Joplin virtually destroyed by tornado

[tk13]

Please post any ways you can donate/give relief to the people in need in Joplin.

DONATE BY PHONE:

You can send $10 to the Red Cross relief efforts by texting "REDCROSS" to 90999

or

Send $10 to the Salvation Army Disaster relief efforts by texting the word “JOPLIN” to 80888

RED CROSS - Volunteer, donate to disaster victims, donate to a blood drive

http://www.redcross.org/

UNITED WAY - Donate to relief efforts

http://www.uwheartmo.org/

COMMUNITY BLOOD CENTER LOCATIONS - Give blood for those in need

Administration Offices & Donor Center
4040 Main Street
Kansas City, MO 64111
toll free: 1-888-647-4040
816-753-4040

Blue Springs Center
1124 W. 40 Highway
Blue Springs, MO 64015
816-224-0728

Gladstone Center
7265 N. Oak Trafficway
Gladstone, MO 64118
816-468-9813

St. Joseph Center
3122 Frederick
St. Joseph, MO 64506
toll free: 1-800-725-6791
816-232-6791

Overland Park Center
Times Square Shopping Center
10568 Metcalf Ave.
Overland Park, KS 66210
913-383-6800

Olathe Center
1463 E. 151st St.
Olathe, KS 66062
913-829-3724

Topeka Center
800 SW Lane
Topeka, KS 66606
toll free: 1-800-279-5943
785-233-0195

http://www.savealifenow.org/services...-locations.php

VOLUNTEER IN PERSON - Volunteer efforts are being coordinated through Missouri Southern State University.
Many people have contacted the City of Joplin to volunteer assistance to the victims of the storm. ALL citizen volunteers should report to the Recreation Center at Missouri Southern State University. Volunteers’ services are appreciated, but to be effective, will need to be coordinated through this centralized location. Citizens are reminded that the American Red Cross, in cooperation with the City, has set up a shelter at Missouri Southern State University in the Leggett & Platt Center.

http://www.joplinmo.org/article.cfm?AID=966

Relief coordinators Facebook page - Get the word out on fundraisers:

Joplin, MO Tornado Recovery--
If you are coordinating a fundraiser in your area, please send information to joplintornadorecovery@gmail.com so that it can be posted as an event [on the Joplin, MO Tornado Recovery page on facebook]. Remember to include date, time and location, along with any images.

http://www.facebook.com/#!/joplinmo?sk=wall

Columbia area blood donors needed:

A blood drive will be held 2-6 pm at Achieve Balance Chiropractic in Columbia at 3901 S. Providence. If you are wanting to help Joplin, this is a great way to do it.

Here's some info I got from my work e-mail

Message relay from Troop F @ 2120 hours:

In reference to the SEMA Incident the command post is currently operational in the Troop D Joplin area. Due to an overwhelming number of Volunteers, SEMA officials are not currently requesting any further outside assistance until further notice.

More relief organizations:

Missourians interested in volunteering to assist should call (800) 427-4626 or 2-1-1. Those with medical skills interested in volunteering should go to: https://www.showmeresponse.org

Missourians wishing to make donations to help with the relief effort can go to http://www.sema.dps.mo.gov/recover/donations.asp or call (800) 427-4626 or 2-1-1.

Residents affected by the tornado who wish to notify their friends and family that they are safe should go to: https://safeandwell.communityos.org/cms/index.php. Friends and family who would like to check on their loved ones in the affected area can use the same site.

Missourians who need disaster information, shelter information or referrals are urged to call 2-1-1. The United Way's 211 service number is now available for most areas in Missouri. In areas where the 211 number is not operational, citizens can call 800-427-4626.

United Way of the Ozarks in Springfield is waiting to hear plans from the American Red Cross – Greater Ozarks Chapter regarding mobilizing volunteer efforts. As soon as it has confirmation on how and where to volunteer, it will release that information.

If you would like to help with a monetary donation, please send your checks to United Way of the Ozarks, 320 N. Jefferson Ave., Springfield, MO 65806, marked JOPLIN TORNADO DISASTER RELIEF and all funds received will be distributed to the United Way of Southwest Missouri (Joplin).

Emergency blood drive this afternoon - Monday 5/23

The Greater Kansas City chapter of the American Red Cross will hold an emergency blood drive this afternoon to provide blood for those injured in the tornados over the weekend.

