Below is the tree across the street from Central Church of Christ in Tuscaloosa that survived the tornado and how it looks 1 year later.

Disaster Assistance - Tuscaloosa, AL - Central Church of Christ Groundbreaking Ceremony, 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.

First anniversary of the outbreak that devastated Alabama and other states

First anniversary of the outbreak that devastated Alabama and other states

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.

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.

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.”

Disaster Assistance

Update from Laura Beth Lamb - We are doing well! Had 3 groups weekend before last work at David and Dean's in Marysville. Conrad and Cory are going out about once a week to line up repair jobs for roofs, fences and barns. We are hosting another group this weekend that hopefully will be finishing the work at David and Dean's.

Disaster Assistance Donations

People who have suffered thru weather related disasters are especially appreciative of the help that members of the Church of Christ and others have provided thru the efforts of such organizations as "Disaster Assistance". Please, as you have opportunity, continue to remember this work. To the best of our ability, thru this work, Jesus will be glorified and the Church of Christ will be magnified. Please continue to check here for information on our activities and important info as how to contribute much needed funds. Thank you so much for your gracious support. Don, Director of Outreach.

Woodward, OK Tornado

By Bryan Dean - The Oklahoman The White House on Friday denied Gov. Mary Fallin's request for assistance to aid individuals and businesses in Woodward County that were hit hard. “Having toured the damage in Woodward, I know firsthand how devastating last week's tornado was to this community,” Fallin said. “This was a disaster that killed six people and destroyed numerous homes and businesses. It is appropriate and necessary for the federal government to provide the disaster assistance that exists exactly for situations like this one.” While disappointed, Fallin said the state is continuing to work to bring assistance to those affected by the storm. She announced that the state will now request a disaster declaration for Woodward County through the U.S. Small Business Administration. If approved, an SBA declaration would deliver low-interest disaster loans for renters, homeowners and business owners to repair or replace any property damaged by the tornado and severe weather which was not covered by insurance or other assistance programs. The loan program also would be available to assist businesses that suffered economic injury because of the storms. If the request is approved, under SBA rules, the assistance also would be available in counties contiguous to Woodward County. Meanwhile, Matt Lehenbauer, Woodward emergency management director, said cleanup is taking a physical toll on those involved. His wife, Conyetta Lehenbauer, was treated for dehydration and a back injury this week after helping with the cleanup. “It has been an extremely long week,” he said. “We're all starting to get pretty run down. Thank God for the volunteers or we would have been run down a long time ago.”

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.

Disaster Assistance

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

Weekend tornadoes leave 'a royal mess' in Midwest

Disaster Assistance-5 dead, about 30 injured, many critical, in Woodward tornado

-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.

-Disaster Assistance-Southern Indiana Tornadoes- Today we did 335 meals. Photo below is Minister of Northside CoC and a couple from Martinsburg CoC th

-Disaster Assistance-Southern Indiana Tornadoes- Today we did 335 meals. Photo below is Minister of Northside CoC and a couple from Martinsburg CoC th

-Disaster Assistance-Southern Indiana Tornadoes-

Super day today. Over 350 volunteer out working today in the Pekin and Maryville areas. 531 Meals served.