DUMAS, Ark. (ABP) — Within a few hours after an F-3 tornado tore a path of destruction through a southeast Arkansas town Feb. 24, Arkansas Baptists disaster-relief volunteers and area church members were on hand aiding victims and assessing the damage.
The storm's path, which was reportedly five miles long and up to a half-mile wide, destroyed 25 businesses and destroyed or damaged about 100 homes in Dumas, Ark., around 3 p.m. Saturday afternoon, knocking out power and telephone service for the entire community of 5,300 and injuring at least 35 people.
Numerous people were taken to area hospitals. Two children from the Back Gate community near Dumas were in critical condition at Arkansas Children's Hospital in Little Rock.
Within hours of the tornado, the American Red Cross set up a shelter at First Baptist Church of Dumas. The next day, church members and volunteers began serving meals to area residents, clean-up crews and emergency workers. The Arkansas Baptist State Convention's disaster-relief generator provided needed power to prepare meals.
On Feb. 25, chainsaw crews from five Arkansas Baptist associations were helping clear debris and cutting up downed trees. Also deployed to the hard-hit area and set up at First Baptist Church was North Pulaski Baptist Association communication's command center and a shower unit from Southside Baptist Church of Pine Bluff, Ark.
Storm victim Mabel Snyder said the disaster-relief volunteers were a blessing.
“You don't know what it means to have these people helping us,” Snyder said. A tear rolled down her cheek as she watched the disaster-relief volunteers clean up debris. Snyder was visiting her fiancé, Roy Dalton, at his Dumas home when the storm hit. Recalling that she and Dalton hunkered down in the bathroom, Snyder said she heard a noise that sounded like a roaring jet. In a matter of seconds, the storm destroyed the brick home and the couple's two vehicles. The couple weathered the storm without injury.
While no Arkansas Baptist churches were damaged by the storm, pastor Ross Woodbury of First Baptist Church of Dumas said at least a third of the town's businesses were destroyed, leaving many without jobs. Fred's Dollar Store was left in a tangle of twisted metal, and an overturned tractor-trailer rested in its parking lot. Next door, the Mad Butcher grocery store was destroyed, along with Butch's Family Steak House that was owned by First Baptist Church members Butch and Shirley Long. The tornado also wrecked the Arkat Feeds pet food plant, where 125 people worked.
“It is overwhelming,” Woodbury said of the destruction.
In the Back Gate community, members of nearby Victory Baptist Church are ministering to families who lost their homes in the storm. Just across the highway from the church, remnants of several homes ravaged by the tornado lie scattered across the freshly plowed field.
“When I drove up to the church after the storm and saw the destruction, I just knew we had to do something to help these families,” said Kristy Hogue, who immediately contacted fellow church members who started donating needed items and food. Since that time, contributions have been pouring into the church from people and churches as far away as Little Rock and Sherwood.
The church, which is offering hot meals, bottled water, clothing, baby items and needed supplies to area residents, was visited by Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe and U.S. Sen. Mike Ross Feb. 26, who thanked church members for helping meet the needs of victims.
Robin Dendy, a member of Victory Baptist Church, said about 30 people from four families who lost their mobile homes are now living in one home. She said the families have been reluctant to come to the church to ask for help, prompting church members to take meals and supplies to the them.
By Feb. 26, the church's fellowship hall and Sunday school classrooms had been transformed into a makeshift distribution center and filled with tables piled high with clothing, water, diapers, baby food, snacks and other household items. Some of the items were to be sold during a church garage sale next week to help raise money to send their church kids to camp. Instead, the items are being given to area families.
“These families have lost everything,” added Hogue. “We know the Lord will help us find another way to help our kids.”
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