Joplin MO Tornado
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 5,843
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From: St. Charles, MO
Soon as I saw Joplin, I thought oh crap, a lot of F150online people I think live there or close by. Hope everyone's ok, that SOB ripped that city to shreds. Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't built54 and Zairman? (spelling) from this area also? Someone asked before if someone knew of other members and for some reason Joplin and these guys came to mind. Unbelievable, prayers sent friends and neighbors!
Rhonda
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 2,165
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From: Cabot, AR
Make arrangements with the local authorities first. I know of several people who had problems volunteering in the cleanup of Vilonia, AR. There was a very particular, time consuming process to get the correct passes that would allow you to volunteer. Without these passes you could not work there.
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 43,535
Likes: 817
From: Joplin MO
Super, please have your church contact a "sister" church here in Joplin to coordinate your trip. That will be the best way to iron out the red tape. We are having looting problems - there are state cops, national guard, and MP's here to help us maintain order and they are being very strict about exactly who goes where. I don't have the exact details, but all volunteers MUST register somewhere. I think it's at the field house at MSSU. There is no curfew yet, but they are talking about it.
One huge problem is both the Salvation Army and the Goodwill stores were wiped out.
My power just came back on tonight, if any of you do come to Joplin to do volunteer work, send me a PM and if there's anything you need to help make your job easier, I'll help in any way I can. I feel VERY fortunate to be able to return to a semi-normal life right now. Bring your own vehicles, there are no rentals left anywhere near here. The hotels are all full too, you may want to bring an RV if you have one available. One of my grandkids works the evening desk at La Quinta and he was turning people away tonight. Very few restaurants are open because the gas is off in the whole city and we are under a boil order. Cell service is nonexistent in the destruction path and very spotty and overloaded in the rest of the city, texting works a lot better.
We totally lost one Walmart, Aldi, and Dillon's. Pricecutter was damaged and has no power, so the only grocery stores open are the other Walmart, a Save-a-Lot, and Food4Less. Sam's is open on generator power.
Target has no running water - they are open and there's a row of porta-potties out on the sidewalk in front of the store. Home Depot is a pile of rubble, Lowe's is damaged but partially open on generator power.
One huge problem is both the Salvation Army and the Goodwill stores were wiped out.
My power just came back on tonight, if any of you do come to Joplin to do volunteer work, send me a PM and if there's anything you need to help make your job easier, I'll help in any way I can. I feel VERY fortunate to be able to return to a semi-normal life right now. Bring your own vehicles, there are no rentals left anywhere near here. The hotels are all full too, you may want to bring an RV if you have one available. One of my grandkids works the evening desk at La Quinta and he was turning people away tonight. Very few restaurants are open because the gas is off in the whole city and we are under a boil order. Cell service is nonexistent in the destruction path and very spotty and overloaded in the rest of the city, texting works a lot better.
We totally lost one Walmart, Aldi, and Dillon's. Pricecutter was damaged and has no power, so the only grocery stores open are the other Walmart, a Save-a-Lot, and Food4Less. Sam's is open on generator power.
Target has no running water - they are open and there's a row of porta-potties out on the sidewalk in front of the store. Home Depot is a pile of rubble, Lowe's is damaged but partially open on generator power.
Last edited by glc; May 24, 2011 at 01:55 AM.
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 219
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From: Washington, WV
We had a tornado go through our area last fall and we found it better to give to church that were splitting money and food and supplys for those in need. The Red Cross takes a large portion of the money you give for thier infa structior. I know they do help alot of people but I wanted every dime I gave to go straight to those in need and alot of the ones here were very close personal friends of mine. Sorry for the rant about the Red Cross, My prayers and thoughts are going out to all that have been affected by this storm.
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 43,535
Likes: 817
From: Joplin MO
It was a EF4, winds from 190 to 198. It has to be 201 to be a EF5. It was more destructive than a "normal" EF4 because it was so wide and it had multiple vortices.
Very good, sounds like you have it covered. Thank you very much!
I think we are doing our work through the salvation army.
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 1,506
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From: Bakersfield, CA, USA
Hoping you and your wife get some good news, and soon.
Updated to an EF5
From CNN.com:
Thoughts to everyone affected.
From CNN.com:
"Also Tuesday, forecasters raised their assessment of the Sunday storm, ranking it at the top of the scale used to rate tornadoes.
The National Weather Service has determined the twister packed top winds of more than 200 mph, making it a 5 on the enhanced Fujita scale, said Bill Davis, the meteorologist who reviewed the damage."
The National Weather Service has determined the twister packed top winds of more than 200 mph, making it a 5 on the enhanced Fujita scale, said Bill Davis, the meteorologist who reviewed the damage."
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 43,535
Likes: 817
From: Joplin MO
What is their address? Do they have a house or are they in an apartment building?