More than 550 Church members, clad in "Mormon Helping Hands" T-shirts, converged upon Joplin, Mo., May 28 — reaching out to the 27 Latter-day Saint families and others in the community whose homes were completely destroyed by a horrific tornado.
In total, the group — comprised of members of the Rogers Arkansas and Springfield Missouri stakes — completed 7,400 work orders.
The devastating tornado ripped through the heart of Joplin — a community of 50,000 people in southwest Missouri — on May 22 and left at least 130 people dead and injured more than 750.
All members and missionaries in the affected areas are safe and accounted for.
The United States' deadliest tornado in more than 50 years destroyed or significantly damaged as many as 25 percent of the buildings in Joplin, including the Joplin Missouri Stake Center, a hospital, a high school and scores of businesses. More than 7,000 homes in Joplin were destroyed.
In addition to the 27 member homes that were destroyed, 41 Latter-day Saint homes received significant damage, and 35 cars were demolished. In total, the storm left 42 Church members homeless.
"We are somber," said President Matthew G. Montague, first counselor in the Joplin Missouri Stake presidency. "The members are concerned and eager to rebuild. But they recognize and are being patient with the process.
"They remain completely resolved to move forward to help one another."
Because the Joplin Stake Center was destroyed and the nearest meetinghouse is 30 minutes from the disaster zone, Church leaders set up an LDS command center in a 5,000 square-foot warehouse, located four miles north of the tornado's path.
"We are not making distinctions between those of our faith and those of other faiths," said President Montague. "There is an energetic and motivated effort to move forward and rebuild our lives and our community."
President E. Ray Jones, second counselor in the stake presidency, said the sheer volume of destruction in Joplin is inconceivable. "Even the footage and pictures don't do it justice," he said, noting that people cannot comprehend what has happened until they stand on a familiar street corner and not recognize a single landmark.
President Jones said he cannot say enough good about the hearts of the people in the area.
"Our biggest problem is everyone wants to help and we don't have enough for everyone to do," he said, noting that they are drawing on local members to meet local needs. Members of other stakes are providing the extra manpower needed for weekend cleanup efforts.
Now that roads are cleared in the disaster zone, those who have lost homes will be able to go into the area and begin recovery efforts. This will touch members on a "deeper and increasingly personal level," said President Montague.
"The members continue to amaze us and inspire us," he added, noting that in the hours after the tornado struck members ran miles to check on loved ones. "It has not stopped since."
