Monday, April 30, 2012
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Disaster Assistance - Today's Forecast
A stalled-out frontal boundary from the mid-Mississippi Valley to the Southern Plains will serve as the focus for scattered severe thunderstorms the next few days. While large hail and damaging winds remain the primary threat, isolated tornadoes are also possible.
Sunday's Thunderstorm Forecast
The outlined red area is where we are forecasting the greatest chance of severe weather. Orange indicates areas of general thunderstorms that remain below the severe threshold.
Friday, April 27, 2012
First anniversary of the outbreak that devastated Alabama and other states
First anniversary of the outbreak that devastated Alabama and other states
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Tuscaloosa, AL {Apr. 27, 2011}
Early morning on April 27, 2011 I left Fayetteville, NC we had just finished helping after their tornado. I was headed to Popular Bluff, MO to help with flooding. Needless to say I had no idea what was coming. I stopped just east of Knoxville, TN to avoid the storms path but it changed course and came right over where I was parked. I survied a long night two hours of which was in cooler at the gas station. The next morning I called Don and ask him to make some calls while I changed my plans and headed torwards Alabama. Later Don put me in touch with Trae Durdan (Central Church of Christ, Tuscaloosa) and I headed there.
We arrived in Tuscaloosa, AL on Thursday April 28th the day after the tornado hit. The following is what we accomplished. Over 150 Bible Studies Setup, 12 Baptisms, 42,866 Meals Served. Over 800 families helped with cleanup (chainsaw and other work). Many loads of other food, water and supplies handed out. Church building was completely torn down and hauled away. Furniture and appliances still being handed out.
Tuscaloosa, AL {Apr. 27, 2011}
FAST FACTS
65 fatalities, 1500 injured
Total damage estimate: $2.2 billion
Tornado path length: 80.68 miles
Forbes index (100-point scale): 43.9
Arguably the most destructive single tornado of a record-setting day during which 200 tornadoes spun across the Southeast was a massive tornado which churned through Tuscaloosa, Ala. that afternoon.
Disaster Assistance - Severe Threat Zone Pushes South
Severe thunderstorms are already firing Thursday morning in parts of the mid-South, and several more states will be affected later in the day.
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Disaster Assistance - Weather Watch
Severe thunderstorms are expected in portions of the middle-Mississippi and Ohio Valleys on Wednesday. Damaging winds and large hail are the main threats, however we cannot rule out a few tornadoes.
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Hurricane Forecast 2012
Updated: April 24, 2012 5:00 pm ET
The Weather Channel has issued its forecast for the 2012 Atlantic hurricane season.
Below-Average 2012 Forecast
This preseason forecast calls for 11 named storms, 6 hurricanes and 2 major hurricanes (Category 3 or higher on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale). These forecast numbers are below the long-term average from 1950-2011 (12 named storms, 7 hurricanes, 3 major hurricanes) and well below the averages for the current active era from 1995-2011 (15 named storms, 8 hurricanes, 4 major hurricanes).
“After very active tropical seasons in 2010 and 2011, we expect fewer storms to develop this hurricane season,” said Weather Services International (WSI), a part of The Weather Channel Companies, Chief Meteorologist Dr. Todd Crawford. “The combination of much cooler North Atlantic ocean temperatures and a trend towards El Nino conditions suggest a notable reduction in activity. There is still uncertainty regarding the development of El Nino, which will impact future forecast updates. If the chances of El Nino development increase, our forecast numbers will likely go down even further in future updates.”
Monday, April 23, 2012
Disaster Assistance
Update from Laura Beth Lamb -
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Disaster Assistance Donations
Woodward, OK Tornado
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Disaster Assistance-Woodward, Oklahoma
I talked with the minister of Woodward Church of Christ in Oklahoma earlier tonight and he feels that they have things under control right now. Members of the church are going to distribute supplies delivered to them by Churches of Christ Disaster Relief tomorrow. He said that the Woodward area is in the mist of an oil boom and many oil company employees have setup grills and are helping feed volunteers and those in need. We will stay in touch for future needs.
