Words cannot communicate how helpless I feel as I watch the news and watch town after town devastated by the spring tornadoes in the South. My heart, my thoughts and my prayers go out from me and all of the partners here at Parasol Creations to all those who have been affected.
We do what we can and part of what we can do is share information and push it out to help those affected.
We have compiled a list from several sources about where you can get information and send help for the people of Joplin, Missouri.
You can follow up to the minute updates on twitter on the hashtag #joplin.
Toomer’s from Tuscaloosa’s Facebook page was established for relief to Alabama tornado victims from April and now they are reaching out to the people of Missouri – great source of information for where to help. Here is a link to their main site as well.
Mashable posted a list of 4 Way’s to Help Missouri Tornado Victims:
- Relief Spark is a non-profit focused on remodeling schools, but in the wake of the tornado, it has turned its Twitter feed into a valuable resource of information. Sample tweets direct first responders to meeting places and to posting what shelters have just opened their doors.
- A bunch of Facebook Pages have sprouted up to help residents find loved ones and join in the recovery process, including the Joplin, MO Tornado Recovery Page and a Joplin, MO Survivors’ Page.
- You can search for Missouri-based Red Cross shelter centers or check out how the Red Cross is helping disaster victims across the American South. You can also donate to support their efforts.
- OzarksFirst.com, a local community and new site, has also put together a tremendous resource with help hotlines, phone numbers and web pages for volunteers and victims. It provides emergency numbers, the state senator’s office number and special hotlines for nurses and doctors looking to lend a hand. Help pages include the State Emergency Management Agency, Show-Me Response, a Facebook Page for the local hospital, which was badly damaged in the twister, and even a page for locating and reuniting with lost pets.
From The Stir – 6 Ways to Help Joplin, Missouri that can Make a Difference:
-Missouri United Way has established the Joplin Tornado Relief Fund. To donate, either click the link or call 573-443-4523. Or text “JOPLIN” to 864833 to make a $10 donation.
-American Red Cross is also taking donations. Call 1-800-Red-Cross. Text “REDCROSS” to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Contributions may also be sent to your local Red Cross Chapter or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, D.C. 20012.
-The Community Foundation of Kansas City has created two funds, which you can make donations to online — the Joplin Missouri Disaster Relief Fund and the Reading Kansas Disaster Relief Fund.
-The Convoy of Hope’s disaster response team is also mobilizing to provide aid. Donate online at www.convoyofhope.org or make a $10 text donation by texting the word CONVOY to 50555.
-The Salvation Army is also a great place to donate. There are four ways: Text the word “Joplin” to 80888 to make a $10 donation; call 1-800-SAL-ARMY; donate online; or send a check by mail to Joplin Tornado Relief, The Salvation Army, 3637 Broadway, Kansas City, MO 64111.
Prefer to donate time instead of money? Volunteers are always needed. Call 211 or 1-800-427-4626 or visit Show-Me Response.
Statistics from the tornadoes:
The massive twister that leveled 30 percent of Joplin, Mo., has been rated an EF5 — the highest rating based on inflicted damage — by the National Weather Service and has been labeled the deadliest single tornado since 1950.
Here is a breakdown of the latest numbers related to the town of approximately 50,000 and the 2011 tornado season.
The statistics represent the official record of the National Weather Service, which covers 1950 to the present day.
Joplin Tornado
People killed: 124.
Tornado Count
Record for most deaths in one month: 361 in April 2011. (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)
Death Toll
Source: ABC News
