2008 Union University Tornado

JACKSON, Tenn. (BP)–Tennessee Baptist Convention leaders assured Union University President David S Dockery of convention support during a visit to the tornado-battered campus Feb. 7. “Union University is a priority,” said James Porch, TBC executive director-treasurer. Embracing Dockery, Porch said an appeal would be made to TBC churches for a special offering and a day […]

JACKSON, Tenn. (BP)--Englewood Baptist Church in Jackson, Tenn., voted unanimously Feb. 10 to open the entire Old English Inn, which the church owns and operates, to Union University students displaced by the Feb. 5 tornado that destroyed much of Union's on-campus housing.

JACKSON, Tenn. (BP)--Beverly Absher was teaching a continuing studies class at Union University when a cell-phone caller told her a tornado was northeast of the campus. Her phone quit working as she rushed students into a Hammons Hall stairwell.

ORIGINALLY POSTED Feb 9, 2008 JACKSON, Tenn. (BP)–Tennessee Sen. Bob Corker praised Union University’s leadership, students and community today for the inspiring way they have responded to the devastating tornado that struck the campus Feb. 5. “The devastation here is hard to visualize, even on TV,” Corker, R.-Tenn., said during a Feb. 8 news conference. […]

JACKSON, Tenn. (BP)--Union University moved from crisis to recovery Feb. 8 as volunteer teams began cleaning up debris strewn by the Feb. 5 tornado and construction workers began rebuilding two major academic buildings.

JACKSON, Tenn. (BP)--Kevin Furniss, a Union University student injured in the devastating Feb. 5 tornado, said from his hospital bed: "Out of nowhere a guy reached down and squeezed my hand and I knew then I was going to make it out."

JACKSON, Tenn. (BP)–Students who suffered through a tornado at Union University Feb. 5 are being guided through logistical challenges by updates posted at uurecovery.com, the school’s official site for recovery information. Among the various items already posted: — Union University Counseling Services is sponsoring a care-and-comfort station at the Sigma Alpha Epsilon house. The station […]

JACKSON, Tenn. (BP)--Although the Union University campus suffered millions of dollars in damage when a tornado struck Feb. 5, rebuilding its facilities is not the top priority, President David S. Dockery said Feb. 7.       "We are concerned at the large level with what appears to be untold millions of dollars of damage. We have to try to restore and rebuild on this campus," Dockery said. "But students need to know that is not our primary concern.       "We are concerned about them, their well-being, getting them back into the saddle, getting them back into trying to finish this spring semester," he said. "It's so important, especially for our seniors who are trying to graduate school next fall. We have got to finish this semester, and we're going to do everything we can to ensure that happens."       Dockery said he holds great hope for the future.       "I've gone through several emotions, from the first moment I saw the devastation, to hearing the cries from the students under the rubble, to seeing how in the world we are going to be able to coordinate these efforts Tuesday night -- which were just a jumble [of things]," Dockery said. "Now, nearly 40 hours later, I'm in a state of great hopefulness."       Dockery said a five-phase plan has been implemented to move the university forward in a positive direction: campus assessment, students' return to homes, damage cleanup, resumption of classes and rebuilding the campus.       "We're not going to have everything back to normal tomorrow, on Feb. 18 or even by the end of this spring semester," Dockery said. "But we have a plan in place that's going to move us forward with short-term strategies, intermediate strategies and long-term prospects for a better Union University.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--Frank Page, president of the Southern Baptist Convention, asked Southern Baptists to support Union University with their prayers and with a special offering after the Baptist-affiliated school suffered extensive damage from a tornado Feb. 5.

JACKSON, Tenn. (BP)--Back home in the Entoto Mountains of eastern Africa, the worst weather Mikias Mohammed ever had to deal with was a thunderstorm.