If you or your church would like to financially help the victims of the recent tornados, send donations to the Oklahoma Conference Treasurer's Office. In the memo line of your check, designate "Lone Grove 2009 Tornado Recovery" or "OKC 2009 Tornado Recovery."

UM disaster response officials were meeting in Ardmore on Friday, Feb. 13, to develop plans with UM response and recovery teams in that district. "The main way United Methodists have always gone to the aid of our neighbors is in long-term recovery efforts. We will share the love of Christ and we will be there for our neighbors in Lone Grove and the Oklahoma City area now and until they have rebuilt and lives are returning to normalcy. Our ministry will continue long after media lights and cameras are gone," said Richard Norman, VIM coordinator of Disaster Response.

To learn about more ways you can help, go online to: www.okumcministries.org/VIM/Disaster_Response.htm  or contact Rev. Norman: VIM Disaster Response Office, 405-530-2032.

Injuries and property damage

• The tornado passed about 400 yards east of the Lone Grove church, in Ardmore District. It was undamaged. District Superintendent Guy Ames reported minimal damage at the Springer church. The home of Bob and Cherille Mashore was wrecked. They are the parents of Gay Bussell, wife of Rev. Les Bussell in Marietta.
• Woodward District Superintendent Randy Scraper requested prayer for Patrica Scifres at Lone Grove, who suffered injuries. She is the daughter of Margaret and Rev. Al Scifres, pastor of Forgan/Gate.
• Frankye Johnson, superintendent of OKC-South District, reported the storm in the Oklahoma City area damaged the home of Rev. Tish Malloy, pastor at Moore.

Pharmacist urges preparedness

 Pharmacist Paul Reed of Ardmore resolved to be better prepared for disasters after the tornado moved within 200 yards of his rural home. Paul and Rebecca Reed are members of Ardmore-First UMC.

He told his story to Richard Norman, and he posted it as his pharmacy. Here is an excerpt:

“As I was shoving Rebecca into the storm shelter, I saw the twister in the lightning flashes north of our house — after it had already gone by. If it had hit us, we probably wouldn’t be here to be typing this; we were too late trying to get into the storm shelter. It hit hard and fast after the first warnings.

“A ranch house a quarter-mile north is gone, and an extra barn is upside-down in front of the house. The neighbor a quarter-mile west has no roof, just rafters. In between is a war zone, no power lines or poles left, fences swept clean, no wire and in some places no posts. Two oil tanks are rolled away from their sites, and (crews) are doing oil recovery on one of them.

“We only lost the middle out of a mock pear (tree). It dropped on a section of chain link fence, and we have debris in the yard.

“So, what have I learned? Disaster training is a MUST! I think I will do tornado drills at home and work, fire drills at both, etc. When it happens is TOO LATE to think about what to do and how to do it. I need more flashlights/lamps/matches in strategic places — an emergency weather radio — water supplies. I need to get my power grid set up so I can plug in my generator. I should set up the store also.”