As we are approaching peak tornado season in Ohio. In Dayton, we only need to look back on May 27, 2019, for a reminder of this. May 27 was the most active day for tornadoes during the massive storm outbreak over several states. With a total of 59 confirmed tornadoes. Dayton, Ohio, and its surrounding suburbs were struck by three powerful tornadoes in quick succession, with the tornadoes rated EF4, EF3, and high-end EF2 in intensity.
Enhanced Fujita Scale or EF Scale, is used to assign tornadoes a rating based on estimated wind speeds and related damage. When tornado-related damage gets surveyed, it gets compared to a list of Damage Indicators (DIs). Degrees of Damage (DoD) help estimate better the range of wind speeds the tornado produced. From that, a rating (from EF0 to EF5) gets assigned.
There was widespread tornado damage to homes, businesses, apartments, industrial buildings, and other structures throughout the Dayton area. No direct fatalities occurred in the Dayton area, though at least 166 people were injured.
“The damage was massive and almost inconceivable until you see the damage with your own eyes. It looked like a bomb exploded.” Dave Rau explained in an interview.
Rau is a business owner who had recently retired and sold his electrician services company. He was one of the many volunteers who came in afterward to help residents clean up.
Rau contacted his sister, who worked for Habitat for Humanities at the time, and asked if he could volunteer with the clean-up. Rau said they responded with a no thank you, we have plenty of volunteers right now.
“I have a backhoe, excavator, and a dump truck. Do you need me now?” Rau replied. They responded with a resounding yes. Rau started to volunteer the same day. After volunteering for a few days, the Brethren Disaster Ministries (BDM) stopped him and asked him what he was doing.
“I told him I was volunteering with Habitats for Humanity. I could not believe it when BDM told me that they would pay for my insurance and gas for my equipment and machines if I volunteered with them.” Rau said. Rau agreed and volunteered with the company for over a year in disaster areas around Dayton.
Brethren Disaster Ministries engages a network of volunteers to repair or rebuild damaged homes for disaster survivors who lack sufficient resources to hire a contractor or other paid labor. BDM’s goal is to ease the trauma and foster recovery in disaster-stricken communities across the United States.
Even though Memorial Day weekend 2019 was a sad day for those directly affected by the tragedy, the kindness and generosity of people always shine through. Rau is one of many kind people who gave their time and money to help the tornado victims.
If you are interested in volunteering with the Brethren Disaster Ministries, you can contact Brenda Hostetler at hjbrenda@aol.com in the Northern Ohio area. For information on what to do in the event of a tornado visit weather.gov. Be prepared.
Diane Sikora
Intern/Social media coordinator