In the Aftermath of Major Tornado Damage

It's been said that tornadoes are like a giant knife coming through a community, leaving one side of a street pristine, while the other side is demolished. Tornadoes can remove the entire front facade of a home, while leaving the rest of the structure intact – as if it were a giant dolls house. It is not uncommon to find survivors gazing at paths of destruction, reaching out for miles, almost in awe of all that has happened – so quickly, so particularly, so difficult to process.

Like any disaster, the heartache that unfurls in the aftermath does not discriminate. It can cross every socioeconomic and cultural boundary. Still, those who already were vulnerable, can be especially hard put by the damage and repercussions. ​

PHOTO: ALAN POIZNER / FOR THE TENNESSEAN

In the first days and weeks of responding to a tornado, there are important things to keep in mind for community care and resiliency:

• Do not hinder or distract from search and rescue processes
• Those who have been less physically impacted have opportunities to support those who are more physically impacted by helping to clean up, sharing meals, and providing a shoulder to cry on
• Houses of worship can provide safe spaces for community members to find spiritual respite, refreshment, to sing, and to pray
• Pace and nourish yourself – this is not like other stresses and it will be a long road, both physically and spiritually
• Give gifts that help and don't hinder

If your organization is looking for additional resources for how to respond to tornado damage in the days and weeks ahead, we encourage you to explore the training materials we offer online or to reach out for a personal consultation. We are glad to hear from you! 

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​Rev. Dr. Kate Wiebe serves as the Executive Director of ICTG. She is an organizational health consultant and pastoral psychotherapist. She lives with her family in Santa Barbara, CA.