- PRAYER ALERT: Tornadoes Devastate in Mississippi
Over 100 miles of destruction left behind.
A 70-mph tornado swept through central Mississippi Friday night. It covered more than 100 miles, starting in the town of Rolling Fork and travelling Northeast through Silver City, Winona and Amory.
As of early Saturday morning, it was reported that 23 are confirmed to have died, with the count expected to be higher as search and rescue teams continue working.
Thunderstorms hit the area late Friday, with the National Weather Service reporting the tornado at 8:50p.m. local time.
The Mississippi State Emergency Operations Center is working with state officials to help, but some areas are difficult to access due to downed power lines and trees blocking roads. The status of how many are without power is unknown at this time. The full destruction left behind has yet to be realized, with comparisons being made to the 2011 tornado in Joplin, MO.
Neighboring states have readied resources and are working to coordinate any support they can provide.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For the families of those who lost their homes and loved ones in this tragedy.
- For the Mississippi Emergency Management Agencey and first responders who are actively helping on the ground.
- For Governor Reeves and town officials to have wisdom as they help organize rescue and recovery efforts.
Sources: National Weather Service, Mississippi Emergency Management Agency, Associated Press, ABC News
- PRAYER ALERT: America’s Midterm Elections Underway
Praying the Vote is more important now than ever.
Due to the ongoing concern about election integrity following the concerns of foreign meddling in 2016 and the audits of the 2020 election, many people are watching the midterm elections with particular interest for any hiccups or issues.
While election commissions around the nation are reporting various election-related issues, all of them have strict redundancies in place, and each has assured voters that all votes will be counted.
Champaign County, Illinois, has reported that they are undergoing an election-related cyberattack. They are unable to determine the source of the attack at this time, but it has not had an impact on the ability of residents to vote nor on the security of their voting systems.
In Fort Bend, Texas, a small glitch caused by the switch from Daily Light Savings to Standard Time over the weekend delayed voting in several locations by 30 minutes. Fort Bend County Elections Administrator John Oldham said everything was running smoothly before 9 a.m.
Maricopa County, Arizona, is reporting technical issues at 40 out of 223 of their polling centers. The issues impact the final scan of the ballot and election technicians are working to determine the cause of the issue. “We have techs out there. We’re doing what we can to get them back online,” said Maricopa County Board of Supervisors Chairman Gates. Poll workers are currently instructing voters to either try another polling center or to use the secure drop box, “Everyone is still getting to vote,” Chairman Gates said. “We’ve got redundancies in place.”
Mercer County, New Jersey, reported a glitch with ballot scanners, and county officials said they are working on a solution. In the meantime, voters can still submit their ballots and they will be counted. The New Jersey GOP issued a statement, “I want to make crystal clear to the voters of Mercer County that in spite of reported problems with scanners on voting machines in Mercer County, this issue does not affect their voting experience at all.” The statement continued, “Voters will still enter their polling place, cast their vote, and insert the paper ballot into the machine as they normally would.”
The non-partisan election watchdog group Common Cause has reported only routine polling issues across the nation and has yet to identify anything of significant concern.
Nevertheless, we continue to pray over everyone involved and for God to shine light into the darkness, protect our nation, and lay out the path for our future.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- Pray for voters to have wisdom on who they choose, that they may have patience if they encounter lines or delays at the polls and that they might have peace in knowing that God is in control.
- Pray for election officials and volunteers who are working at polls, who will be counting, recounting, and/or verifying ballots.
- Pray for the judges who may need to review any election or ballot-related cases.
- Pray for restoration within families and among friends and the healing of our nation.
- Pray for God’s glory to shine in the darkness and that we might be the light to represent Him for the nation.
Sources: USA Today, AZ Central, APP.com, NJ.com, Washington Times, Fox News
- PRAYER ALERT: Hurricane Ian Hits South Carolina
Millions still without power in Florida.
UPDATE: 5:30 PM EDT 9/30
The National Hurricane Center has warned of “life-threatening” storm surges of 4 to 7 feet after Hurricane Ian made landfall near Georgetown, South Carolina. Winds at the time were 85 mph and the storm has caused coastal and flash flooding.
