Easter Sunday found many S.C. United Methodist Volunteers In Mission Early Response Team members, including several local residents, responding to help people whose homes and other structures were destroyed or damaged by the April 10 tornadoes that hit Aiken, Abbeville and Anderson counties.

According to Billy Robinson of North, disaster coordinator for the state organization, ERT Teams placed tarps on 13 Abbeville County structures damaged by the twisters.

“We worked closely with members of various fire departments and several churches including Grace UMC, Sharon UMC and Abbeville Baptist. We provided the supervision for the teams who all worked very well together, showing the love of Christ to a people that have been devastated,” Robinson said. “Our hearts were strongly moved and touched by the hurt and pain the people were expressing.”

ERT personnel providing aid in Abbeville County, in addition to Robinson, were members of Platt Springs UMC and Prosperity UMC.

“The weather service stated ... that it was an F2 Tornado that hit Abbeville,” Robinson said.

In the Lake Hartwell area of Anderson County, two ERT Teams installed tarps on two homes and put in a great deal of chain-saw work at approximately five homes, he said. Helping there were volunteers from Buncombe Street UMC and the Anderson District Team, Robinson said.

At Beech Island in Aiken County, a team from Lexington UMC put tarps on three structures and did chain-saw work at five homes, he said.

“The Aiken County area from Beech Island to New Ellenton received major damage in many areas,” Robinson said.

He said the S.C. United Methodist Volunteers In Mission Early Response Team went through “a lot of tarps – even cleaning out most of one trailer within one hour of our arrival in Abbeville.”

Robinson said he hopes people will continue to pray for the storm victims.

“We were able to witness to many people ... through our actions, care and concern, including the passing out of ‘Bible Promise Books’ – talking with them, listening to them and praying with them ... “ he said.

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