Woodward, Okla. Tornado Photo
Alyssa Coleman, 8, carries her dog Blackie Chan through the debris of what was her home in the Hide-A-Way Mobile Home Park in Woodward, Okla., Monday, April 16, 2012. A tornado struck the town early Sunday morning. Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman
http://newsok.com/photo/uid/6f0d0e486d7ca840ab4c107e3426acfa#ixzz1sKtz6IF8
http://newsok.com/photo/uid/6f0d0e486d7ca840ab4c107e3426acfa#ixzz1sKtz6IF8
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Thursday, April 12, 2012
-Disaster Assistance-Southern Indiana Tornadoes-
Today we did 335 meals. Photo below is Minister of Northside CoC and a couple from Martinsburg CoC they have helped deliver meals almost every weekday we have been here.
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
-Disaster Assistance-Southern Indiana Tornadoes-
Super day today. Over 350 volunteer out working today in the Pekin and Maryville areas. 531 Meals served.
Monday, April 9, 2012
-Disaster Assistance-Southern Indiana Tornadoes-
Today we have a team out surveying Maryville and Heneryville for families that need help. We have a large amount of volunteers here this week (well over 100).
Saturday, April 7, 2012
Disaster Assistance-Forney, TX
Forney is about 75 percent cleaned up, its mayor says, and much of the relief from Tuesday’s tornadoes is now being sent elsewhere.
Thursday, April 5, 2012
2012 Hurricane Forecast
A Colorado State University team is forecasting a below-average 2012 Atlantic basin hurricane season due to cooling of tropical waters and potential development of El Nino conditions.
The team headed by William Gray and Phil Klotzbach calls for 10 named storms during the hurricane season, which runs between June 1 and Nov. 30, according to a news release.
Four are expected to become hurricanes and two of those major hurricanes, reaching category 3, 4, or 5 on the Saffir/Simpson scale with sustained winds of 111 mph or greater.
Despite the prediction for a less active season based on data analysis of about 30 years, the scientists warned that it only takes one hurricane to make it an active season for U.S. coastal residents.
The hurricane forecast team’s probabilities for a major hurricane making landfall on U.S. soil in 2012 are:
• A 42-percent chance that at least one major hurricane will make landfall on the U.S. coastline (the long-term average probability is 52 percent).
• A 24-percent chance that a major hurricane will make landfall on the U.S. East Coast, including the Florida Peninsula (the long-term average is 31 percent).
• A 24-percent chance that a major hurricane will make landfall on the Gulf Coast from the Florida Panhandle west to Brownsville, Tex. (the long-term average is 30 percent).
The team also predicts a 34-percent chance of a major hurricane tracking into the Caribbean (the long-term average is 42 percent).
The team headed by William Gray and Phil Klotzbach calls for 10 named storms during the hurricane season, which runs between June 1 and Nov. 30, according to a news release.
Four are expected to become hurricanes and two of those major hurricanes, reaching category 3, 4, or 5 on the Saffir/Simpson scale with sustained winds of 111 mph or greater.
Despite the prediction for a less active season based on data analysis of about 30 years, the scientists warned that it only takes one hurricane to make it an active season for U.S. coastal residents.
The hurricane forecast team’s probabilities for a major hurricane making landfall on U.S. soil in 2012 are:
• A 42-percent chance that at least one major hurricane will make landfall on the U.S. coastline (the long-term average probability is 52 percent).
• A 24-percent chance that a major hurricane will make landfall on the U.S. East Coast, including the Florida Peninsula (the long-term average is 31 percent).
• A 24-percent chance that a major hurricane will make landfall on the Gulf Coast from the Florida Panhandle west to Brownsville, Tex. (the long-term average is 30 percent).
The team also predicts a 34-percent chance of a major hurricane tracking into the Caribbean (the long-term average is 42 percent).
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Disaster Assistance
285 meals served here in Southern Indiana today. Big group of volunteers leaving today. Another big group coming in next week. Total for next Wednesday will be well over 325 here working. Photo below of the tornado approaching Forney, TX on Tuesday afternoon.
