(AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Sunday's tornadoes in southwest Missouri and north of Minneapolis have left incredible damage in their wake and have cost hundreds of lives. A lot of folks still need assistance of many kinds: money, blood donations and volunteer help.
As promised on tonight's TRMS, here is a list of several organizations helping those in need, many of which were linked earlier on MSNBC.com's Technolog.
Donations:
- Missouri Red Cross
- Joplin Red Cross (inquire here or by phone at 417-624-4411)
- Minnesota Red Cross
- Missouri State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA)
- Missouri Interfaith Disaster Response Organization
- Community Blood Center of the Ozarks
- Ozarks Food Harvest (h/t Redbud Rosie)
- GiveMN.org
Volunteering:
- Joplin Red Cross (volunteering: 800-427-4626)
- Greater Ozarks Red Cross (417-832-9500)
- 211 Missouri
- Show-Me Response
Lastly, the National Americorp Volunteers will be setting up a national hotline to check on loved ones. The number is (417) 659-5464, but as of 7:30pm Eastern, was not yet active. We will update you when it is.
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"We are also very concerned about the animals displaced and trapped there in Joplin, MO, and we are preparing to send staff responders and equipment to support the efforts of local agencies and other animal protection organizations working to help animals in need."
https://secure.humanesociety.org/site/Donation2?df_id=1514&1514.donation=form1&s_src=owg
A friend in Alabama tells me that people there are donating to MS tornado relief even as they struggle to put their own lives back together after their state was ripped apart by over 100 tornadoes just a couple of weeks ago.
She also linked me to a local volunteer organization composed mainly of university students who are helping with the southern AL relief efforts. It's called Toomer's for Tuscaloosa, if anyone wants to check it out.
Help is needed all around. We're not even halfway through the year, and it's already been declared the deadliest year for tornadoes since 1953.
Just wanted to thank TRMS patrol bloggers for earlier links.
Thoughts with Joplin, and others hit by this unusual season of terrible storms.
Thank you so much for bringing attention to the devastation in Joplin. I live in St. Louis and don't know a soul in Joplin but can't help but tear up every time I see the news about it.
Thank you so much for bringing attention to the devastation in Joplin. I live in St. Louis and don't know a soul in Joplin but can't help but tear up every time I see the news about it.
My heart goes out to all those struggling with this tragedy. I know what its like to be homeless, but I've never gone through anything like this! I can't imagine how long those people will be rebuilding they're town, and they're lives. I wonder how many local job opportunities that are never coming back. How much is it really worth to Republicans to cut the National Weather Serves, F.I.M.A, and the E.P.A? They'll clearly be put in perspective after these events. F5?... We're lucky that we don't get anything like that in Cincinnati, Ohio. I don't trust the Red Cross after watching documentaries about Katrina, and the Haitian earthquake. However, theres more transparency here in America... As long as your not in the lower 9th ward.
um, yeah. while there are several ways to help, and while TRMS has a diverse audience, just as a reminder, any guy that's ever had sex with another guy -- ever -- can't donate blood. ever.
still, help as you're willing and able to do so.