notes: FROM THE SITE: MDS volunteers begin response in Alabama A team of 13 MDS volunteers left Lancaster County Sunday evening for a week of clean up and repair in tornado devastated Alabama. The volunteers are part of the MDS Lancaster Unit Early Response Team (ERT). The ERT members are trained to work in disaster stricken areas. ERT members clean up and remove debris and make temporary repairs to help prepare the way for long-term repair and rebuilding. They take their own tools, food and water. MDS Disaster Response Coordinator, Jerry Klassen, and Region II Director, Leonard Kennell arrived in the area one day after the tornado left a path of destruction one mile wide and 19 miles long. Working with the MDS Alabama Unit and local leaders, they are determining where MDS volunteers are needed the most. “This is huge, this is absolutely overwhelming. I am seeing stretches of leveled houses for miles,” reported Klassen after touring the area. “It is hard to develop language for what I am seeing. This situation will be difficult to exaggerate.” Two other MDS volunteers traveled to Alabama, each bringing their own heavy equipment along to assist with the clean up. Jim Eicher, Berne, IN, arrived in Alabama 48 hours after the storm hit. Roger Claassen, Plymouth, NE, is also in Alabama, along with his wife Bev, who is helping to coordinate the jobs. Properties are being cleared of debris so repairs can be started. This is not the first time MDS has been in this part of Alabama. Volunteers worked in Pratt City in 1998 after storms damaged the area. At this time MDS is only sending in trained teams. Once the debris is removed, groups of volunteers will follow to rebuild. “This will be a long-term project,” explained Klassen. MDS volunteers have worked in many tornado damaged communities. In 2007, an EF5 tornado flattened the town of Greensburg, KS. MDS worked in the community for over a year restoring homes and lives. Klassen compared it to the Alabama damage, “This situation is multiple Greensburgs.” MDS volunteers are not paid, but MDS does provide food, lodging, tools and support for them. Donations can be made on this website by clicking on the DONATE button, or by sending a check to MDS. Label the check "2011 Spring Storms". Mail to MDS, 583 Airport Road, Lititz, PA or in Canada, MDS, 6A-1325 Markham Rd., Winnipeg, MB, R3T 4J6 CANADA. ----------------------------------- MDS responds to storm damage in many locations “Damage from storms and tornados in the last two days is being called catastrophic” reports Kevin King, MDS Executive Director. News reports of the tornado that hit Tuscaloosa, AL tell of a path of devastation a mile wide and 19 miles long. Leonard Kennell, Region II Director, and Jerry Klassen, Disaster Response Coordinator, are in the Tuscaloosa area. They are working with the MDS Alabama Unit, local Mennonite pastors and local authorities to determine where and when volunteers can respond. Trained Early Response Teams (ERT) have been put on standby and will be sent out as the needs are assessed. An ERT team from Indiana is on the way to Alabama. These last few days of storms follow two weeks of storms and tornados across the country. Damage has been reported in many states. Local MDS Regions and Units have begun clean up and rebuilding efforts in many areas. Clean up projects are taking place in Colerain, NC, Tushka, OK, Arkansas and other communities. As volunteer needs and details of the MD ------------------------------ Report on blog- http://www.mercy-church.org/wordpress/?p=609 -> FROM THE SITE: MDS volunteers begin response in Alabama A team of 13 MDS volunteers left Lancaster County Sunday evening for a week of clean up and repair in tornado devastated Alabama. The volunteers are part of the MDS Lancaster Unit Early Response Team (ERT). The ERT members are trained to work in disaster stricken areas. ERT members clean up and remove debris and make temporary repairs to help prepare the way for long-term repair and rebuilding. They take their own tools, food and water. MDS Disaster Response Coordinator, Jerry Klassen, and Region II Director, Leonard Kennell arrived in the area one day after the tornado left a path of destruction one mile wide and 19 miles long. Working with the MDS Alabama Unit and local leaders, they are determining where MDS volunteers are needed the most. “This is huge, this is absolutely overwhelming. I am seeing stretches of leveled houses for miles,” reported Klassen after touring the area. “It is hard to develop language for what I am seeing. This situation will be difficult to exaggerate.” Two other MDS volunteers traveled to Alabama, each bringing their own heavy equipment along to assist with the clean up. Jim Eicher, Berne, IN, arrived in Alabama 48 hours after the storm hit. Roger Claassen, Plymouth, NE, is also in Alabama, along with his wife Bev, who is helping to coordinate the jobs. Properties are being cleared of debris so repairs can be started. This is not the first time MDS has been in this part of Alabama. Volunteers worked in Pratt City in 1998 after storms damaged the area. At this time MDS is only sending in trained teams. Once the debris is removed, groups of volunteers will follow to rebuild. “This will be a long-term project,” explained Klassen. MDS volunteers have worked in many tornado damaged communities. In 2007, an EF5 tornado flattened the town of Greensburg, KS. MDS worked in the community for over a year restoring homes and lives. Klassen compared it to the Alabama damage, “This situation is multiple Greensburgs.” MDS volunteers are not paid, but MDS does provide food, lodging, tools and support for them. Donations can be made on this website by clicking on the DONATE button, or by sending a check to MDS. Label the check "2011 Spring Storms". Mail to MDS, 583 Airport Road, Lititz, PA or in Canada, MDS, 6A-1325 Markham Rd., Winnipeg, MB, R3T 4J6 CANADA. ----------------------------------- MDS responds to storm damage in many locations “Damage from storms and tornados in the last two days is being called catastrophic” reports Kevin King, MDS Executive Director. News reports of the tornado that hit Tuscaloosa, AL tell of a path of devastation a mile wide and 19 miles long. Leonard Kennell, Region II Director, and Jerry Klassen, Disaster Response Coordinator, are in the Tuscaloosa area. They are working with the MDS Alabama Unit, local Mennonite pastors and local authorities to determine where and when volunteers can respond. Trained Early Response Teams (ERT) have been put on standby and will be sent out as the needs are assessed. An ERT team from Indiana is on the way to Alabama. These last few days of storms follow two weeks of storms and tornados across the country. Damage has been reported in many states. Local MDS Regions and Units have begun clean up and rebuilding efforts in many areas. Clean up projects are taking place in Colerain, NC, Tushka, OK, Arkansas and other communities. As volunteer needs and details of the MD ------------------------------ Report on blog- http://www.mercy-church.org/wordpress/?p=609 === SEE also Volunteer Camp at: http://www.citizencommandcenter.org/shelters/show/8441

