Video above via Huffington Post
Earlier reports described a devastating scene in Joplin, Missouri with over 89 deaths, structural damage to at least 2,000 buildings and rescue teams fighting to save lives of those injured and trapped from a massive tornado. Later reports put the death toll at 100 now.
From multiple reports the tornado ravaged Joplin cut a six-mile-wide path through the center of town with a half-mile width, leaving nothing but destruction in it's wake.
Schools, churches, hospitals and homes, leveled.
From Oklahoma to Wisconsin there were at least 68 reported tornadoes over the weekend, according to the National Weather Service's Storm Prediction Center.
And if that is not enough, Mother Nature doesn't seem to be finished:
More storms were predicted across the southern Plains through Thursday morning. The warm weather Monday preceded a coming cold front, fueling instability, according to the Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Okla. A few tornadoes, some strong, could occur - starting in Oklahoma and southern Kansas in Monday afternoon and in North Texas in the late afternoon.
Video below shows is storm chaser footage of the tornadoes as they ripped across Joplin,Missouri.
HOW TO HELP:
Donations
- The American Red Cross has set up a page for Missouri tornado and flood relief.
- The Joplin Red Cross could use some donations. You can contact it at (417) 624-4411 or info@redcross-ozarks.org in order to find out what supplies are most necessary.
- The Missouri SEMA has set up a donation page.
- A list of major non-profits that operate regularly in Missouri can be found on the National Donations Management Network website. You can also call (800) 427-4626 for further information.
- The Missouri Interfaith Disaster Response Organization is taking donations for longterm recovery efforts.
- The Community Blood Center of the Ozarks is in need of blood — particularly type O. A list of donation sites can be found here.
Volunteering
- 211 Missouri is helping organize volunteers in the affected areas. More information can be found by calling (800) 427-462.
- Nurses or doctors looking to help can call (417) 832-9500 for the Greater Ozarks chapter of the Red Cross.
- Health professionals can register to volunteer through the Show-Me Response website.
Animal rescue
- For those in the Joplin area: Emergency Pet Center of the Four States at 7th & Illinois near the Sonic is OPEN and accepting found/injured animals. Its phones are down at this time.
- The "Animals Lost & Found from the Joplin, Mo tornado" Facebook page is tracking lost and found pets.
Safety Information
- The National Americorp Volunteers are setting up a national hotline for residents to call to check on loved ones. The number is (417) 659-5464 and should be active later today.
- The American Red Cross has set up a site on which you can check in, report on the safety of others, or look for information on loved ones.
- The "Joplin people accounted for after the storm" Facebook page is helping people track loved ones who fell out of touch during the storm.
- The St. John's Health System has been updating its Facebook page regularly with information relevant to the aftermath of the storm.
Other efforts
- The recently organized "Joplin Volunteer & Outreach Station" Facebook page appears to be focused on aiding relief efforts.
- The "Joplin Tornado Citizen Checks (neighbors helping neighbors!)" Facebook page appears to be a gathering place for a lot of Joplin locals who are in need of aid or able to provide aid to others.
- The "Joplin, MO Tornado Recovery" Facebook page is one of the bigger ones dedicated to aid efforts and contains a great deal of up-to-the-second information on where help is necessary.
The how to help info via MSNBC.
PS- Missouri is the latest state to suffer but recent destruction in Alabama, Geogia, Mississippi and many other states have suffered from bad weather, flooding and fires.
You can go to the main Red Cross page to see how to help those closest to you and what you can do.
Disaster victims usually do not have access to computers, so if you know someone that needs information on how to find help, Red Cross provides that as well:
How to Get Help
| National Shelter System | Find a Shelter |
|---|---|
| Safe and Well (Domestic Disasters Only) | List Yourself or Search Registrants |
| Local Information | Contact Your Local Chapter |
| International Family Links Website | Search and Register |