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North American Division Adventist Community Services Calls for Prayer Amid Tornado Recovery Efforts

March 19, 2025 | Columbia, Md. | North American Division Communication and Adventist Community Services

Tornado aftermath — *Archival photo of a tornado aftermath. Photo: Getty Images*

A massive storm system tore through the central and southern United States the weekend of March 14, 2025, spawning roughly 66 tornadoes across seven states and claiming the lives of at least 37 individuals. Mississippi, Missouri, Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, and Louisiana experienced widespread destruction, with hundreds of buildings in ruins.

The North American Division Adventist Community Services (NAD ACS) is monitoring the situation in partnership with ACS directors in affected states. Recovery efforts are in progress, as ACS representatives from the South Central, Iowa-Missouri, and Arkansas-Louisiana conferences participate in daily VOAD (Voluntary Organizations Active Disaster) calls with local disaster response communities to coordinate response efforts. NAD ACS has been present on all VOAD calls, offering support and determining the next steps.

Displaced Communities and Continued Storm Threats

To date, Missouri is one of the hardest-hit states, with at least 12 fatalities as an estimated 10 to 15 tornadoes, ranging in severity, hit 27 counties. Other states reporting casualties include Arkansas (at least three), Mississippi (at least six), and Alabama (at least two).

The system advanced toward the East Coast on Sunday, March 16, bringing tornado risks to the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. A separate but related weather event in Kansas caused at least eight deaths after high winds and a dust storm on Friday, March 14, led to low visibility and resulted in a pileup of dozens of vehicles.

Some attendees of last week’s NAD ACS South-Central Summit in Birmingham, Alabama, which ended a day early due to weather concerns, returned home to find their neighborhoods impacted by the tornados. Barbara Barnes, the South-Central ACS co-director, shared that one attendee’s neighborhood experienced losses, including two fatalities. None of the 100 attendees were injured.

Call for Prayer

As rescue and recovery efforts are ongoing, the NAD ACS solicits prayers from members and friends across the North American Division for the victims, responders, and affected families. “Please pray for wisdom and strength for ACS leaders as they address the devastation and support the rebuilding of impacted communities,” W. Derrick Lea, NAD ACS director encouraged.

“ACS will remain engaged, offering assistance and support to those affected by this tragedy as we continue to work with our partners in the disaster response community,” Lea added.

Stay tuned for further updates as the situation becomes clearer.

Click here to learn more about a centralized NAD disaster response warehouse training center in North Carolina.

North American Division Adventist Community Services Calls for Prayer Amid Tornado Recovery Efforts

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