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

[Halfcan]

Originally Posted by J-Town Fan 1988

Theyre taking their sweet time IDing people so there aren't any mishaps. Considering where the storm hit it seems unlikely to me that it's that low. If it hit during school hours, or even after school'd be out, it would've easily touched 1000 and possibly gone higher.

They are identifing most through their optical fluid.

[kysirsoze]

But if someone is dead and waiting to be identified, shouldn't they be on the list of missing people? I don't understand.

[Halfcan]

Originally Posted by Rukdafaidas

I thought the same thing. The death toll should be over 1,000. There were 8,000 homes and 1,000 businesses destroyed, including places like Wal Mart, Home Depot, Academy Sports, etc, that were leveled and we're only at 140 deaths is unbelievable. But, I know a lot of people in this town and I've only personally known 3 people that died. I find that amazing.
I don't know how many stories I've heard of people riding it out in bath tubs or by clutching toilets or water heaters. Then you look at their house and those were the only remaining structures.

There is a bank sitting there- all the desk and file cabinets are still there=but the entire building was ripped off and laying on the gas station next door.

A semi truck was peeled like a banana and laying on top of a fast food place.

Strip malls had giant holes like they were shelled. National Gaurd was on every corner for looters.

It is heartbreaking.

[Halfcan]

Originally Posted by kysirsoze

But if someone is dead and waiting to be identified, shouldn't they be on the list of missing people? I don't understand.

Well my first thought was that is was the warehouse holding the 146-but they said there were several hundred in there-Well over the count that is on the news.

So I guess we will see-I hope it was misifomation-but it really shook them up seeing it.

[DaFace]

The 146 number is "sets of remains," whether they've been identified or not.

[Halfcan]

Originally Posted by DaFace

The 146 number is "sets of remains," whether they've been identified or not.

wow that is sad-I really dont see how anyone could have lived through that if they were in its path.

[J Diddy]

Originally Posted by Rukdafaidas

I thought the same thing. The death toll should be over 1,000. There were 8,000 homes and 1,000 businesses destroyed, including places like Wal Mart, Home Depot, Academy Sports, etc, that were leveled and we're only at 140 deaths is unbelievable. But, I know a lot of people in this town and I've only personally known 3 people that died. I find that amazing.
I don't know how many stories I've heard of people riding it out in bath tubs or by clutching toilets or water heaters. Then you look at their house and those were the only remaining structures.

I am so thankful that it happened on Sunday and not on Monday. On a Monday at 5:41 range line would have been bumper to bumper. The schools would still have people in it as well as more businesses.

[Rukdafaidas]

Originally Posted by MotherLover

I am so thankful that it happened on Sunday and not on Monday. On a Monday at 5:41 range line would have been bumper to bumper. The schools would still have people in it as well as more businesses.

Amen, brother!

[J Diddy]

Get home from work and my roommate and my best friend were helping the church yesterday. First they were supposed to help a guy move his stuff from a wrecked house, but he never showed. Then the worst thing I've ever heard in my life. They went over to a house where a guy lost his wife and his 16 year old daughter. She was decapitated and they only found the body. All this man wanted was for my 2 friends to search the house and property for her head so he can bury her whole. They still never found her head after half a day of searching.

Then to end the day, I had a friend over who had been missing her grandmother since the storm. Of course she was presumed dead, but presumption isn't the same as verified. She got a call at my house that the DNA test matched up to some body parts and she was confirmed.

[Rukdafaidas]

Originally Posted by MotherLover

Get home from work and my roommate and my best friend were helping the church yesterday. First they were supposed to help a guy move his stuff from a wrecked house, but he never showed. Then the worst thing I've ever heard in my life. They went over to a house where a guy lost his wife and his 16 year old daughter. She was decapitated and they only found the body. All this man wanted was for my 2 friends to search the house and property for her head so he can bury her whole. They still never found her head after half a day of searching.

Then to end the day, I had a friend over who had been missing her grandmother since the storm. Of course she was presumed dead, but presumption isn't the same as verified. She got a call at my house that the DNA test matched up to some body parts and she was confirmed.

Wow, just horrible.

I was part of a search crew on Sunday. They had us searching a section of land about 1/2 mile SE of Flying J. We searched woods and farmland on 4 wheelers. We didn't find any bodies, but we found quite a few photos, etc. We thought we were close once, because we could smell a horrible rotting smell. But, it turned out to be a dead deer. There was still a lot of debris way out there, but it was mostly light objects.

[Monty]

Originally Posted by DaFace

The 146 number is "sets of remains," whether they've been identified or not.

That can be defined as parts and pieces too. A man from Aurora, Mo called in to say that when he went to his front door to let his cat in the house, he noticed it had something in his mouth. It was a finger. Aurora is about 50 miles from Joplin. I'm sure there are many stories like this.

[Alton deFlat]

Originally Posted by MotherLover

I am so thankful that it happened on Sunday and not on Monday. On a Monday at 5:41 range line would have been bumper to bumper. The schools would still have people in it as well as more businesses.

Yea, I was thankful for that too. A city of 50,000 swells to 225,000 on a weekday afternoon.

[luv]

Friend volunteered at one of the shelters. She said that out of everyone she checked in (volunteers) from all over the US, only three were from Joplin. And driving by the golf course, it was full, along with ladies coming out of boutiques and such. She said that she realized that not everyone suffered loss from the destruction, but she was just surprised at how many from Joplin weren't helping.

Also, a couple of funny things she saw:

A chair, an old tv on an old tv stand, a computer monitor, and a keyboard, all broken, were set up with a sign over it that said LIVE FREE.

Driving through a residential area, she saw a hand made sign that said: HOUSE FOR SALE: AS IS.

She saw one subdivision sign that said something like : HEY GAWKERS, JUST REMEMBER THAT THESE ARE PEOPLE'S HOMES AND LIVES.

[J Diddy]

Originally Posted by luv

Friend volunteered at one of the shelters. She said that out of everyone she checked in (volunteers) from all over the US, only three were from Joplin. And driving by the golf course, it was full, along with ladies coming out of boutiques and such. She said that she realized that not everyone suffered loss from the destruction, but she was just surprised at how many from Joplin weren't helping.

Also, a couple of funny things she saw:

A chair, an old tv on an old tv stand, a computer monitor, and a keyboard, all broken, were set up with a sign over it that said LIVE FREE.

Driving through a residential area, she saw a hand made sign that said: HOUSE FOR SALE: AS IS.

She saw one subdivision sign that said something like : HEY GAWKERS, JUST REMEMBER THAT THESE ARE PEOPLE'S HOMES AND LIVES.

I personally don't know a single person who hasn't helped with something. Whether little or small.

[luv]

Originally Posted by MotherLover

I personally don't know a single person who hasn't helped with something. Whether little or small.

I told her that the country clubbers might either just be taking a few days off or they've helped monetarily instead. I have heard from several different people who have gone down that, if you want to donate something other than time, money is best right now. They have way more than enough donations of food, water, clothes, toiletries, etc, and money or prepaid gift cards are the best thing right now. I know several banks in Springfield are advertising that they are waiving the activation fee for any prepaid cards purchase for the relief.