update: tornado zones

The following has been taken directly from a HFHI publication for disaster response:

This spring’s violent, tumultuous weather has left weary communities throughout the United States grappling with immediate housing needs and long-term challenges in rebuilding.

Massive tornadoes in the Midwest and Southeast, along with devastating floods along the Mississippi River, have left unprecedented damages in their wake. Full recovery will take years.

Habitat for Humanity affiliates in affected areas are well-positioned to handle disaster response initiatives locally, with support from the larger Habitat network. That support will come from HFH State Support Organizations, Disaster Corps volunteers, other affiliates and HFHI staff, among other possibilities.

Home rebuilding efforts in all the affected areas will vary, depending on the level of destruction and the resources available locally. Funding will come mostly from outside sources such as state and federal governments, with additional help coming from Habitat for Humanity International via online giving and corporate donations of money and gifts-in-kind.

Affiliate responses may include cleanup and removal of debris; serving on a community’s long-term reconstruction committee; facilitating access to government support for low-income families; making home repairs; and new construction.

Throughout the disaster-affected regions, affiliates are assessing the damages to housing, tweaking their programs and charting a course for the “new reality.”

In hard-hit Birmingham, Alabama, the Habitat affiliate is looking to help 25-28 partner families who have reached out for assistance repairing their homes. NBA all-star Dwight Howard and his D12 Foundation are lending some star power to the recovery, partnering with Habitat Greater Birmingham to rebuild 10 homes damaged or destroyed by the April 27 tornadoes.

Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity found that more than a third of the 100 houses the affiliate had built over the years suffered some damage from a deadly tornado system that swept through Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, on May 22. Instead of continuing its focus on building new homes, the affiliate is considering dedicating its resources to repair the damaged houses.

In Joplin, Missouri — a city nearly flattened by an EF5 twister May 22 — the long cleanup has just begun. Scott Clayton, executive director of Joplin Area Habitat, reports that no homes built by Habitat had been destroyed in the storm and minor debris cleanup has already been completed for two partner families. The affiliate has been actively engaged in community discussions ever since the tornado struck.

Meanwhile, Habitat for Humanity in nearby Springfield, Missouri, responded quickly to Joplin’s needs with truckloads of bottled water, baby supplies, ready-to-eat meals and snacks collected from its generous community.

Washington County, Virginia, Habitat for Humanity, is teaming up with United Way of Russell and Washington counties for a June 18 fundraising concert called “Operation No Place Like Home: The Relief Project.”

In Cleveland, Tennessee — one of dozens of Southeastern communities devastated by tornadoes April 27 — the Habitat affiliate leaders are already taking the long view of the road to recovery. They’ve secured a vacant Whirlpool plant to fill with donated building supplies — shingles, siding, lumber, windows, doors — to be used in the months and years ahead.

We ask that you please keep these affiliates, their homeowners, staff and volunteers in your prayers as recovery efforts continue in their communities.