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

[ShortRoundChief]

Originally Posted by kcfanXIII

I am tired of hearing "we don't want your help, give us your money.". I dont have a lot of cash but i am more then willing to clear debris and such. I plan on going down this weekend to make sure my friends that live there have everything they need. Stay strong Joplin.

I appreciate that sentiment. We do need the help, what we don't need is the influx of lone rangers who's presence and traffic is hampering qualified search and rescue teams. nobodys turning anyone away, but go through the red cross or other places that are coordinating.

[Saulbadguy]

Originally Posted by WilliamTheIrish

I've seen this type of destruction before. I was a kid living in Topeka when an F5 in tornado hit the city on June 8th 1966. An 8 mile path of destruction that was about 1/2 mile wide as it cut through town.

Only lost 16 lives. 14 during the storm and 2 from heart attacks before and after. Bill Curtis, who would go on to some fame at CBS later in his career, uttered the famous words:"For God's sake take cover" over the air at WIBW.

The most vivid memory was picking up law school documents that blew into my yard from Washburn University about 10 miles away.

I watch a special on PBS about that tornado every year on PBS. Pretty remarkable that more people weren't killed. The tornado tore a hole in the dome of the Capital.

[ROYC75]

Originally Posted by WilliamTheIrish

I've seen this type of destruction before. I was a kid living in Topeka when an F5 in tornado hit the city on June 8th 1966. An 8 mile path of destruction that was about 1/2 mile wide as it cut through town.

Only lost 16 lives. 14 during the storm and 2 from heart attacks before and after. Bill Curtis, who would go on to some fame at CBS later in his career, uttered the famous words:"For God's sake take cover" over the air at WIBW.

The most vivid memory was picking up law school documents that blew into my yard from Washburn University about 10 miles away.

We had family friends that worked for the Shawnee County Sheriff Dept. that lost homes but all survived. I remember as a kid, my uncle and his sons, Dad, my brother and I to go help them. It was the 1st tornado damage I had ever seen as a kid.I remember always taking cover for one but never seeing the destruction on one till then.

So much for the theory / myth that the hill on the west side would shield Topeka from a twister.

[Alton deFlat]

Originally Posted by Marcellus

Somehow through all of this I got Freeman and St. John's mixed up, I tended to do that before this. Crazy.

Amazing what a difference a few blocks makes.

My friends parents were at McDonalds on the corner of 32nd and Maiden Lane through the whole thing.

Oh man, that's way too close. It's still standing, but I'm sure it sustained damage.

[Alton deFlat]

Originally Posted by dj56dt58

Yeah just a few blocks past 7th its fine and right around Kings Palace theres damage then it just gets worse and worse but from what I understand everything 32nd and on is fine..I never made it further than around Home depot myself

Yea, I live at 44th, and I had no damage... not even a tree limb feel. Three blocks away, there are a few trees uprooted, and the further north you go, you start to see more damage. But you're right, hell starts at 32nd. Not sure about the old J-Town / Safeway building at26th and Main. They just turned it into a Salvation Army. It had to take a direct hit. It was an older building, that looks like it was probably built like a fortress.

[JD10367]

I love the awesome power of tornadoes. I love watching documentaries and cable shows about them. I would love to go stormchasing. But I really wish they would stay away from heavily-populated areas and stick to the farmlands and plains where they do little damage. My thoughts go out to the people of Joplin. It's easy for people to say, "Well, things and houses can be replaced, people can't be". Trust me, if you've lost your house, you know that it's something you never get over. It's not just the objects you had, it's the memories you made in that house and with those objects. I had a house fire when I was 17 that took most of my belongings. Decades later, it still resonates.

Events like this underscore the whole reason meteorologists chase these things, to learn how they form and why. Even Reed Timmer has edged from being a voyeuristic chaser to a guy who's also interested in the science of them (after he witnessed one too many devastations of a populated area).

Hurricanes, earthquakes, and tsunamis kill far more people. But the tornado is so concentrated, nothing can stand in the way of a big one. It's like the finger of God came down and just drew a line on the map. Scary shit. I'm glad I don't live in an area that produces them.

[Iowanian]

Originally Posted by Pitt Gorilla

Joplin will rebuild/rebound. Zero doubt in my mind.

No Doubt.

Once people recover from the personal loss of life and injuries, everything from the cleanup to the rebuilding of the community will end up stimulating the economy.

You can't replace the lives of family and friends, but there isn't a structure that can't be replaced with something as good or better than what was destroyed.

[ShortRoundChief]

Originally Posted by Alton deFlat

Yea, I live at 44th, and I had no damage... not even a tree limb feel. Three blocks away, there are a few trees uprooted, and the further north you go, you start to see more damage. But you're right, hell starts at 32nd. Not sure about the old J-Town / Safeway building at26th and Main. They just turned it into a Salvation Army. It had to take a direct hit. It was an older building, that looks like it was probably built like a fortress.

I was there right after it happened. Frame remains nothing else.

[Reerun_KC]

From my cousin this am....

I want to thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers during this difficult, difficult time! My grandparents are still unaccounted for. The rescue dogs were at the site where their home stood but did not detect anything. They have been reported as missing so hopefully we'll hear something very soon!!

[bobbymitch]

I trust that all those out of town volunteers are self-sustaining. That is, they bring their own shelter, food & water, and sanitary items so that they don't strain already limited resources in that area.

[CaliforniaChief]

Originally Posted by Reerun_KC

From my cousin this am....

I want to thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers during this difficult, difficult time! My grandparents are still unaccounted for. The rescue dogs were at the site where their home stood but did not detect anything. They have been reported as missing so hopefully we'll hear something very soon!!

That's just heartbreaking. Prayers their way.

[gblowfish]

Kansas City Star had some amazing coverage this morning.
Photos here:
http://tinyurl.com/3m3z5u5

[Simply Red]

Originally Posted by Reerun_KC

From my cousin this am....

I want to thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers during this difficult, difficult time! My grandparents are still unaccounted for. The rescue dogs were at the site where their home stood but did not detect anything. They have been reported as missing so hopefully we'll hear something very soon!!

That's gotta be hard man, sorry reerun.

[HonestChieffan]

I cannot relate to that. Must be sheer agony. Prayers for all involved.

[Great Expectations]

Originally Posted by Jewish Rabbi

The Cardinals donated 25k

The Kemper Foundation/Commerce Bancshares donated $50k today.