March 7, 2008

SITUATION:

As evidence of need is beginning to become clearer and the Federal Emergency Management Agency begins to report on registrations for individual assistance, efforts in long-term recovery are beginning to take shape following February tornadoes across the southern U.S.

Arkansas: FEMA reports more than 1,600 registrations in the 10 counties declared for individual assistance: Baxter, Conway, Izard, Pope, Sharp, Stone, Randolph, and Van Buren. State Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster officials report as many as 10 long-term recovery groups could take shape.

Tennessee: Nearly 4,000 uninsured or underinsured have requested federal help in 17 counties. Counties with declarations include Benton, Fayette, Hardin, Hickman, Houston, Lewis, Macon, Madison, Montgomery, Perry, Shelby, Trousdale, Sumner and Williamson counties. Discussions are still underway about how many long-term recovery committees will be needed.

Kentucky: 15 counties are now eligible for individual assistance: Bath, Harrison, Hopkins, Nicholas, Shelby, Spencer, Allen, Christian, Fayette, Hardin, Hart, Meade, Mercer, Monroe, and Muhlenberg counties. Kentucky VOAD estimates at least two long-term recovery groups are expected.

Another long-term recovery group may soon take shape in Alabama to address unmet needs. Alabama did not receive a federal disaster declaration even though it sustained damage in the February series of storms.

CWS RESPONSE

CWS Emergency Response Specialists have been in continuous contact with local, state and national leaders to identify areas where CWS training and project support assistance may be needed. As such, CWS Recovery Tools and Training workshops are likely to take place the week of April 13. Exact locations are still under discussion but at least one training each should take place in Alabama, Tennessee (which will likely include Kentucky) and Arkansas.

In addition to supporting long-term recovery committees with training and emergency grants, CWS has provided the following material resources in some of the affected communities.

Contributions to support this emergency appeal may be made online, or sent to your denomination or to Church World Service, P.O. Box 968, Elkhart, IN, 46515. Please designate: 2008 Southern U.S. Tornadoes (#627-B). Contributions may also be made by phone, at 800-297-1516.

Media Contact: Lesley Crosson, CWS/New York, 212-870-2676; lcrosson@churchworldservice.org Jan Dragin, 781-925-1526; jdragin@gis.net