Latter-day Saints Help with Tornado Cleanup

In the spring of 2011, the southern and mid-western U.S. states suffered from a record-breaking rash of tornadoes.  On May 7, 2011, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints sponsored a massive volunteer project to help the people of Birmingham, Alabama, and Tennessee who were hit by many tornadoes. More than1,500 volunteers came from the greater Atlanta, Birmingham and other surrounding areas.  This is in addition to the mobilization of local Latter-day Saints who offered help in their own neighborhoods.

Organization for the wide-spread cleanup operation was from a “command post” established at a Mormon meetinghouse in Birmingham.  People needing help were represented by green dots on a large map of the area.  Local congregations found those in need by canvassing their own neighborhoods and passing information along.  This system is helped along by the existence of “Home Teachers” and “Visiting Teachers” in local congregations, called “Wards.”  Home Teachers are two men assigned to certain families in the neighborhood, and Visiting Teachers are two women assigned families to watch over.  They can pass information about emergencies up the line to bishops (who lead congregations), and then up to central leadership in the Church, which can then send help downward, if necessary.

Paul Norton was one who received help.  Though fortunate that all family members and pets survived, his home was left almost uninhabitable.  A team of 25 Mormon Helping Hands showed up to help.  Paul said he has never seen such a wonderful group people who just wanted to help and get nothing in return.

For more information about the official humanitarian efforts of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints visit the LDS Newsroom.