Dear friends,  I apologize that the Kansas update I sent yesterday was so
difficult to read. I didn't even want to read it myself! Here is the same
report, in better form. I am sorry for any inconvenience.

Sincerely, Gil Furst

Dear friends in Christ,

Clean-up and relief efforts continue throughout the Midwest and Southeast, as
additional severe spring weather adds tornadoes and floods to previously
affected communities.  In my last report I shared with you an update from
Larry Gustafason (LDR-Missouri), where Lutheran Child and Family Services
(Alan Erdman, President) is managing the widespread Missouri response.

Today I want to share an update from Christine Iverson (LDR-Kansas), where
Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska (Ruth Henrichs, President) is managing
the Kansas efforts.

<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Christine writes >>>>>>>>>>>>

By now, both the southeast and southwest corners of Kansas have been hit hard
by tornadoes.  The major areas of concern are in the Kansas City, Kansas,
area, southeast Kansas, and southwest around Kismet and Liberal.  The Red
Cross statistics so fare indicate over 1,253 houses affected.

However, those statistics have been shown to be low compared to actual
damage, especially in rural areas.  In Crawford County, the list of 38 houses
with "major to destroyed" damage came up for discussion.  Was that all the
total of affected houses?  A person from the sheriff's department said that
didn't include any homes with "minor" damage.  When asked to define "minor"
damage, he said, "Well, there was a home with a motorboat through the living
room window.  That was minor.  It didn't make it to the list."  One of the
tornadoes in Cherokee County was on the ground for 26 miles, destroying
houses and farms.  In Crawford County a tornado was on the ground for 16
miles.  The small village of Ringo had 38 of its 40 homes destroyed.  The
town of Franklin was about 80% destroyed (with well over 100 houses gone),
and the small town of Mulberry was also similarly affected.  These are the
areas where most of the storm- related deaths occurred in Kansas.

The counties in southwest Kansas hit by a May 15th tornado have also been
added to the Federal disaster declaration.  Over the weekend concern has
surfaced for the many undocumented families brought in by the area meat
packing industry.  It is estimated that 200-300 families have been affected.
Many of them live in mobile homes and received the most damage and loss.
Language and cultural barriers, and fear of INS involvement, are impairing
efforts to help those affected.  It is important for people to know that they
can register and receive disaster help without the INS being notified or
involved in any way.  Long-term recovery for the area will need involved
Lutheran and interfaith efforts to reach all members of the communities
affected by the disaster.  No one deserves a disaster and everyone needs help
to recover.

In Carl Junction the United Methodist church choir was meeting for rehearsal
when the storm hit. A woman got a tornado warning call on her cell phone.
They went outside. Many wanted to get in their cars and go home for shelter
(the church had no basement). They watched the tornado come up the hill at
them. Bob Simon directed everyone into the inner restrooms for shelter. As
the tornado hit the building, a four year-old yelled out, "Lord God, you can
take me to heaven, but I don't want to die!" The church was destroyed, but
blessedly, no one inside was hurt.

The amount of counties and the area involved - and storms that continue to
hit the same areas - have complicated efforts for response.  But the Church
is involved for the long haul.  Into the midst of death and disaster, the
Church brings the message of hope as we work together towards recovery.

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>
To volunteer in southeast Kansas, call 1-800-489-8183
To volunteer in the Carl Junction and Smithfield area, call Pat Smith,
417-649-6062 (fire dept.) or 417-623-7541 (home).

Send your financial support to:

ELCA DOMESTIC Disaster Response - "Midwest Tornadoes"
PO Box 71764 Chicago, Illinois 60694-1764

Credit card gift line: 1-800-638-3522
Credit card gifts via the web: www.elca.org/disaster

LC-MS World Relief and Human Care -"Midwest Tornadoes"
P.O. Box 66861
St. Louis, MO 63166-9810

Credit card gift line: 1-888-930-4438

Yours in Christ, Gil Furst

GILBERT B. FURST (written on Sun, June 1, 2003, at 1:10 pm).  Director for
ELCA DOMESTIC DISASTER RESPONSE (Division for Church in Society) and LUTHERAN
DISASTER RESPONSE (a cooperative ministry of the ELCA and LC-MS) 8765 W.
Higgins Rd., Chicago 60631  PHONE: 773-380-2719 FAX: 773-380-2493 Please
visit our websites:  www.ldr.org      www.elca.org/dcs/