notes: MDS responds to storm damage in many locations “Damage from storms and tornados in the last two days is being called catastrophic” reports Kevin King, MDS Executive Director. News reports of the tornado that hit Tuscaloosa, AL tell of a path of devastation a mile wide and 19 miles long. Leonard Kennell, Region II Director, and Jerry Klassen, Disaster Response Coordinator, are in the Tuscaloosa area. They are working with the MDS Alabama Unit, local Mennonite pastors and local authorities to determine where and when volunteers can respond. Trained Early Response Teams (ERT) have been put on standby and will be sent out as the needs are assessed. An ERT team from Indiana is on the way to Alabama. These last few days of storms follow two weeks of storms and tornados across the country. Damage has been reported in many states. Local MDS Regions and Units have begun clean up and rebuilding efforts in many areas. Clean up projects are taking place in Colerain, NC, Tushka, OK, Arkansas and other communities. As volunteer needs and details of the MD ------------------------------ Report on blog- http://www.mercy-church.org/wordpress/?p=609 -> FROM THE SITE: MDS volunteers begin response in Alabama A team of 13 MDS volunteers left Lancaster County Sunday evening for a week of clean up and repair in tornado devastated Alabama. The volunteers are part of the MDS Lancaster Unit Early Response Team (ERT). The ERT members are trained to work in disaster stricken areas. ERT members clean up and remove debris and make temporary repairs to help prepare the way for long-term repair and rebuilding. They take their own tools, food and water. MDS Disaster Response Coordinator, Jerry Klassen, and Region II Director, Leonard Kennell arrived in the area one day after the tornado left a path of destruction one mile wide and 19 miles long. Working with the MDS Alabama Unit and local leaders, they are determining where MDS volunteers are needed the most. “This is huge, this is absolutely overwhelming. I am seeing stretches of leveled houses for miles,” reported Klassen after touring the area. “It is hard to develop language for what I am seeing. This situation will be difficult to exaggerate.” Two other MDS volunteers traveled to Alabama, each bringing their own heavy equipment along to assist with the clean up. Jim Eicher, Berne, IN, arrived in Alabama 48 hours after the storm hit. Roger Claassen, Plymouth, NE, is also in Alabama, along with his wife Bev, who is helping to coordinate the jobs. Properties are being cleared of debris so repairs can be started. This is not the first time MDS has been in this part of Alabama. Volunteers worked in Pratt City in 1998 after storms damaged the area. At this time MDS is only sending in trained teams. Once the debris is removed, groups of volunteers will follow to rebuild. “This will be a long-term project,” explained Klassen. MDS volunteers have worked in many tornado damaged communities. In 2007, an EF5 tornado flattened the town of Greensburg, KS. MDS worked in the community for over a year restoring homes and lives. Klassen compared it to the Alabama damage, “This situation is multiple Greensburgs.” MDS volunteers are not paid, but MDS does provide food, lodging, tools and support for them. Donations can be made on this website by clicking on the DONATE button, or by sending a check to MDS. Label the check "2011 Spring Storms". Mail to MDS, 583 Airport Road, Lititz, PA or in Canada, MDS, 6A-1325 Markham Rd., Winnipeg, MB, R3T 4J6 CANADA. ----------------------------------- MDS responds to storm damage in many locations “Damage from storms and tornados in the last two days is being called catastrophic” reports Kevin King, MDS Executive Director. News reports of the tornado that hit Tuscaloosa, AL tell of a path of devastation a mile wide and 19 miles long. Leonard Kennell, Region II Director, and Jerry Klassen, Disaster Response Coordinator, are in the Tuscaloosa area. They are working with the MDS Alabama Unit, local Mennonite pastors and local authorities to determine where and when volunteers can respond. Trained Early Response Teams (ERT) have been put on standby and will be sent out as the needs are assessed. An ERT team from Indiana is on the way to Alabama. These last few days of storms follow two weeks of storms and tornados across the country. Damage has been reported in many states. Local MDS Regions and Units have begun clean up and rebuilding efforts in many areas. Clean up projects are taking place in Colerain, NC, Tushka, OK, Arkansas and other communities. As volunteer needs and details of the MD ------------------------------ Report on blog- http://www.mercy-church.org/wordpress/?p=609

