The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and six local American Red Cross volunteers responded swiftly to aid people displaced by fierce tornadoes that leveled entire neighborhoods in Oklahoma and Kansas this week.
The largest twister formed about 45 miles southwest of Oklahoma City and cut a path at least a half-mile wide Monday evening. While many tornadoes are short-lived, this one stayed on the ground for about four hours, according to the National Weather Service.At least 44 people have been killed, most of them in Oklahoma. President Clinton has declared 11 Oklahoma counties and one Kansas county federal disaster areas.
The LDS Church's Oklahoma City Bishop's Storehouse has provided food and supplies to two relief centers in Tuttle, Okla., located about 25 miles southwest of Oklahoma City.
One emergency center is housed ina First Baptist Church and the other is located at the Tuttle LDS Branch meetinghouse.
On Tuesday afternoon, disaster services volunteers from the Greater Salt Lake Area Chapter of the American Red Cross departed for a three-week relief assignment in Oklahoma. Their primary responsibility will be to provide mass care to thousands of people affected by the tornadoes. In total, three volunteers from Salt Lake, two from Ogden and one from Provo will lend assistance.
Leaders in the LDS Church's South Oklahoma City Stake have purchased plywood and plastic to distribute to anyone who needs to cover damaged roofs or windows. Members of the Norman Oklahoma Stake are joining with civil authorities in cleanup and relief efforts.
According to a statement issued Tuesday, all LDS missionaries in the affected area are safe and will be volunteering to help in the cleanup and recovery work.
The homes of 16 church members have been destroyed or heavily damaged, but a final check has not been conducted because some of the hardest-hit areas are accessible only by emergency services personnel.
Meanwhile, two semi-loads of additional food and supplies from the Dallas regional Bishop's Storehouse were scheduled to arrive Tuesday to replenish the Oklahoma City storehouse.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.