Feb. 9, 2009 issue
MDS works in Arkansas, Missouri after ice storm
By Scott SundbergCLARKSVILLE, Ark. — Mennonite Disaster Service volunteers have been responding to ice storms that hit Arkansas, Missouri, Kentucky and other states.
In Arkansas, Vince Hostettler of Clarksville said electric power had gone out in many areas.
“Eighty miles north of here, when the power went out, one man couldn’t get his generator to work,” which meant about 60,000 chickens died on just one farm alone. “We got some people together and cleaned up.”
That was day one. The next day, Jan. 31, Hostettler noted the county seemed to be completely overwhelmed, “So we went in and opened roads — one lane — so that people could get out.”
Hostettler reported that many farm buildings had “come down on chickens, turkeys and shop barns. We’re looking for people to help. We want to go and help if they’ll let us.”
Larry Hostettler of Otterville, Mo., said volunteers in Arkansas and other places were “trying to get the roads open so that feed trucks can come in.”
MDS is also in contact with Anabaptist/Mennonite groups in Casey and Christian counties in Kentucky. Volunteers were looking after a significant amount of tree work, but as of Feb. 2 were able to manage without outside volunteers.
Kevin King, MDS executive director, said MDS needed more people “to get out and call and inquire of the needs and encourage the local Mennonites to help.”
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