Joplin Tornado - May 22, 2011
Always be respectful of Mother Nature's power. I was not in my hometown of Joplin, MO when the tornado hit. Thankfully though, the school I was working for let me leave a week later, one week before school there let out, so I could go home to help where I could. Thankfully my family was not not in the tornado's path but I know many, many people who were. Here are some of my pictures from the weeks and months that followed the tornado.
As you look through the pictures, I would like you to answer the following questions:
As you look through the pictures, I would like you to answer the following questions:
- From an engineering standpoint, look for what materials were able to withstand the storm and what materials did not.
- If you knew a tornado was coming, what would you look for in a shelter?
- What are the natural disasters that you may encounter where you live and visit? What can you do to prepare for them and to keep yourself safe?
What to do when disaster strikes
While it is my hope that all of you are able to lead safe and productive lives it is a fact that disasters can happen to anyone at any time.
- Prepare - The best thing you can do to prepare. Have an emergency preparedness plan and discuss it with your family. You can find advice on creating a plan that fits your family at Ready.gov.
- Be aware - Be aware of what disasters your area may be prone to and how to protect yourself. Be aware of the structure already in place in your communities, local governments, churches, etc to coordinate aid and resources.
There are an incredible number of disasters that occur each year and you may feel inclined to help. Each disaster and community is different so I recommend that you learn first what the local community leaders are asking for in assistance. Disasters nearly always attract scam artists so be sure you trust any person or organization you give money to.
Money vs Stuff
When the Joplin tornado struck the school I worked for held a donations drive for me to take 'much needed' items to Joplin. I can't remember now if the idea was mine or a student's or a faculty member's but I can remember being incredibly touched at the outpouring of love I felt in the donations that came from the families. I soon realized that I had more than would fit in my car and learned that a pastor in Layton (who is also originally from Joplin) was also organizing a donations drive and had received so many donations that he had contracted semi trucks to drive to Joplin with the supplies. I brought him the supplies from my school (with the help of a cousin since I could not fit them all in one car) and spent the rest of the day helping him sort his donations. There were many practical items like drinking water, paper towels, etc and there were also many that were not practical like heavy winter coats. Temperatures in Joplin at that time of year are typically in the 90s - 100s with considerably high humidity. It was evident that some people had used the disaster as an excuse to clean out their closets.
Before I left Utah my car had been filled yet again with generous donations for the city. The day after I arrived I drove to one of the primary volunteer stations in the city and asked where to I could drop off the contents of my car. I was informed that there was not a place for me to take them. The city had been so inundated with donations that it had become a disaster in and of itself in figuring out what to do with all of the surplus items. It took me a couple of weeks before I could even find a donation center that would take the items and even then I believe they were boxed up and sent back out of the region.
It might seem uncouth but if you are wanting to help out people in far away communities affected by disaster it is often better to send a check than the clothes, shoes, blankets, toys, etc from the back of your closet. That way the people dealing with the disaster can focus on getting what they need to get back on their feet, not what you think they need. If you want to send stuff instead of money, find what the local community leaders are asking for. I followed a local YMCA branch on Facebook and every day they would have a specific list of items they were collecting for the community. One day it could be towels and shaving cream, the next it could be sunscreen and healthy snacks. I found that social media, especially Facebook and Twitter, were excellent resources in getting out information about local needs.
Before I left Utah my car had been filled yet again with generous donations for the city. The day after I arrived I drove to one of the primary volunteer stations in the city and asked where to I could drop off the contents of my car. I was informed that there was not a place for me to take them. The city had been so inundated with donations that it had become a disaster in and of itself in figuring out what to do with all of the surplus items. It took me a couple of weeks before I could even find a donation center that would take the items and even then I believe they were boxed up and sent back out of the region.
It might seem uncouth but if you are wanting to help out people in far away communities affected by disaster it is often better to send a check than the clothes, shoes, blankets, toys, etc from the back of your closet. That way the people dealing with the disaster can focus on getting what they need to get back on their feet, not what you think they need. If you want to send stuff instead of money, find what the local community leaders are asking for. I followed a local YMCA branch on Facebook and every day they would have a specific list of items they were collecting for the community. One day it could be towels and shaving cream, the next it could be sunscreen and healthy snacks. I found that social media, especially Facebook and Twitter, were excellent resources in getting out information about local needs.
Helping vs Hindering
When the tornado struck Moore, OK in 2013 I knew some people in Utah who were anxious to drive directly to Oklahoma to help out. Volunteers came from all over the country, and even the world, to help Joplin after its tornado and the city is incredibly thankful for the volunteer hours that were put in during the days, weeks, and years to follow. I did learn some valuable information for volunteering after a disaster.
First, you are on your own when it comes to providing yourself with food, lodging, and amenities. I don't know how quickly the Joplin hotels filled up but I do believe that priority went to the people that had lost their homes and then government and community leaders that came to assess the situation and to organize relief efforts. I know many volunteers stayed in hotels but I also know that there were not enough hotel rooms in the region for everyone that wanted to help. Also, do not arrive with the expectations that someone in town will take you in, feed you, and provide a roof over your head because of your noble desire to help. Do your research before you leave home and decide how you are going to take care of yourself. People in disaster areas have enough burdens to deal with. You should not be one of them.
