People setting down the chainsaws in Poplar Bluff; pausing for prayer

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo., (KBSI) — People set down their chainsaws and tool boxes, Thursday night, and paused for a moment of prayer at the Butler County Community Prayer Service.

I was reporting in Poplar Bluff with a storm spotter the night of Friday, March 14. I left just two and a half hours before the severe storm moved into the city. The EF-3 tornado killed one person and injured three other people.

According to Butler County Emergency Management Director Robbie Myers, more than 500 households were affected and at least 50 businesses and other buildings.

I returned to Poplar Bluff Sunday, March 16, and for four days, I reported on the storm damage and subsequent recovery efforts.

I saw neighbors and people from all different faiths band together to dig their homes out from under the fallen trees and other debris — helping each other as they began the long process of recovery.

On my fifth day reporting in the city, I got to witness something else — people putting down the chainsaws and tarps and coming together to rest and recover as they found communal strength in their various faiths

First Baptist Church hosted the multi-faith prayer service open to all Butler County residents. Request, reflect, and rebuild were the theme of the night.

Pastors from seven different churches offered prayers for various needs in the community, including strength and rest.

They also held a moment of silence for the Butler County man who was killed by the tornado — 62 year-old Ronnie Ezell.

Community member Katie Pittman said it was a moving service. Her biggest takeaway was hope.

“Hope,” she said, “that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.”

Community members told me the service was just what they needed to regroup and re-energize as they get back to rebuilding.