It is reported that 200 people were killed by hailstones in Hunan province in China on June 19, 1932. It is relatively rare for people to die in this way but when hailstones are roughly the size of cricket or golf balls, they can kill as they did on this occasion.
The damage hailstones can cause was visible in Sydney in 1999 when, in a freak and unexpected storm, hundreds of houses in the Kensington area had their roofs smashed. Amazingly there were no deaths or reports of injuries.
Lord,
having experienced severe thunderstorms here in Wellington of late, we are especially conscious of the damage these storms can do.
We ask you to keep people safe as storms, which seem to be increasing in intensity and frequency, effect communities around the world.
May we acknowledge that we have contributed significantly to the processes that are changing our climate and do what is necessary to reverse that.
Amen
By Fr Pat O'Shea - Lower Hutt
Tarpaulins on damaged roofs in the Kensington area of Sydney
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