“Ian is forecast to turn toward the north-northwest by tonight and will move inland across eastern South Carolina and central North Carolina tonight and Saturday,” the National Hurricane Center stated. Officials say the storm should weaken rapidly and should dissipate by Saturday evening.
President Biden issued an emergency declaration for the state of South Carolina and FEMA will assist with local response efforts.
As Florida recovery efforts continue, at least 80 percent of the affected region remains without power. Ian is the fourth-strongest storm to ever hit that state.
UPDATE: 11:30 AM EDT 9/30
Ian has regained Category 1 hurricane strength as it heads toward South Carolina. The storm is expected to make landfall Friday afternoon.
The death toll in Florida has reached at least 19 as rescue efforts continue. Over 2 million are still without electricity as 42,000 workers endeavor to restore power.
Governor DeSantis has called Ian a “500-year event“ after surveying a couple of the counties that were hardest hit by the storm. “Some of the damage was indescribable,” he said. “The most significant damage I saw was on Fort Myers Beach. Some of the homes were wiped out, some were just concrete slabs.”
Torrential rains have caused the flooding of rivers and creeks in central and northern Florida. In one 12-hour span, 14 inches of rain was measured.
UPDATE: 3:00 PM EDT 9/29
The deaths of roughly a dozen people so far have been reported from central and southwest Florida.
Property damage has been extensive. Survey crews, photos, and videos of the region show collapsed buildings, impassable roads, including a key bridge connecting Sanibel and Captiva Islands to the mainland, downed power lines, and extensive flooding.
Governor Desantis stated that crews are prioritizing rescuing those who are trapped on outer islands.
“We have a huge amount of resources that have been brought to bear,” the governor said. “This is going to be a 24/7 operation.”
UPDATE: 12:00 PM EDT 9/29
As of Thursday morning, Hurricane Ian has knocked out power for at least 2.7 million Florida residents. People as far inland as Orlando have been trapped in homes, and nursing homes and hospitals have had to move patients, due to waist-high or higher flood waters.
“The Coast Guard had people who were in their attics and got saved off their rooftops,” Governor DeSantis said. “We’ve never seen storm surge of this magnitude … The amount of water that’s been rising, and will likely continue to rise today even as the storm is passing, is basically a 500-year flooding event.”
President Joe Biden issued a formal disaster declaration on Thursday. The Federal Emergency Management Agency is assisting with search and rescue.
The now-tropical storm is expected to strengthen back to hurricane strength after crossing Florida into the Atlantic. The National Hurricane Center is predicting a second landfall to hit South Carolina on Friday.
UPDATE: 3:00 PM EDT 9/28
Hurricane Ian made landfall as a Category 4 storm on Wednesday afternoon near Fort Myers, Florida. A 6-foot storm surge has been measured. Sustained winds have measured 70 mph with gusts of 80 mph. At landfall, the winds were just short of Category 5 strength. As much as 24 inches of rain is expected to fall.
Over 650,000 Florida residents are currently without power.
UPDATE: 2:00 PM EDT 9/27
Hurricane Ian has reached Category 3 strength and is forecast to reach Category 4 by this evening. Heavy rain is already falling across parts of Florida. Landfall of the hurricane is expected tonight, as early as 8 p.m. ET.
As of early Tuesday afternoon, the storm was 280 miles south-southeast of Sarasota, Florida, moving north at 10 miles per hour with sustained winds of 116 mph. “At this time, we are expecting landfall somewhere between Fort Myers and Tampa,” FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell said. “By the time it reaches the shores of Florida, the storm is going to slow down to approximately five miles per hour, and this is significant because what this means is that Floridians are going to experience the impacts from this storm for a very long time,” Administrator Criswell added.
Counties across the Tampa area are under mandatory hurricane evacuation orders. About 2.5 million people have been ordered to evacuate. The National Hurricane Center stated, “There is a danger of life-threatening storm surge along much of the Florida west coast where a storm surge warning has been issued, with the highest risk from Fort Myers to the Tampa Bay region.”
