Star-Journbal Editor
It could have been Hillsboro that was blown away this past Friday by that deadly EF-5, tornado.
"That's what you think about when you drive in to a place like that," said Ervin Ediger.
A longtime volunteer coordinator for the Mennonite Disaster Service, Ediger, 71, Hillsboro, was among the only outsiders allowed in Saturday to see the rubble of Greensburg.
"It's gone," he said.
A number of tornadoes harvested swaths of destruction through the state over the weekend, flattening more than 90 percent of Greensburg, and several homes farther north.
On Monday, a day in which rescue teams in Greensburg found two more victims and a survivor, raising the death toll to at least 10, seven teams from the Mennonite Disaster Service's Kansas Unit had been deployed around the storm-ravaged region to bring help, and hope, to survivors.
As one of five assistant MDS coordinators in Kansas, Ediger, who worships at Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church, is responsible for recruiting volunteers from a dozen churches in Marion County and as far north as Abilene.
On Sunday, leaders at these churches echoed Ediger's plea for volunteers to join the Mennonite Disaster Service's effort.
By Monday, the list contained more than 40 names, but in the weeks and months ahead, the MDS will need hundreds of volunteers to help rebuild homes and lives.
"I've got a long list here," Ediger said. "But that won't cover it. But once [the volunteers] come back and start telling stories about what they've seen and heard, there will be a lot of participation."
Along with Ediger and other local MDS officials, the national executive director of MDS, Kevin King, was on the scene Saturday, just hours after the storms hit.
"It's like something I haven't seen before," King said. "It looks like a giant rake came through and raked the town away."
Mennonite Disaster Service began back in 1950 when a Mennonite Sunday school decided to take a hands-on approach in responding to tornadoes that had hit Kansas.
Today MDS responds not only to damage caused by tornadoes, but also hurricanes and other natural disasters, as well as human-made disasters that affect the U.S. and Canada.
And today's MDS volunteers come in all denominations, which is another way of saying you don't have to be a Mennonite to lend a hand.
"We're interested in honest people," Ediger said, adding that volunteers need to understand that there's something sacred about being entrusted to care for vulnerable and hurting storm victims.
From his farm home near Hillsboro Monday afternoon, Ediger was getting ready to travel up to Bennington in north-central Kansas, to see when and where MDS workers will be needed there. While Ervin is away, his wife, Carol, will do her part by fielding phone calls from volunteers.
On Saturday, Ervin traveled with an MDS team that traced the trail of tornado devastation backward, from north of Great Bend. They hoped to focus on rural areas, but the roads were too muddy from all the rain.
"We were told not to try to send any more people until the weather settled down," he said. "But there's going to be work for a long while yet, and it doesn't have to be done today or tomorrow."
As far as cleanup in Greensburg, Ediger said that relief workers had not been allowed in, because as late as Monday afternoon residents were just returning to their homes.
In the days and weeks ahead, the focus will be on cleaning up the home sites, and carrying debris to the curb to be hauled away by heavy equipment.
"Then comes the rebuilding," he said, adding that MDS specializes in meeting needs that have gone unmet by agencies, or helping with damages not covered by insurance.
If you can't donate your own time and energy, the next best thing to donate is cash, he said.
"It's almost 200 miles one way to these sites," Ediger said. "With the cost of fuel now, we're going to have quite a cost."
Money was most useful because it's lightweight and portable. Supplies such as bottled water, ice, and food are heavy and costly to transport, he added.
"Items like that will be donated by companies," Ediger said. "They will bring in truckloads of water and ice. And Dillons donated food."
In addition to the physical work, Ediger wants his volunteers be aware of the spiritual aspect of MDS.
"We tell our volunteers, yes, Mennonites are known to have a strong work ethic, but don't be so busy working that you ignore the people around you. Everybody has a story to tell and if they want to talk to you, sit down and listen."
The truth of this message was driven home Saturday, when Ediger and his team pulled into a tornado-damaged farmstead near Claflin, where the 10-year-old home was severely damaged.
"The woman who greeted us said, 'Oh, you people are back!"' Ediger said. "What she meant was that 10 years ago, her house was destroyed and the one that was damaged, we'd helped her rebuild.
"It makes an impact."
Those wishing to serve on an MDS volunteer team are encouraged to call Ediger at 947-3258.
Donation checks should be made out to Kansas MDS and sent to Gerry Selzer, 249 S. Weaver Street, Hesston KS 67062. Or you may donate on the web at www.med.mennonite.net.
Be sure to designate your donation, "May 2007 Kansas Storms."
