116 Killed in Joplin Tornado; 2nd Harvest Reaches Out

At least 116 people were killed in Joplin Sunday as that city took a direct hit. At its worst, the tornado was 3/4 of a mile wide and 6 miles long. One of the hospitals took a direct hit from the twister and most people had less than 20 minutes warning before the storm hit. Debris was flying through the air and trucks overturned on the interstate. The Joplin Globe somehow printed only one hour late as nearly all of their employees showed up for work and 81 out of their 91 carriers showed up to deliver the papers despite the fact that many of them had lost their homes.


Second Harvest Community Food Bank of St. Joseph is preparing to help those affected by the devastating tornado that hit Joplin on May 22nd. Second Harvest will provide food and personal hygiene items to anyone displaced due to the disaster. Those seeking assistance will only need to present identification from the Joplin area in order to receive food. Second Harvest has over 100 agencies in Northeast Kansas and Northwest Missouri. All of these agencies will also assistant those displaced by Sunday’s deadly tornadoes.

Second Harvest is asking the public to donate specific items that will be sent to the Joplin area to aid those in need. The following food items are currently needed:

1. Diapers
2. Canned food with pop tops that can be eaten without being cooked
3. Personal hygiene items
4. Crackers and snack items for children

People can also make financial donations restricted for disaster relief by going to http://www.ourcommunityfoodbank.org/give_money. Financial donations can also be brought to the Second Harvest office located at 915 Douglas. If you have any questions, please call Second Harvest at 364-FOOD.

The area has been declared a disaster area with Governor Nixon activating the National Guard. Electric and highway crews from all over the state including Northwest Missouri will go down to help the city rebuild.

To donate to the Red Cross, send donations to:

Southwest Missouri Bank
Red Cross Joplin Tornado Fund
110 N. Neosho Blvd.
Neosho, Missouri
64850

Northwest Missouri FCA is also helping with relief efforts. At least four coaches for the Missouri Southern football team lost everything in the storm and FCA is taking donations to help them rebuild. For more information: http://www.nwmofca.org/benevolence-fund

A Facebook page, Joplin Tornado Info, has been established for people to exchange information about the storm. There are still people missing.

The State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) continues to work with Missouri state and local agencies to provide all necessary response resources to Joplin, following Sunday’s deadly tornado

Responders are being coordinated through established regional mutual aid agreements and requests filed with SEMA for state and federal resources.

Missourians interested in volunteering to assist should first call (800) 427-4626 or 2-1-1, instead of reporting directly to a command post or the disaster area. 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.

Northwest Missouri Cellular customers can text JOPLIN to 864833 (Salvation Army) or REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. The amount will be added to your bill.