Deadly Tornado Kills CRC Couple in Iowa

CRWRC Newsroom | May 27, 2008

Two members of Parkersburg Christian Reformed Church in northeast Iowa were killed on Sunday when a mile-wide tornado—the deadliest twister to touch down in the area in 40 years—tore through their town of 1,900 residents.
 
 Eight families in the congregation lost their homes and belongings. Local reports have stated that most of those who died in Parkersburg were in their basements when their homes collapsed, including the couple in their 80s who were Christian Reformed Church members.

"Pastors of the Wellesburg and New Hope Fellowship CRCs report that a good part of Parkersburg was flattened," says Bill Adams, Disaster Response Services Director for CRWRC.

"Fifty people in the community were injured, seven people were killed, 220 homes were destroyed and 14 businesses are gone." One of the homes damaged is that of retired Parkersburg CRC pastor, Rev. Frank Pott.

Sunday’s tornado killed six people in Iowa, injured dozens and destroyed an entire neighborhoods.

Four people died in Parkersburg, about 80 miles northeast of Des Moines. State officials estimated that 222 homes and 21 businesses were destroyed.

DRS on the Move

Meanwhile, Adams approved the departure of Rapid Response Team leaders Glenn Geurink and Larry Veldheer to Parkersburg at 8 a.m. Tuesday.

Another team of seven CRWRC volunteers traveled into the area early today from their homes in Holland, Iowa. While the area is sealed off, relief workers are able to access the damage area.
 
Fire rescue chaplain Gary Nibblink of Holland, Iowa, who is also a CRC member, has been on the scene in Parkersburg since Sunday, Adams says.

"Right now, we're offering people strong comfort and compassion; we're there to support them as they sift through what's left of their homes and belongings to salvage what's left of their lives. As the response continues, we'll continue to offer our support and services, working alongside surrounding CRCs and other denominations, as well as our disaster response partners."
 
Adams is leaving for Parkersburg tomorrow to conduct further assessment of the tornado damage, and to determine what additional help will be needed. This year's spring storms have brought a number of large, deadly tornadoes that have affected the mountain states to the east coast, including a storm two weeks ago in Macon, GA, where CRWRC-DRS has activated clean-up teams. An early season storm in February 2008 killed more than 60 people in five states.  About 100 people have died in U.S. twisters so far this year.
 
Financial donations for Parkersburg, Iowa, tornado survivors and those affected by severe weather this season, can be marked "Spring Storms 2008."

United States: CRWRC, 2850 Kalamazoo Ave SE, Grand Rapids, MI  49560. Or call 1-800-55-CRWRC.
Canada: CRWRC, 3475 Mainway, P.O. Box 5070 STN LCD 1, Burlington, Ontario, L7R 3Y8. Or phone 1-800-730-3490.

Or give online.  Choose "Spring Storms 2008" from the Efforts field in the online donation form.
Canada | US

Beth DeGraff, CRWRC Communications