Disaster Assistance-Dallas Area Tornadoes
Talked with many of my contacts in Texas last night. From what we are seeing most of the damage was to business or upscale homes. These people usually have insurance that will cover hotel, meals, cleanup and repair. We try not to use donations to help where insurance companies will cover.
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Monday, April 2, 2012
Food for body and soul
By STEPHANIE TAYLOR FERRIELL
Leader-Democrat Editor
Experiencing that tornado, which destroyed their tiny town, means they can empathize with current victims. "They're overwhelmed, there's nowhere to turn," Marilyn Losson said, describing one's initial reaction following a large-scale disaster. "Then, they see there are good people and decide they can go on. It's a process."
Mike Baumgartner, president and CEO of Disaster Assistance, relies on volunteers such as the Lossons to give him a hand when he rolls into a disaster stricken area in his kitchen on wheels, a 40-foot RV. Baumgartner estimates 1,000 volunteers have helped him out in Pekin, some for just a day, others for weeks.
He was in south Texas, where he had been working wildfires, when he was contacted by Kevin Blaloch, who pastors Big Spring Church of Christ. He rolled into Pekin the Sunday following the tornados, setting up next to the MJ Auto car lot. A small white sign along State Road 60 simply reads: Free meals daily 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. As of Tuesday morning at 11 a.m., the ministry had served 9,193 meals to tornado victims and volunteers.
"I usually stay where I am until something else happens," he explained. When he's not cooking and serving meals, Baumgartner speaks at churches and tries to promote his mission. He also posts on Facebook to his 4,000 friends and blogs daily about where he's stationed at the time.
Baumgartner has scheduled volunteers in Pekin through the second week in April and may stay beyond that, depending on the need. James and Sarah Goggans of Olatne, Kan., traveled to Pekin to assist Baumgartner. They've been lending a hand since March 4. It's the first time they've assisted long-term at a disaster site. "We're retired now and have a little more freedom than we used to," explained James Goggans. The couple were in Joplin, Mo., following the EF5 tornado which struck the city last May. The scene in Pekin "is what we expected, yet at the same time, we feel for everyone impacted," he said.
Baumgartner was born and raised in Jefferson County, Ky., and lived much of his adult life in central and northern Indiana. He operated greenhouses and for a time was in the condo industry in Florida. When Hurricane Katrina struck in 2005, "I thought, I should go volunteer." He did, linking up with a church in Mobile, Ala. "I went thinking I would be there a couple of weeks," he said. He ended up staying eight months, traveling back home just six days during that time period. He worked with another disaster group until establishing his ministry and setting out on his own in the spring of 2008.
"It took me 50 years to find out what my purpose in life should be," said the 61-year-old. "What I'm doing now is greater than anything I've ever done."
Today, "home" is the 2008 Guf Stream RV outfitted with a deep freeze and four convection ovens. Experience has enabled Baumgartner to get his routine down to a science. In two hours, he can have adequate food prepared to serve 600 people -- singlehandedly. "This was designed so I can leave [as soon as he hears about a disaster], go, get to work as soon as I get there, whether anyone comes with me or not."
Wherever he lands, Baumgartner knows people will come, ready and willing to lend a hand.
Tuesday, Tilly Gilbert, Salem, a teenager on spring break, was packing lunches with her little cousin, Caleb Tucker, and her aunt Michelle. "My aunt always has projects for us," she said. Referring to the meal program, she said, "I think it's good. I like helping people." Each lunch contains a sandwich, chips, cookies, and an inspirational message from the sponsoring churches.
Across from the tents where food was being placed in sacks, then packed in boxes for delivery, Marty Fleming, Wichita Falls, Texas, manned a grill. After he and two friends heard about the tornado, they felt called to help out. "A fellow in our church said New Pekin got hit just as bad [as Henryville], but it's not been as publicized." The church took up a collection, "some gave $10, some gave $200," Fleming said. With $2,700 in cash and a good supply of home-baked cookies, the trio hitched their smoker to a truck and headed east. They arrived Monday night.