Second, bring your own tools. My mother volunteered for several months at the Mormon Helping Hands command center that was set up just outside Joplin and she helped to organize the information on which portions of town needed help and which did not. They organized teams to go through house by house through the effected area and recorded specific needs and then organized work groups that were capable of helping in those specific tasks.
One thing she found is that many people came to Joplin with a wonderful desire to volunteer and to help. Not everyone came prepared to do so, however. Some people showed up excepting to be outfitted with the work gloves, chainsaws, shovels, wheelbarrows, and other tools by the command center. Some people brought their own from home. While there were many such items donated to the command center there was such a demand for them that there were not nearly enough for everyone. You will be of more service to a community if you can bring your own tools and other equipment with you. People organizing relief in disaster areas have enough burdens to deal with. You should not be one of them.
Third, if at all possible, try to volunteer with a specific group. It could be with a church or community group. It could be with the Red Cross or Salvation Army. Try to fall under the umbrella of some specific organization. Community leaders directing recovery will often assign specific tasks to the specific groups and these groups will then organize the work further. Having a chain of command helps the community and it is better to be a part of the system than to operate alone. People organizing relief in disaster areas have enough burdens to deal with. You should not be one of them.
Fourth, be respectful if there is not a job for you to do. I arrived in town more than a week after the tornado struck and I think Joplin was already nearly twice its normal size with all of the volunteers that came to town. Like many others time volunteering around town. I helped sort through the donations. I helped walk tornado victims through a donation 'store' in the parking lot and helped them gather essentials. Sometimes I just sat there waiting for my turn to help. I can remember one day a the donation center I was working at someone asked us to return several shopping carts to Sam's Club, at the other end of the shopping complex. There were several of us that were so excited to be able to help that we ran those shopping carts over to their rightful place as quickly as we could. We were almost skipping because we were so happy to finally be of service. You see, by the time I made it to town most of the jobs that relied on unskilled labor had been completed and it was time for the skilled labor to take over. Do not make someone else's life miserable if they cannot find a place for you to work. People organizing relief in disaster areas have enough burdens to deal with. You should not be one of them.
First, you are on your own when it comes to providing yourself with food, lodging, and amenities. I don't know how quickly the Joplin hotels filled up but I do believe that priority went to the people that had lost their homes and then government and community leaders that came to assess the situation and to organize relief efforts. I know many volunteers stayed in hotels but I also know that there were not enough hotel rooms in the region for everyone that wanted to help. Also, do not arrive with the expectations that someone in town will take you in, feed you, and provide a roof over your head because of your noble desire to help. Do your research before you leave home and decide how you are going to take care of yourself. People in disaster areas have enough burdens to deal with. You should not be one of them.
Second, bring your own tools. My mother volunteered for several months at the Mormon Helping Hands command center that was set up just outside Joplin and she helped to organize the information on which portions of town needed help and which did not. They organized teams to go through house by house through the effected area and recorded specific needs and then organized work groups that were capable of helping in those specific tasks.
One thing she found is that many people came to Joplin with a wonderful desire to volunteer and to help. Not everyone came prepared to do so, however. Some people showed up excepting to be outfitted with the work gloves, chainsaws, shovels, wheelbarrows, and other tools by the command center. Some people brought their own from home. While there were many such items donated to the command center there was such a demand for them that there were not nearly enough for everyone. You will be of more service to a community if you can bring your own tools and other equipment with you. People organizing relief in disaster areas have enough burdens to deal with. You should not be one of them.
Third, if at all possible, try to volunteer with a specific group. It could be with a church or community group. It could be with the Red Cross or Salvation Army. Try to fall under the umbrella of some specific organization. Community leaders directing recovery will often assign specific tasks to the specific groups and these groups will then organize the work further. Having a chain of command helps the community and it is better to be a part of the system than to operate alone. People organizing relief in disaster areas have enough burdens to deal with. You should not be one of them.
Fourth, be respectful if there is not a job for you to do. I arrived in town more than a week after the tornado struck and I think Joplin was already nearly twice its normal size with all of the volunteers that came to town. Like many others time volunteering around town. I helped sort through the donations. I helped walk tornado victims through a donation 'store' in the parking lot and helped them gather essentials. Sometimes I just sat there waiting for my turn to help. I can remember one day a the donation center I was working at someone asked us to return several shopping carts to Sam's Club, at the other end of the shopping complex. There were several of us that were so excited to be able to help that we ran those shopping carts over to their rightful place as quickly as we could. We were almost skipping because we were so happy to finally be of service. You see, by the time I made it to town most of the jobs that relied on unskilled labor had been completed and it was time for the skilled labor to take over. Do not make someone else's life miserable if they cannot find a place for you to work. People organizing relief in disaster areas have enough burdens to deal with. You should not be one of them.
Here are some helpful links on what to do or what not to do in assisting during a disaster.
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
10 Worst Things to Donate After a Disaster
Red Cross
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
10 Worst Things to Donate After a Disaster
Red Cross