Joplin tornado

[Not Afraid]

I just watched footage from Today's twister in OK. Damn.

[Gn2Dlnd]

Just got off the phone with my aunt Lyla (Grandma's younger sister, mom's age, Jamie and Tess' mom). She and her husband Leroy were waiting in a line to get IDs that would allow them to move about town w/o being stopped as looters.

She described the experience of coming over a rise in the road to scenes of utter devastation. She talked about how complete strangers, more than likely from out of town, were in their front yard helping to move trees, and of the driver that stopped, asked if they needed water or food, and handed over 2 flats of bottled water and several dozen snack bars. She told me that St. John's will have to be imploded. Cousin who's an ambulance driver expects to lose his job, cousin who's a nurse may be able to work at Freeman or another hospital further away. Lyla's father-in-law, Papa Louie, who survived a flaming bomber crash in WWII and the deaths of his first and second wives, rode out the tornado sitting in his car in the garage as the house was being destroyed around him. Lyla described him as "grinning like a possum" when they found him. She said donations were pouring in, their church was full of supplies and diapers, and generators were being sent from everywhere.

My grandma was taken to my aunt Susie's house, like I said before, but, it turns out, Susie and her family are likely at WDW. No one seems to be sure. I talked to my grandma yesterday, and, of course she mentioned none of this, so, I'm going to try calling her again today, find out what the real situation is, and beg my mom to swallow her pride, make things at least temporarily right with her sister, and offer to go back and help. There was some roof damage to my grandma's house, along with the windows, so insurance papers and repair people are going to need to be dealt with. Totally up my mom's alley.

Also up my mom's alley, yesterday she adopted a 5 week old puppy from some kid on the street, which makes her unavailable to be taken out to lunch for her birthday tomorrow, and, of course, would make leaving for Joplin all that much more complicated.

No, I've never subconsciously further complicated an already complicated situation to avoid potential conflict, why do you ask?

[BarTopDancer]

For those of you (maybe just KatieSue) who like country CMT will be holding a televised relief concert in the next week or so. Traditionally the money raised has gone to an established community organization in a position to help. They raised a lot of money to help the TN floods (and donated a lot of their own money too).

[Gn2Dlnd]

From CNN

The Missouri State Emergency Management Agency is providing details on donating and volunteering to help Missourians recover and rebuild.

Health professionals interested in volunteering are asked to sign up on the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Show-Me Response website.

The American Red Cross has opened shelters in Missouri and Minnesota. The shelter in Joplin is located at Missouri Southern State University, and the Red Cross is working to provide transportation to the shelter for those in need. The Red Cross is also distributing food, cleanup supplies and comfort kits, and sending health workers to provide immediate care.

Text "REDCROSS" to 90999 to make a $10 donation, or visit the website to donate, give blood or volunteer.

AmeriCares has sent disaster-relief personnel to Joplin, and it's working with Access Family Care Clinic to help victims. This expands AmeriCares' tornado relief operation, which has been assisting various Southern states as they recover from their own recent tornado outbreak.

Donations to AmeriCares can be made online or by phone at 1-800-486-HELP.

The disaster-response team with Convoy of Hope is heading to Joplin with a truckload of water, snacks and ready-to-eat meals. It is coordinating with local officials to determine what additional supplies should follow and at what locations they can provide essential supplies.

Those wanting to help can text the word "CONVOY" to 50555 to make a $10 donation. You can also donate online or by calling 1-417-823-8998.

Feeding America is working with Ozarks Food Harvest to provide emergency food assistance to those in need around the Joplin area. It is accepting donations online and by phone at 1-800-771-2303.

The Heart of Missouri United Way has established the Tornado Relief Fund to help victims.

Text "JOPLIN" to 864833 to make a $10 donation, or call 1-573-443-4523.

The United Way of Greater St. Louis is accepting donations and volunteers to help those impacted in the Joplin area.

Those interested in volunteering should list their availability and expertise on their Joplin Storm Recovery Volunteer Form.

For more opportunities to volunteer with United Way, call 1-800 427-4626.

Heart to Heart International has sent volunteer medical professionals and their mobile medical clinic to the devastated communities in Kansas and Missouri.

Heart to Heart also sends hygiene kits for people displaced by the storms, and their care kit assembly instructions can be found here.

You can donate or sign up to be a volunteer online or by phone at 1-913-764-5200.

The Salvation Army has mobilized four feeding kitchens in impacted areas of Joplin. It is also providing relief to other cities that were hit by the weekend tornadoes in Missouri, Minnesota, Kansas and Oklahoma.

The Salvation Army's disaster-relief efforts in Joplin can be supported by texting "JOPLIN" to 80888 to make a $10 donation. You can also donate through their website or by calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY.

Samaritan's Purse is providing assistance to survivors in Joplin. Its first volunteer team is on the ground, and it is asking for more volunteers to join their effort to remove trees and fallen debris and help make repairs on damaged homes.

Details to volunteer and donate can be found online and by calling 1-828-262-1980.

World Vision is now expanding its tornado relief to include the Joplin area. It has sent a team there to determine the most urgent needs.

Text"'TORNADO" to 20222 to give a $10 donation. You can also donate online or call 1-888-511-6443 to support World Vision's effort.

This is a link heavy article, so here's a link to the article itself, instead of copying and pasting for the next hour and a half. I don't know which of the agencies are using the most dollars donated for direct relief, but I know I'll sure be happy to see the Red Cross tent when the 9.5 hits SoCal.

If my cousin Jamie seems to think there are local agencies that can use the help more directly, I'll post that here as well.

[katiesue]

I'm putting together what I can spare to send to the local JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation). A Mom from my Diabetic Parent message board rode out the storm in a closet with her three toddlers. Their roof came off. One of her son's is diabetic. She's trying to coordinating getting insulin, meters, strips etc to local Type 1 families.

[JWBear]

I found out this morning that my brother had a layover in Dallas last night. One of the tornadoes went right over his hotel. Everyone had been evacuated to the basement before it hit, and everyone is ok. He was supposed to fly out today, but the airport is closed. More tornadoes are expected in the Dallas-Fort Worth area today.

I haven't told any of this to my mother. Probably not a good idea right now.

[Gn2Dlnd]

Good choice, katiesue!

[katiesue]

It's also a reminder to me (and hopefully others) to have and evacuation plan. We do get earthquakes and fires here. I need to make sure I grab all Maddie's supplies etc. You'd hope you'd be able to replace them if needed but what if it takes days? Without insulin she doesn't have days.

I've got an emergency kit of her stuff, I also use it for travel, that I can just grab along with all the pods, lancets, strips and insulin I can carry. Hopefully I'll never need to use them.

[BarTopDancer]

Originally Posted by JWBear

I found out this morning that my brother had a layover in Dallas last night. One of the tornadoes went right over his hotel. Everyone had been evacuated to the basement before it hit, and everyone is ok. He was supposed to fly out today, but the airport is closed. More tornadoes are expected in the Dallas-Fort Worth area today.

I haven't told any of this to my mother. Probably not a good idea right now.

My friends posted pictures of the tornado less than a half mile from their house. WTF were they doing NOT being in the basement?

[JWBear]

He's still there. Weather conditions are unsafe for flying.

Also, several planes were damaged by hail last night.