REV. DR. NANCY JO KEMPER
Executive Director

JEANIE L. HARTMAN
Administrative Assistant

REV. DR. JOHN W. KAYS
Disaster Recovery Coordinator

REV. W. CHRISTOPHER BENHAM SKIDMORE
Associate Director

MEMBER CHURCHES

African Methodist Episcopal Church
13th Episcopal District
Kentucky Conference
West Kentucky Conference

African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church
Mid-West Episcopal District

Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Kentucky Region

Christian Methodist Episcopal Church
2nd Episcopal District

Cumberland Presbyterian Church

Episcopal Church
Diocese of Kentucky
Diocese of Lexington

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Indiana/Kentucky Synod

Presbyterian Church U.S.A.
Synod of Living Waters
Mid-Kentucky Presbytery
Transylvania Presbytery
Western Kentucky Presbytery

Roman Catholic Church
Diocese of Covington
Diocese of Lexington
Archdiocese of Louisville
Diocese of Owensboro

United Church of Christ
Indiana/Kentucky Conference

United Methodist Church
Memphis Conference
Red Bird Missionary Conference
Kentucky Annual Conference

CONGREGATIONAL MEMBERS

Reformed Church in America
Central Baptist Church
Union Church in Berea Kentucky

OBSERVER PARTICIPANTS

Berea Friends Meeting
Lexington Friends Meeting
Church World Service
The Salvation Army

ECUMENICAL PARTNERS

Church Women United
Church World Service
Kentuckiana Interfaith Community
Northern Kentucky Interfaith Commission
Paducah Cooperative Ministry

Colleagues:

Deadly tornadoes that promise to be the most devastating in many years have struck again, with dozens of fatalities. More bad weather is predicted for the immediate future. Although Kentucky has been spared the worst of their fury, there is no guarantee that we will continue to escape the ravages of Spring storms. Only a year ago we were dealing with severe damages in Providence. A church in Danville is making plans to ensure preparedness. Later this month KIDRP will be conducting a training session for them, aimed at organizing a local team to "do" disaster recovery. By organizing in advance of a disaster they are "redeeming the time" it takes to organize after the impact has occurred. My recommendation at this vulnerable time of the year is that all our communities, particularly those who are located in an area that is disaster prone, begin thinking about preparing for a possible emergency. Hours before the tornadoes hit yesterday, Jackson, Tennessee was a proud, peaceful community. Today it resembles a war zone. This is not a comfortable thought, but it is centered in the reality of our existence.

Sincerely,

John Kays
KIDRP Coordinator