Tornados in Tennessee hit Union University.
 

The storms did a lot of damage at Union University. Here is a list of their Greek Organizations.

Alpha Tau Omega
Chi Omega
Kappa Delta
Lambda Chi Alpha
Sigma Alpha Epsilon
Zeta Tau Alpha

Hope everyone is ok.

I spoke with a Chi Omega alumna of Union and she said she knows the school is closed for at least the remainder of this week and possibly next week too. She had also heard that the President of the University is using the Chi Omega lodge as a makeshift office.

Our local news said 8 students were trapped (I believe in a dorm) but weren't seriously injured.

Prayers for all.

I am originally from Jackson, TN. Union is closed for 2 weeks. This tornado was worse than the one that came in 2003. My parents live in North Jackson and 5 min from Union and there was a lot of damage there. My dad had JUST gotten home and could not get the garage open but the power was out and his car doors would not open...he was stuck in the driveway in his car and my mother could not get the front door open. (I'm sorry I gotta testify because I am so thankful right now). Here my dad is stuck in his car and the big tree in our yard which he was parked beside was uprooted from the ground....yet God kept my dad. The property fence dividers which are secured in cement were uprooted from the ground...yet God kept my dad in that car. The shingles and gutters are gone from our house but yet God kept my dad in that car.....the fence in the back yard are gone yet God kept my dad in the car and our house is STILL standing though the fire station down the street was flattened. My mom was standing at the front door trying to get it open to let my dad and couldn't. We have big windows all in the living room that didn't even break. All the car did was shake. I am so thankful right now; I'm crying just thinking about it. I told my dad that if you don't believe you have favor I hope last night was confirmation. The damage is pretty bad but I am thankful. Things are just that...and can be replaced. I'm just thankful for God's Mercy and Arms of Protection and I am praying all of Jackson, TN.

Sorry for the long post but it was on my heart...

velocity, i am so glad to learn that your parents are alright. they were certainly being looked after during that storm.

please keep us updated as you learn more.

Here is what is posted on our website:

"All members of Zeta Tau Alpha’s Beta Omega Chapter at Union University in Jackson, Tenn., are safe after a tornado destroyed their dormitory Tuesday evening, Feb. 5. Several buildings on campus sustained heavy damage and the school will remain closed until at least Feb. 13. Please keep these Zetas and their fellow students in your thoughts and prayers.

The ZTA lodge on campus sustained little damage. The ZTA Fraternity Housing Corporation is pleased to be able to provide the lodge to the university as an emergency site to serve food to cleanup volunteers.

If you would like to send cards or notes of encouragement to the chapter, please send them to Beta Omega Chapter, c/o Lisa Stark, ZTA International Office, 3450 Founders Road, Indianapolis, IN 46268."

Four lives have been lost in the Jackson/Denmark area but the names have not been released. I did get a call that one of the lost was my church member's husband and she has been in the hospital since last night. Power was restored in some areas as early as 4:30am (6:02am on my street) in North Jackson but there are power and cable lines down in a lot of places in the area including my own. The Walgreens right up the street from me caved in and the Jackson Oaks nursing home was badly hit but no lives were lost there thank God. I was so scared for those people who are not mobile if they tried. My parents are driving around in the neighborhood and a lot of homes are gone...this is terrible...we were blessed.

Union will re-open on Feb. 13th at the earliest.

I will keep you all posted...

It's going to be Feb. 18th now.

They've had reports all day of the damage. Union is really hard hit. Horribly, there are a few other communities around here that were hit as hard/ harder.

We had to take shelter twice last night. During the second time, a tornado passed right over our house before touching down a mile away.

The faculty at Union, as well as members of the community, are providing places to stay for a lot of students.
http://www.newschannel5.com/global/story.asp?s=7834368

this is a blog that is being run y the university and updated regularly if anyones interested. 40% of the housing was destroyed on campus and another 40% was severely damaged.


http://uuemergency.blogspot.com/

I read elsewhere that since a lot of students have lost their clothing and personal items, the university is accepting monetary donations as well as gift cards to Wal-Mart, Target, Lowe's, etc. Do you think we can send a donation to the ZTA chapter through that IO address?

If you want to send items to help Union ZTAs, I can pass along your contact info to someone in charge now. My little sister is currently a Zeta new member there (she's a freshmen). My mother and sister-in-law are also alumns. My sister believes she's lost all her belongings in her dorm, but her brother and I think there's a chance of salvaging quite a bit. Her dorm isn't one that was completely flattened.

Let me know some contact info via PM, and I'll try to find the right person to pass it on to.

-Jason

Just another thought, I think there's an alum group in Jackson. I KNOW the Memphis Alum Federation can get things to them and might be planning something already... And, I know the Greater Oxford, Mississippi alum chapter I belong to is planning on doing something soon.

9 students spent the night in the hospital, only 16 across campus were injured, no fatalities. This is a miracle, only fully realized by myself when I saw the photos. The whole side of one of my old dorms is completely gone. I remember meeting some ZTA alums during rush when I was there - they provided the transportation to pref night. My RA, my old roommate and my Rho Chi were ZTA's, as well as a whole slew of other girls I was close to there. My prayers are with the Beta Omega chapter.

HIJACK*****

Crystal!!!!!!! Long time no talkie! PM me!

End Hijack***

tippie and mtsu, glad to hear that you are both okay.

jason, thank you for your update on the zetas at union & your sister(now one of our sisters!:) ). please give her a hug from all of us.