At a morning press briefing, Governor Ron DeSantis said road shoulders will be opened if sustained highway speeds drop below 40 mph, an attempt to head off the hours-long congestion that impeded evacuations during Hurricane Irma in 2017.
The state has mobilized 5,000 National Guard troops. Search and rescue teams have been activated along with high water vehicles and shallow boats in areas likely to see heavy flooding.
Tampa has not experienced a direct hurricane hit in 101 years. The last major hurricane landfall in Sarasota occurred in 1944. The storm is large in size and the Eastern seaboard is likely to be affected.
President Biden issued an emergency declaration for Florida on Saturday, ahead of the strengthening of then-Tropical Storm Ian to a hurricane. On Tuesday, the president spoke with Mayor Jane Castor of Tampa, Mayor Ken Welch of St. Petersburg, and Mayor Frank Hibbard of Clearwater to discuss preparations being made.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For Governor Desantis to have wisdom as he organizes rescue and recovery efforts.
- For the president as he issues disaster declarations for assistance with recovery from severe weather.
- For National Weather Service officials as they track and prepare their forecasts.
- For the people who are evacuating and those who remain in the storm’s path.
Sources: The White House, The Epoch Times, National Weather Service, Axios, NPR, Map Finder, WLRN
- PRAYER ALERT: Hurricane Ian Hits South Carolina
Millions still without power in Florida.
UPDATE: 5:30 PM EDT 9/30
The National Hurricane Center has warned of “life-threatening” storm surges of 4 to 7 feet after Hurricane Ian made landfall near Georgetown, South Carolina. Winds at the time were 85 mph and the storm has caused coastal and flash flooding.
“Ian is forecast to turn toward the north-northwest by tonight and will move inland across eastern South Carolina and central North Carolina tonight and Saturday,” the National Hurricane Center stated. Officials say the storm should weaken rapidly and should dissipate by Saturday evening.
President Biden issued an emergency declaration for the state of South Carolina and FEMA will assist with local response efforts.
As Florida recovery efforts continue, at least 80 percent of the affected region remains without power. Ian is the fourth-strongest storm to ever hit that state.
UPDATE: 11:30 AM EDT 9/30
Ian has regained Category 1 hurricane strength as it heads toward South Carolina. The storm is expected to make landfall Friday afternoon.
The death toll in Florida has reached at least 19 as rescue efforts continue. Over 2 million are still without electricity as 42,000 workers endeavor to restore power.
Governor DeSantis has called Ian a “500-year event“ after surveying a couple of the counties that were hardest hit by the storm. “Some of the damage was indescribable,” he said. “The most significant damage I saw was on Fort Myers Beach. Some of the homes were wiped out, some were just concrete slabs.”
Torrential rains have caused the flooding of rivers and creeks in central and northern Florida. In one 12-hour span, 14 inches of rain was measured.
UPDATE: 3:00 PM EDT 9/29
The deaths of roughly a dozen people so far have been reported from central and southwest Florida.
Property damage has been extensive. Survey crews, photos, and videos of the region show collapsed buildings, impassable roads, including a key bridge connecting Sanibel and Captiva Islands to the mainland, downed power lines, and extensive flooding.
Governor Desantis stated that crews are prioritizing rescuing those who are trapped on outer islands.
“We have a huge amount of resources that have been brought to bear,” the governor said. “This is going to be a 24/7 operation.”
UPDATE: 12:00 PM EDT 9/29
As of Thursday morning, Hurricane Ian has knocked out power for at least 2.7 million Florida residents. People as far inland as Orlando have been trapped in homes, and nursing homes and hospitals have had to move patients, due to waist-high or higher flood waters.
“The Coast Guard had people who were in their attics and got saved off their rooftops,” Governor DeSantis said. “We’ve never seen storm surge of this magnitude … The amount of water that’s been rising, and will likely continue to rise today even as the storm is passing, is basically a 500-year flooding event.”
President Joe Biden issued a formal disaster declaration on Thursday. The Federal Emergency Management Agency is assisting with search and rescue.
