April 5, 2012

Tornadoes slam Dallas-Fort Worth area of Texas

Updated: World Vision is ready to provide relief materials to affected families in Lancaster, a southern suburb of Dallas.

By James Addis, World Vision U.S.

Poor neighborhoods in Lancaster were among the worst affected when storms ripped through Dallas, Texas, on Tuesday, uprooting trees, peeling roofs off homes, flattening buildings, and overturning vehicles. 

World Vision ready to assist

Preliminary assessments reveal tornadoes destroyed about 150 homes and damaged another 300. 

World Vision met with Lancaster pastors’ associations to plan relief efforts that will help the community recover and rebuild.

World Vision’s national disaster response hub in Grand Prairie is located about a one-hour drive from Lancaster, which is about 20 miles south of Dallas. World Vision is ready to provide relief materials.

Available relief supplies include:

>> Hygiene kits
>> Clean-up kits
>> Blankets
>> Clothing

World Vision also provides building supplies to assist with repair and reconstruction of homes.

Semi-trailers tossed up like matchsticks

Phyllis Freeman, World Vision’s domestic emergency response director, reached Lancaster early Tuesday evening to conduct initial community assessments. According to Phyllis, the assessments were at times difficult to perform as police had closed off some neighborhoods. 

She said the journey to Lancaster was challenging because of continuing lightning, extreme heavy rain, and poor visibility. “I saw the area where large semi-trailers were tossed up like matchsticks,” Phyllis says.

Volunteers pack disaster kits

Today, about 50 volunteers will gather at World Vision’s disaster response hub to assemble 2,500 food kits for those affected by storms in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.

Also this week, 700 hygiene kits will be assembled by JPMorgan Chase volunteers in Salem, New Hampshire. The kits will be directed to World Vision’s response hub in North Texas for possible use in storm-affected areas.

Last year was the fourth-deadliest tornado season on record and one of the busiest years ever for World Vision’s U.S. disaster response. World Vision trucked in supplies to Alabama, Oklahoma, North Carolina, Mississippi, Missouri, Minnesota, and Virginia.

How you can help

Please pray for families affected by the destructive tornadoes in Texas. 

Make a one-time donation to help us respond to disasters in the United States. Your gift will help us prepare to respond to disasters like the recent tornadoes in Texas. You can also make a $10 donation from your mobile phone by texting the word “GIVEUSA” to 777444.