There was an overwhelming feeling of hope and faith at the Cleaning Bee of the Blue Mountain Seventh-Day Adventist Elementary School on Sunday morning, July 12, after the devastating effects of a tornado that tore the roof from the school on July 9 at 7 p.m.
Alumni, staff, students, and members of the community arrived to work at the site of the building where Principal Rachel Wardecke was trapped in the collapse of the structure during the storm.
Jacob Fowler, a past student at Blue Mountain, said, “the first thing I thought was that Miss Wardecke was in the building. She’s always there. She has a big heart.”
Wardecke confirmed that she was supposed to leave for vacation and was in the school “getting things wrapped up… I heard a sound like hail and glass breaking… Loud wind… I don’t know if I fell or something knocked me down. I didn’t know which way was up.”
Linda Johnson, a teacher at the school, shared a comment she heard about Wardecke. “There’s no doubt in my mind that Rachel would get out because she’s the most level-headed person I know.”
Johnson’s classroom, like the others, was exposed to the air due to the tornado, and just before the storm had new carpet installed and fresh paint on the walls. Johnson proclaimed, “we’re making the best of what God has given us” as she directed the debris-removal efforts in her room.
Ed Cale, a volunteer and groundskeeper at Blue Mountain, acted as the project manager during the clean-up process. He stated their goals are rescuing items that could still be used and sorting and clearing debris. Cale was heard directing a volunteer to salvage the bells so the children’s bell choir at the elementary school could remain intact.
The Cleaning Bee, as orchestrated by Cale, was based on assigning teachers to direct the efforts in their classrooms.
“Everywhere we are working is safe to go into,” Cale announced to the group, and confirmed that one classroom and the main hallway had been declared unsafe.
The volunteers were asked to not only empty the school and clear the grounds, but also to search the adjacent soybean field for debris and school items.
Blue Mountain Board Chairman, Pastor Emeritus Merle Whitney of Hamburg, was on-site to lead everyone involved in prayer, as well as to offer words of encouragement. From an insurance standpoint, Whitney also explained to the workers the need to document all items that were unsalvageable in the hope that insurance would help to cover those losses.
Volunteers set up an area to provide water and food for everyone donating their time on the property, where the temperatures were predicted to reach 85 degrees under hot sun. Safety equipment was also provided for everyone’s protection.
The plan in place to keep the Blue Mountain Elementary viable for its upcoming school year beginning Aug. 18 is to use the Sabbath Day rooms at the Blue Mountain Academy as classrooms until permanent arrangements are made. Cale confirmed that there enough rooms to house the 35 children from the elementary school, although Wardecke detailed that the rooms are smaller and storage would be an issue.
The Blue Mountain Seventh-Day Adventist Elementary School has been providing Christian education since 1954. For more information about the cleanup efforts and the upcoming needs of the school and its staff, contact Board Member and school Treasurer, Monica Flower, at 260-350-3222, or email to mflower68@gmail.com. Monetary donations can be sent directly to the school at 45 Woodland Terrace, Hamburg PA 1956. Make checks out to “BME” and designate “rebuild donation” in the memo line.
