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Ministry assesses tornado damage in Oklahoma

After over two dozen tornadoes devastated three states this weekend, the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee is sending an Assessment Team to the area of Picher, Oklahoma, reports MNN.

Even as Disaster Response Services workers Doug and Mary Van Der Meuleun begin assessing the damage, AP News reports that more stormy weather is expected on Tuesday.

This weekend’s tornadoes killed at least 26 people and destroyed hundreds of buildings, including an entire town of 1,000 people in Georgia. Tens of thousands of homes and businesses are also without power in the wake of the storms which hit Missouri as well as Georgia and Oklahoma.

Doug and Mary Van Der Meulen with CRWRC’s Assessment Team will gather information to prepare a focused response to the disaster. The ministry may also help clean up and provide shelter, as well as go door-to-door assessing individual needs.

CRWRC focuses on ministry to those without insurance, the elderly, the disabled, and those beyond other assistance.

On Sunday, National Guard troops arrived in Picher, Oklahoma, to carry out search-and-rescue and recovery operations. President Bush has promised federal aid to the region.

AP News also reports that the Environmental Protection Agency is checking Picher, a former mining town, for high levels of lead.

[05/15/2008]

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