mgt_contact changed.
mgt_phone changed.
other_contacts changed.
email changed.
mission: -> Working as of 5/11/11 in the following locations: Pratt City area Pleasant Grove area Phil Campbell/ Hackleberg area

mgt_contact changed.
status: Standby -> Open

cat_notes: LTel 4/30/11: Fixed VOAD list - no indication on list if an AL VOAD member or member affiliate - removed affiliation item -> LTel 4/30/11: Fixed VOAD list -

status: Open -> Standby

notes: Report on blog- http://www.mercy-church.org/wordpress/?p=609 -> MDS responds to storm damage in many locations “Damage from storms and tornados in the last two days is being called catastrophic” reports Kevin King, MDS Executive Director. News reports of the tornado that hit Tuscaloosa, AL tell of a path of devastation a mile wide and 19 miles long. Leonard Kennell, Region II Director, and Jerry Klassen, Disaster Response Coordinator, are in the Tuscaloosa area. They are working with the MDS Alabama Unit, local Mennonite pastors and local authorities to determine where and when volunteers can respond. Trained Early Response Teams (ERT) have been put on standby and will be sent out as the needs are assessed. An ERT team from Indiana is on the way to Alabama. These last few days of storms follow two weeks of storms and tornados across the country. Damage has been reported in many states. Local MDS Regions and Units have begun clean up and rebuilding efforts in many areas. Clean up projects are taking place in Colerain, NC, Tushka, OK, Arkansas and other communities. As volunteer needs and details of the MD ------------------------------ Report on blog- http://www.mercy-church.org/wordpress/?p=609

website: -> http://www.mds.mennonite.net/

name: MDS Alabama -> Mennonite Disaster Services Alabama (MDS)

cat_notes: LTel 4/30/11: Fixed VOAD list -> LTel 4/30/11: Fixed VOAD list - no indication on list if an AL VOAD member or member affiliate - removed affiliation item

notes: Active in 2011 Tornado Support, per AL VOAD meeting. ======= Report on blog- http://www.mercy-church.org/wordpress/?p=609 -> Report on blog- http://www.mercy-church.org/wordpress/?p=609
cat_notes: -> LTel 4/30/11: Fixed VOAD list

notes: Active in 2011 Tornado Support, per AL VOAD meeting. -> Active in 2011 Tornado Support, per AL VOAD meeting. ======= Report on blog- http://www.mercy-church.org/wordpress/?p=609