by this tornado. LDR Carolinas coordinators are included in those meetings.

If you would like to help with short term recovery, please send gift cards (preferably for Walmart, no larger than $50) directly to Pastor Alice Johnson Curl at Trinity Lutheran Church, 433 South Winstead Avenue, Rocky Mount, NC 27804. These will be distributed to affected families who can shop locally to purchase back-to-school necessities (school supplies, backpacks, clothing, and school uniforms) and other immediate needs.