The now-tropical storm is expected to strengthen back to hurricane strength after crossing Florida into the Atlantic. The National Hurricane Center is predicting a second landfall to hit South Carolina on Friday.
UPDATE: 3:00 PM EDT 9/28
Hurricane Ian made landfall as a Category 4 storm on Wednesday afternoon near Fort Myers, Florida. A 6-foot storm surge has been measured. Sustained winds have measured 70 mph with gusts of 80 mph. At landfall, the winds were just short of Category 5 strength. As much as 24 inches of rain is expected to fall.
Over 650,000 Florida residents are currently without power.
UPDATE: 2:00 PM EDT 9/27
Hurricane Ian has reached Category 3 strength and is forecast to reach Category 4 by this evening. Heavy rain is already falling across parts of Florida. Landfall of the hurricane is expected tonight, as early as 8 p.m. ET.
As of early Tuesday afternoon, the storm was 280 miles south-southeast of Sarasota, Florida, moving north at 10 miles per hour with sustained winds of 116 mph. “At this time, we are expecting landfall somewhere between Fort Myers and Tampa,” FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell said. “By the time it reaches the shores of Florida, the storm is going to slow down to approximately five miles per hour, and this is significant because what this means is that Floridians are going to experience the impacts from this storm for a very long time,” Administrator Criswell added.
Counties across the Tampa area are under mandatory hurricane evacuation orders. About 2.5 million people have been ordered to evacuate. The National Hurricane Center stated, “There is a danger of life-threatening storm surge along much of the Florida west coast where a storm surge warning has been issued, with the highest risk from Fort Myers to the Tampa Bay region.”
At a morning press briefing, Governor Ron DeSantis said road shoulders will be opened if sustained highway speeds drop below 40 mph, an attempt to head off the hours-long congestion that impeded evacuations during Hurricane Irma in 2017.
The state has mobilized 5,000 National Guard troops. Search and rescue teams have been activated along with high water vehicles and shallow boats in areas likely to see heavy flooding.
Tampa has not experienced a direct hurricane hit in 101 years. The last major hurricane landfall in Sarasota occurred in 1944. The storm is large in size and the Eastern seaboard is likely to be affected.
President Biden issued an emergency declaration for Florida on Saturday, ahead of the strengthening of then-Tropical Storm Ian to a hurricane. On Tuesday, the president spoke with Mayor Jane Castor of Tampa, Mayor Ken Welch of St. Petersburg, and Mayor Frank Hibbard of Clearwater to discuss preparations being made.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For Governor Desantis to have wisdom as he organizes rescue and recovery efforts.
- For the president as he issues disaster declarations for assistance with recovery from severe weather.
- For National Weather Service officials as they track and prepare their forecasts.
- For the people who are evacuating and those who remain in the storm’s path.
Sources: The White House, The Epoch Times, National Weather Service, Axios, NPR, Map Finder, WLRN
- PRAYER ALERT: Former President Trump says FBI Raided Home
Early reports suggest the raid is related to the recovery of classified documents stored at Mar-a-Lago.
On Monday, Former President Donald Trump said that FBI agents had entered his Mar-a-Lago residence. He did not share details of a warrant or what they were searching for and the Department of Justice and FBI declined to comment on the situation. Spokespersons from both said that they have no information as to whether or not the search happened or whether or not Attorney General Merrick Garland had authorized the search.
In recent weeks, the Department of Justice has increased investigations into the events of January 6th, 2021 and federal prosecutors have issued subpoenas to senior White House officials, including former Vice President Mike Pence. Former President Trump said in a statement, “After working and cooperating with the relevant government agencies, this unannounced raid on my home was not necessary or appropriate.”
Early reports suggest that the raid is related to both materials requested by the National Archives and possible classified documents that are being stored at Mar-a-Lago.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For officials in the Department to seek God’s direction in how they handle the investigation.
- For the nation to respond with peace and civility during these strenuous times.
- For former President Trump and his family as they continue to cooperate with federal investigators.
Sources: Associated Press, Reuters, USA Today, New York Times
