A large portion of an oak tree lies in the front yard of Connie Maxwell Baptist Church following an April 10 tornado.A tornado that touched down on the campus of Connie Maxwell Children’s Home in Greenwood on April 10 inflicted heavy damage to trees but resulted in no injuries to children or staff.
Disaster Relief teams from South Carolina churches helped clear debris after a tornado touched down at Connie Maxwell Children’s Home in Greenwood April 10.“We are saddened by the destruction on our beautiful campus, where centuries-old trees were uprooted,” said Ben Davis, president. “However, we are blessed that no one was injured.”
Most streets were impassable after the tornado, which touched down around 9 p.m., but by early the next morning Connie Maxwell maintenance staff and alumni had the streets cleared so that utility workers could restore power.
Staff members made sure children got proper housing and food during the power outage. Some children were placed in motels, and others went to their cottage parents’ off-campus homes.
Because it was Easter weekend and spring break, many children were away from campus at the time, said Connie Maxwell spokesperson Miller Murphy. Nineteen students and staff were participating with Charleston Baptist Association’s outreach ministry on their annual spring mission trip.
“We are bent but not broken,” said Davis. “God has spared us from extreme damage that could have occurred.” Davis asked South Carolina Baptists to keep the ministry in their prayers as the campus strives to return to normal.
An uprooted tree narrowly missed crushing some playground equipment.
SCBC executive director-treasurer Jim Austin (left) and Connie Maxwell president Ben Davis survey the damage.