As he flipped burgers, Fleming gestured to a stack of boxes which contained 540 burgers and 320 hot dogs, all of which he planned to cook Tuesday. Baumgartner said what wasn't served that day would be cooled, then reheated later in the week.
Fleming said he's done plenty of volunteering, much of it working concessions at high school football games, "but I've never done something like this." He and his friends plan to stay through Friday.
No job is without its challenges and the biggest one Baumgartner faces is fundraising. "It's much easier to cook 1,000 meals than raise $1,000," he admitted. When he responded to his first disaster, the program had $450 in the bank. Over the next three months, Baumgartner and a bevy of volunteers cooked and served 39,000 meals and he had some money in the bank when he finished. "People wonder if there are any miracles today," he said. "That $450 multiplied just like the loaves and fishes....Sometimes, it gets pretty slim. I'm not an evangelist, so I don't know how to say it, but the Lord does provide. We get to almost nothing and funds show up."
Six area Churches of Christ, including four in Washington County (Big Spring, Fredericksburg, Martinsburg and High Street) are supporting Baumgartner's mission. Anyone wishing to donate may do so through the website, www.disasterassistancecoc.com or by sending a check to Big Spring Church of Christ, 8029 Big Springs Rd., Pekin, Ind. 47150.
Baumgartner said Washington County churches and residents "have embraced our work probably as well or better than anywhere." In addition to monetary donations, a local soft drink distributor whom he knows only as "Andy," brought a refrigerated trailer which allows Baumgartner to have food delivered by Sysco, saving him several hours of daily shopping. A septic company is taking care of dumping the RV tank.
A typical day when he's at a disaster scene finds Baumgartner climbing down from his bedroom loft around 5 or 5:30 a.m. He's cooking by 7 and volunteers begin deliveries by 10:30. "We want to get out in the neighborhoods by 11 so people know they have a meal and don't have to stop work to get food," he explained. The kitchen serves walkups until 3 p.m.
Baumgartner spends the afternoon shopping as needed, blogging and posting Facebook updates before turning in. It's by no means an easy life, but it's the life Baumgartner's convinced he's destined for.
"It's hard work, long hours, travel and always worrying about funding, yet when I'm done at the end of the day, I feel happy; I've helped someone in need."
Leader-Democrat Editor
Experiencing that tornado, which destroyed their tiny town, means they can empathize with current victims. "They're overwhelmed, there's nowhere to turn," Marilyn Losson said, describing one's initial reaction following a large-scale disaster. "Then, they see there are good people and decide they can go on. It's a process."
Mike Baumgartner, president and CEO of Disaster Assistance, relies on volunteers such as the Lossons to give him a hand when he rolls into a disaster stricken area in his kitchen on wheels, a 40-foot RV. Baumgartner estimates 1,000 volunteers have helped him out in Pekin, some for just a day, others for weeks.
He was in south Texas, where he had been working wildfires, when he was contacted by Kevin Blaloch, who pastors Big Spring Church of Christ. He rolled into Pekin the Sunday following the tornados, setting up next to the MJ Auto car lot. A small white sign along State Road 60 simply reads: Free meals daily 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. As of Tuesday morning at 11 a.m., the ministry had served 9,193 meals to tornado victims and volunteers.
"I usually stay where I am until something else happens," he explained. When he's not cooking and serving meals, Baumgartner speaks at churches and tries to promote his mission. He also posts on Facebook to his 4,000 friends and blogs daily about where he's stationed at the time.
Baumgartner has scheduled volunteers in Pekin through the second week in April and may stay beyond that, depending on the need. James and Sarah Goggans of Olatne, Kan., traveled to Pekin to assist Baumgartner. They've been lending a hand since March 4. It's the first time they've assisted long-term at a disaster site. "We're retired now and have a little more freedom than we used to," explained James Goggans. The couple were in Joplin, Mo., following the EF5 tornado which struck the city last May. The scene in Pekin "is what we expected, yet at the same time, we feel for everyone impacted," he said.
