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by Carrie Swearingen
National Release for Catholic News
Service (March 2001)
(Chicago) – A devastating tornado
rocked Pontotoc, Miss. on February 24, leaving residents vulnerable
and scrambling for assistance only days after severe storms ripped
through neighboring counties. Chicago-based Catholic Extension,
the largest distributor of funds for Catholic missionary work in
America, allocated $50,000 to the Diocese of Jackson to use where
need is greatest.
"I contacted Most Reverend William Houck, Bishop of Jackson,
on Monday morning," said Catholic Extension Vice President,
Richard Ritter. "He has been assured that the diocese has the
freedom to use the funds to help those people, of all faiths, to
cope with personal loss and displacement."
"The impact has been tremendous," said Linda Raff, Director
of Catholic Charities for the diocese. "Seven counties have
now been hit severely. I viewed the devastation and saw whole rows
of houses wiped away on one street in particular. Only two homes
remain."
It was on this street that five people were killed. Forty-five were
taken to area hospitals, six remain in the hospital currently, four
in critical condition. "One 13-year-old boy is in serious condition,
and we hope his condition continues to improve," said Raff.
Interfaith cooperation and action is
keeping spirits alive now that residents fear a lack of housing.
"FEMA [Federal Emergency Management Agency] has established
an office in Tupelo, and though benefits are available, they know
many will not qualify," said Raff. "They support the developing
Interfaith Group that is working to see that people will not fall
through the cracks."
"One young Hispanic family lost all of their property in a
rental home," Raff said. "They were having a quiet night
at home. Noticing that the sky seemed eerie, the father went to
the door, opened it, and it blew away from the house. He wrapped
his wife, nephew and three children under a blanket. They remained
alive while everything around them blew away with the tornado."
The Religious Education Building of St. Christopher Catholic Church
in Pontotoc was severely damaged with a torn roof and blown-out
windows. Area residents and business owners hit by tornadoes on
Saturday are also eligible to apply for federal disaster aid.
In addition to the Catholic Extension grant, Federal Emergency Management
Agency officials said a declaration President Bush issued February
23 for victims of the storms that hit February 16 in Holmes, Lowndes
and Oktibbeha counties has been amended to include Saturday's storms.
Assistance available under the expansion of the disaster declaration
can include grants to help pay for temporary housing, emergency
home repairs and low-interest loans to cover losses not covered
by insurance.
Floyd Peeples, director of the Greenwood-Leflore Emergency Management
Agency, said damage to public utilities is $601,000. Totals have
not yet been calculated on the 18 homes destroyed, 22 heavily damaged
and seven with minor damage. Damages in the February 16 storm, $16
million, will climb higher after approximately 200 homes were destroyed
and hundreds more damaged in six counties Saturday night.
"This is a very small community. Three hundred and fifty family
homes were destroyed or with major damage such that families cannot
return to their homes," Raff concluded. "Rental properties
have already been grabbed up, and to face a lack of housing in the
midst of grieving for a family member and the loss of property is
a primary challenge for faith-based initiatives. We are thankful
that Catholic Extension quickly recognized the need here in Mississippi."
For more information on how you can help to assist the tornado victims
in the Diocese of Jackson, contact Richard Ritter, Vice President
of Catholic Extension, toll-free at 888-4R-FAITH (888-473-2484)
or visit
www.catholic-extension.org on the worldwide web.
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