Thursday, June 12, 2008

Prayers needed!!

A terrible event has occurred in Iowa-- a tornado has hit a boy scout camp:

BLENCOE, Iowa - A tornado slammed a Boy Scout camp in the remote hills of western Iowa late Wednesday, killing at least four people, injuring 40 and setting off a frantic search for others who could be trapped in the piles of debris and downed trees.

A search and rescue team has been deployed to the camp near Little Sioux, Iowa Homeland Security spokeswoman Julie Tack said. She said the camp was covered with debris and downed trees after the tornado hit about 7 p.m.

Some victims might be trapped under debris, Tack said.

"We are still receiving information and we're processing it as we receive it," she said.

There were 93 campers and 25 staff members at the camp, Tack said. The campers were between 13 and 18 years old and were attending a leadership training camp.

"They were considered some of the best in the area," Tack said.

At least 40 people who were injured in the storm were being taken to area hospitals.

I used to take my boys tent camping to Many Point Scout Camp for a week every year, and we were at the mercy of the elements. Nary a week would go by when we weren't caught up in a severe thunderstorm; and one year there was a funnel cloud that passed overhead. I can only imagine the horror in Iowa when a tornado actually touched down.

Please say prayers for the dead, the injured, the shaken and their families.