A sharp wind cut across Ashland, Mississippi, today, causing people outside to bundle up against the cold and huddle together. It was a far cry from the balmy weather that greeted them just last week in the days leading to Christmas.
The unseasonably warm temperatures had residents keeping an eye on weather reports as they started working on Christmas dinner preparations last Wednesday, Dec. 23.
Before the day was done, a massive tornado would rip through this sweet little community and several others across four counties in Mississippi—part of a massive weather front that spawned deadly storms spanning large swaths of the country.
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Within days, the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team, along with sister ministry Samaritan’s Purse, were on their way to help meet the physical, emotional and spiritual needs resulting from the twister.
“We’re seeing a lot of destruction. Mobile homes tipped over or completely missing and nobody really knows where they’re located right now,” said Billy Graham Rapid Response Team Chaplain Al New.
“We’re seeing rooftops on homes completely ripped off. Cars completely destroyed, tossed around and beaten up. And a lot of trees have been snapped off of their bases, just looking like toothpicks standing up out of the ground.”
Yet, despite the damage, many in this area are finding their hope and comfort in their faith.
“This community is such a loving and appreciative community,” said chaplain Toni New. “Every person that you talk to, they’re just so glad that we’re here. They’re giving the Lord the praise for sparing their lives.”
Devastating Heartbreak, Unexpected Blessing
Three Forks Fire Chief Joey Jackson has been in his role for nine years and says tornadoes are nothing new for this area. They often skip through without doing much damage. This time, however, the town was hit with a vengeance.
The tornado not only devastated Jackson’s community. It took his firehouse and truck too.
“My assistant chief called me. He said, ‘Man, we need some help. The fire department’s gone,’” Jackson recalled. The assistant chief’s home was also destroyed, along with the homes of two other firefighters.
After more than an hour of cutting through downed trees with a chainsaw, Jackson finally got close enough to see the fire department, and it was worse than he could ever imagine. He thought he’d find some tin blown off the roof. Instead, he encountered a “wadded up mess.”
“It was total devastation. I mean you’re the one that goes out and helps everybody, and then what you used to help everybody is gone,” Jackson said.
“It’s heartbreaking and devastating,” he continued. “People are not used to it, but they pulled together and they’re doing a fantastic job; more than a fantastic job. They’re going through it like soldiers.”
Hours after the tornado, volunteers started showing up with heavy equipment. Now days later, the spot where the firehouse stood is a giant, empty concrete slab.
Even as Jackson is working with insurance and making plans to rebuild the station, he received an unexpected blessing from the Biloxi Fire Department, six hours away on the southern end of the state. A crew of several firefighters arrived with a beautiful fire truck to donate to the department.
“It’s something we would’ve never gotten. I don’t like getting it this way. Fire departments are one big brotherhood,” Jackson said, also sharing how firefighters from his small community traveled to Biloxi to help after Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
Jackson figured out a unique way to honor the generous benefactors as well.
“We gotta have all of our decals done up, but it says Biloxi right on the front of the truck. We’re going to leave that and put a decal above it so it says ‘God bless Biloxi.’ We’re not gonna leave them out of it. Biloxi will be here forever,” he said.
As for where he’s drawing his strength in the midst of the devastation: his faith. “That’s the only thing keeping us going right now,” Jackson said.
Then he pointed to the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team chaplains nearby, and said, “It means everything. Three of those guys are ex-firemen. They’re brothers.
“They know what we’re going through. They’ve been through it. They know what we need more than we know what we need: spiritual, mental or whatever. It’s been a blessing. We like to pray every time we get a chance!”
How You Can Pray
Rapid Response Team chaplain Toni New asked that people be praying for all of those affected by the recent storms.
“People are hurting. It’s really difficult right now with the cold weather. They’re trying to rebuild, trying to clean up, trying to find things that are important to them,” she said.
“Pray for them, that God will give them peace and comfort, and that they will turn to Him.”