Baumgartner was born and raised in Jefferson County, Ky., and lived much of his adult life in central and northern Indiana. He operated greenhouses and for a time was in the condo industry in Florida. When Hurricane Katrina struck in 2005, "I thought, I should go volunteer." He did, linking up with a church in Mobile, Ala. "I went thinking I would be there a couple of weeks," he said. He ended up staying eight months, traveling back home just six days during that time period. He worked with another disaster group until establishing his ministry and setting out on his own in the spring of 2008.
"It took me 50 years to find out what my purpose in life should be," said the 61-year-old. "What I'm doing now is greater than anything I've ever done."
Today, "home" is the 2008 Guf Stream RV outfitted with a deep freeze and four convection ovens. Experience has enabled Baumgartner to get his routine down to a science. In two hours, he can have adequate food prepared to serve 600 people -- singlehandedly. "This was designed so I can leave [as soon as he hears about a disaster], go, get to work as soon as I get there, whether anyone comes with me or not."
Wherever he lands, Baumgartner knows people will come, ready and willing to lend a hand.
Tuesday, Tilly Gilbert, Salem, a teenager on spring break, was packing lunches with her little cousin, Caleb Tucker, and her aunt Michelle. "My aunt always has projects for us," she said. Referring to the meal program, she said, "I think it's good. I like helping people." Each lunch contains a sandwich, chips, cookies, and an inspirational message from the sponsoring churches.
Across from the tents where food was being placed in sacks, then packed in boxes for delivery, Marty Fleming, Wichita Falls, Texas, manned a grill. After he and two friends heard about the tornado, they felt called to help out. "A fellow in our church said New Pekin got hit just as bad [as Henryville], but it's not been as publicized." The church took up a collection, "some gave $10, some gave $200," Fleming said. With $2,700 in cash and a good supply of home-baked cookies, the trio hitched their smoker to a truck and headed east. They arrived Monday night.
As he flipped burgers, Fleming gestured to a stack of boxes which contained 540 burgers and 320 hot dogs, all of which he planned to cook Tuesday. Baumgartner said what wasn't served that day would be cooled, then reheated later in the week.
Fleming said he's done plenty of volunteering, much of it working concessions at high school football games, "but I've never done something like this." He and his friends plan to stay through Friday.
No job is without its challenges and the biggest one Baumgartner faces is fundraising. "It's much easier to cook 1,000 meals than raise $1,000," he admitted. When he responded to his first disaster, the program had $450 in the bank. Over the next three months, Baumgartner and a bevy of volunteers cooked and served 39,000 meals and he had some money in the bank when he finished. "People wonder if there are any miracles today," he said. "That $450 multiplied just like the loaves and fishes....Sometimes, it gets pretty slim. I'm not an evangelist, so I don't know how to say it, but the Lord does provide. We get to almost nothing and funds show up."
Six area Churches of Christ, including four in Washington County (Big Spring, Fredericksburg, Martinsburg and High Street) are supporting Baumgartner's mission. Anyone wishing to donate may do so through the website, www.disasterassistancecoc.com or by sending a check to Big Spring Church of Christ, 8029 Big Springs Rd., Pekin, Ind. 47150.
Baumgartner said Washington County churches and residents "have embraced our work probably as well or better than anywhere." In addition to monetary donations, a local soft drink distributor whom he knows only as "Andy," brought a refrigerated trailer which allows Baumgartner to have food delivered by Sysco, saving him several hours of daily shopping. A septic company is taking care of dumping the RV tank.
A typical day when he's at a disaster scene finds Baumgartner climbing down from his bedroom loft around 5 or 5:30 a.m. He's cooking by 7 and volunteers begin deliveries by 10:30. "We want to get out in the neighborhoods by 11 so people know they have a meal and don't have to stop work to get food," he explained. The kitchen serves walkups until 3 p.m.
Baumgartner spends the afternoon shopping as needed, blogging and posting Facebook updates before turning in. It's by no means an easy life, but it's the life Baumgartner's convinced he's destined for.
"It's hard work, long hours, travel and always worrying about funding, yet when I'm done at the end of the day, I feel happy; I've helped someone in need."
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