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

[DaFace]

Originally Posted by Monty

And mine doesn't?

You're too slow! But seriously, regardless of the specifics, the idea that there's something in the ground that makes it tough is what I wasn't thinking of.

[Brock]

Originally Posted by Radar Chief

That makes sense. I assume they calculate that with Doppler?

I believe I misspoke. While windspeed is part of the fujita scale, it appears that post storm damage calculations are weighted more.

[DaFace]

Originally Posted by Radar Chief

That makes sense. I assume they calculate that with Doppler?

Technically, the classify them based on the types of damage caused rather than raw wind speed. That's because the wind is only part of the issue. Pressure differentials make a big difference as well.

I'm NOT an expert on this, but my understanding is that it's things like "snapped branches = one level, de-barked trees = another" rather than a strict definition.

[Donger]

Originally Posted by DaFace

Technically, the classify them based on the types of damage caused rather than raw wind speed. That's because the wind is only part of the issue. Pressure differentials make a big difference as well.

I'm NOT an expert on this, but my understanding is that it's things like "snapped branches = one level, de-barked trees = another" rather than a strict definition.

IIRC, the debris type enters the mix. I remember something about 2x4s being embedded into tree trunks, or something.

[SuperChief]

This brings a whole new dimension to what my Earth Science professor, when lecturing on specific types of cloud formations, called "SLCs" or "Scary Looking Clouds."

[Donger]

Huh.

As with the Fujita scale, the Enhanced Fujita Scale remains a damage scale and only a proxy for actual wind speeds.

[Radar Chief]

Originally Posted by DaFace

The scale has to do with the SEVERITY of the storm - not the SIZE. This obviously caused a huge amount of damage, but if you look at the pictures of individual houses, it doesn't seem as bad as the pictures from Greensburg, for example. In Joplin, the houses are giant piles of rubble. In Greensburg, it was more a question of "what houses?"

True, but size and damage typically go hand in hand.

[luv]

http://www.carthagepress.com/newsnow...in-generations

Joplin tornado deadliest in Mo. in generations

JOPLIN, Mo. —

The tornado that destroyed a broad swath of Joplin ranks as the deadliest to hit Missouri in more than a century.

At least 116 deaths from Sunday's tornado had been confirmed by Monday afternoon.

The federal Storm Prediction Center says the worst tornado in Missouri's history hit St. Louis on May 27, 1896, leaving an estimated 255 people dead.

The toll in Joplin exceeds those of two other major tornadoes, which also occurred in the southern tier of Missouri.

In the southwestern town of Marshfield, an estimated 99 people were killed by a tornado on April 18, 1880. And on May 9, 1927, a tornado killed an estimated 98 people were killed in the southeastern city of Poplar Bluff.

[Pants]

Originally Posted by Donger

Huh.

As with the Fujita scale, the Enhanced Fujita Scale remains a damage scale and only a proxy for actual wind speeds.

This is the best explanation I have found.

[Brock]

Originally Posted by Donger

Huh.

As with the Fujita scale, the Enhanced Fujita Scale remains a damage scale and only a proxy for actual wind speeds.

What I'm reading is that this means that a tornado that has 300 mph winds wouldn't be classified as an F5 if it doesn't plow into a city and cause crazy amounts of damage. shrug.

[Predarat]

Also they have changed the scale from F# to EF#, the new system is much more detailed. But an EF4 is an extremely strong tornado, nothing to sneeze at for sure.

[DaFace]

Originally Posted by Radar Chief

True, but size and damage typically go hand in hand.

Right, but it's not the AMOUNT of damage that makes a difference. You can have an EF5 tornado in the middle of the country that doesn't do anything but blow around some trees, or you can have an F1 tornado that cuts through the middle of Kansas City and does millions of dollars of damage.

This is significant because 1) it was a relatively powerful storm (EF4) and 2) it took a direct path through a highly-populated area. But that doesn't mean that an EF5 wouldn't have been far, far worse.

[DaFace]

Originally Posted by Brock

What I'm reading is that this means that a tornado that has 300 mph winds wouldn't be classified as an F5 if it doesn't plow into a city and cause crazy amounts of damage. shrug.

I don't BELIEVE that's true, but I could be wrong.

[kstater]

This is crazy. Was in the running for a job there not too long ago.

[Donger]

Originally Posted by Brock

What I'm reading is that this means that a tornado that has 300 mph winds wouldn't be classified as an F5 if it doesn't plow into a city and cause crazy amounts of damage. shrug.

If that city consisted of buildings that could withstand 300 mph winds, I guess so.