The blood drive will be from 2 to 7 p.m. in the Cass County Room at 211 W. Armour Blvd.

Meanwhile, the Community Blood Center is requesting area residents to donate blood this week to help support the rescue efforts in Joplin.

The blood bank has shipped 15 units of blood to the Community Blood Center of the Ozarks. Local hospitals are performing surgeries on some of the victims and the need for blood will increase as the rescue efforts continue.

To find a mobile blood drive, go to www.safealifenow.org or call 1-888-647-4040. Donors can also go to one of Community Blood Center’s seven Neighborhood Donations Centers.

http://www.kansascity.com/2011/05/23...afternoon.html

Chiefs to hold bottled water drive at Arrowhead - Tuesday 5/24 and Wednesday 5/25

In response to the tragic tornadoes that touched down in Joplin, Mo. and Reading, Kan. this weekend, the Kansas City Chiefs will contribute $35,000 to disaster-relief efforts. Additionally, they and their media partners are teaming with the Salvation Army – Midland Division to hold a bottled-water drive at Arrowhead Stadium for individuals in Kansas City to assist victims in the tornado-ravaged areas. The Chiefs will also be accepting financial donations for Heart-to-Heart International.

Bottled-water donations will be accepted in Lot C on the east side of Arrowhead Stadium Tuesday from noon until 7 p.m. and Wednesday from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. Those wishing to provide donations of bottled water may use any entrance to the stadium and may learn more from Chiefs broadcast partners KCTV5, 101 The Fox KCFX and Sports Radio 810 WHB, who have joined the Chiefs in supporting this important effort.

http://www.kcchiefs.com/news/article...9-fc840ea9fece

Springfield school district fundraiser and donation drive:

Springfield Public Schools students are finding ways to raise money and collect supplies to assist local charities with relief efforts for families in Joplin who were affected by the May 22 tornado. A Joplin school nurse has shared with SPS staff that there is an urgent need for water, toothbrushes, toothpaste and food.

http://springfieldpublicschoolsmo.or...id_Joplin.aspx

Other resources for those looking to contribute:

The following charities are accepting donations of money and relief items:

American Red Cross
United Way
Skaggs
Greater Ozarks Red Cross
Dillons
Springfield Jaycees
OTC
Springfield Public Schools
Springfield Paper Company
Edward Jones
Salvation Army
Great Southern
Area banks
Habitat Springfield
Community Blood Centers

http://www.news-leader.com/article/2...relief-efforts

Originally Posted by luv

http://www.facebook.com/note.php?not...17118671706061

Great page to go to in order to see what faundraisers and collections are going on in your area (in Missouri anyway).

Originally Posted by luv

Joplin, MO Tornado Recovery:
The City has established the following phone numbers for people interested in donating their time or items to aid in the recovery effort:
Individual volunteers wanting to donate their time should call 417-625-3543
Volunteers wanting to donate items can call 417-625-3542
Volunteer groups (churches, businesses, etc.) should call 314-623-9991

[J Diddy]

Originally Posted by |Zach|

What is the situation with walking around freely and not being allowed access to places. When I first read about things it seemed like the restricted permit system was limited to vehicle access but then some stuff I saw today made me question that.

As a photographer walking around after I take care of my official business what kind of leeway will I have. Any folks familiar with the situation?

do you have any press credentials?

[|Zach|]

Originally Posted by MotherLover

do you have any press credentials?

Nope. I am doing a commercial gig for some big companies that are doing some things down there. So its not news work per say. But after I am done with that I want to do photos. Obviously I want to walk around for compelling shots but don't want to be mad dickish or anything.

[J Diddy]

Originally Posted by |Zach|

Nope. I am doing a commercial gig for some big companies that are doing some things down there. So its not news work per say. But after I am done with that I want to do photos. Obviously I want to walk around for compelling shots but don't want to be mad dickish or anything.

I don't know. I know they dropped the permits, so it is quite likely you can get in. if you are not in the way they might not do anything at all. Worse they can do is tell you to leave, but I doubt they do that.

[Alton deFlat]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

You don't hear people say this very often, but I wish they had arrived three days sooner.

I would have personally escorted them to the roof of St. Johns at around 5 p.m., and told them they had the best seat in the house, before locking the door behind me as I left them there.

