The Great Plains Disaster Response Team was on the ground in Andover, Kansas, as the sun rose showing the destruction from the EF-3 tornado on April 29. First responders from Sedgewick and Butler counties activated their search and rescue phase.
By Sunday afternoon, our team was charged with overseeing the Volunteer Reception Center, which would be located at the Andover UMC. By late Monday all areas affected were deemed safe. Tuesday morning, our team arrived at the church at 6 a.m. ready to greet and register volunteers from all over the state. At the end of two weeks, our team had registered 1,613 volunteers and also spent time working in the field helping homeowners.
Approximately 105 homes were destroyed in Andover with 205 homes in Butler and Sedgwick counties receiving major, minor or affected damages. There is much work to be done in both communities. Watch for your opportunity to provide a helping hand!
We would like to thank the Andover UMC for their wonderful hospitality and turning over the facility to our team to use. Your gifts of goodies that kept us going was very much appreciated. Blessings on each of you.
--Rev. Hollie Tapley, disaster response coordinator
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