[Alton deFlat]

Originally Posted by Tribal Warfare

reporting in, I'm alive and well FWIW

Glad you're OK. I didn't even know you were a fellow Joplinite

[JD10367]

Originally Posted by Marcellus

I have had 1,000 conversations with friends and coworkers about the lack of ability to communicate at the time.

People didn't have cell phones before in times like this but when you have one and it's useless it pisses you the **** off.

Even if the cell towers didn't come crumpling down, the local networks were probably overwhelmed. It's like flushing all the toilets at once: the system just isn't designed for it. Same thing happened on 9-11, with the horrible result being that family members were getting voicemails hours later of their now-dead relatives describing what they were going through.

[DMAC]

Just got back from being there Tues and Wed. Me and my dad walked around finding people needing some muscle to get heavy shit out of the way to keep sifting.

One cool moment, we were helping these girls get valuables out, one had mentioned that a little girl had a hampster that was gone...

We had a bulldozer come in to move the fireplace rubble out of the way to get to some stuff they wanted. When I walked over there, I see something moving out of the corner of my eye inside a brick hole. Yep, hampster. Alive and well.

[Alton deFlat]

I don't know how, but I had cell phone service through most of that. I was calling my sister and mother to let them know I was OK, and several people that work for me and with me were calling me to see how we were.

The one person I couldn't get was a guy who worked for me. I remembered his mother lived on Wisconsin. She wasn't at home, but unfortunately they located her car at 20th & Murphy Blvd. She didn't make it.

BTW, he has also told me it may take two weeks for them to get possession of her remains.

[luv]

Originally Posted by Marcellus

Can't speak for the others on CP but I am good I live outside town. Been trying to help my friends with stuff.

From what I understand some of the biggest needs are toiletries, clothes, shoes etc...rather than food, water etc....

Lot's of people lost everything so those things are huge.

I would imagine there is a rally point for those type items but I am not sure where. I am sure one of the others can answer.

I have a ton of clothes I could donate. I was going to take them to a collection site here, but they were only taking new clothes. WTF?

[luv]

Originally Posted by DMAC

Just got back from being there Tues and Wed. Me and my dad walked around finding people needing some muscle to get heavy shit out of the way to keep sifting.

One cool moment, we were helping these girls get valuables out, one had mentioned that a little girl had a hampster that was gone...

We had a bulldozer come in to move the fireplace rubble out of the way to get to some stuff they wanted. When I walked over there, I see something moving out of the corner of my eye inside a brick hole. Yep, hampster. Alive and well.

I really wish I could head out there. I have a friend who is search and rescue trained, and he went out Monday and Tuesday. He said that they helped pull out probably 50 who had died and a few who had survived. I don't think I could deal with seeing that much death. I would want to be manned at a watering whole, or helping do laundry at the tide truck today.

[luv]

Originally Posted by MotherLover

I agree. That is why I tell anyone to volunteer to check at mssu student rec center. I don't know how organized it is, but it's got to be better then just going out and getting in the way. Which is what the radio is telling people to do.

From the sounds of it, they are quite organized. Triage, morgue, animal rescue, and temporary housing. I'll bet the dorms are full of people right now.

[DMAC]

Originally Posted by luv

I really wish I could head out there. I have a friend who is search and rescue trained, and he went out Monday and Tuesday. He said that they helped pull out probably 50 who had died and a few who had survived. I don't think I could deal with seeing that much death. I would want to be manned at a watering whole, or helping do laundry at the tide truck today.

We were there with the convoy of hope. They had a station at Faith Assembly (or whats left of it) parking lot. There were a lot of volunteers there just standin around so me and dad took off to go help in ground zero. LOTS of people needing help moving shit Tues. Not many people down there to help them...

[Donger]

[Alton deFlat]

Originally Posted by Donger

Thanks Donger! That is the high school near the bottom of the picture with the ball fields. The top of the photo is west. The east/west road to the right is 20th street, with Mian Street being that larger north/south road near the top.

[DMAC]

Originally Posted by Alton deFlat

Thanks Donger! That is the high school near the bottom of the picture with the ball fields. The top of the photo is west. The east/west road to the right is 20th street, with Mian Street being that larger north/south road near the top.

What was the building right to the west of the high school? Was it like a community college or something? I cant remember.