Thinking about that devestating tornado, and my friend who lives next to Joplin,

[NewOrleans]

Head reeling with news of disasters these days - From Fukushima to right here in the USA. The so-called "Rapture Day" this past weekend didn't (as usual) happen. And then I thought, yes, it may have not been that, but for a town in Missouri - Joplin - the tornado was The Apocalypse all right.. I have a troubled mind today about this latest disaster in Joplin, Missouri because I have a friend from there abouts and haven't been able to reach her by email or phone. I suspect she's OK.. So instead of worrying I sent a donation to The United Way there. Just something.

I contacted the Ozarck Red Cross to offer services. It's not an ego thing, it's STO in a personal, real world way. These are occasions when graphics can actually DO something real: Motivate. Joplin folks are suffering from a tragic disaster and generosity is a BIG DEAL the first few days especially. Hurricane Katrina taught me that .And so I contacted the Ozark Red Cross to donate a quick poster and maybe raise some donations for that Phase Two period when it's off the NEWS cycle radar and people move on. Americans have the attention span of spider monkeys, sorry to say. And when help is needed their attention is gone. It's after the Immediate Needs Phase which is going on right now United Way and Red Cross are both veterans at this. And there's animal rescue folks too. I'm not pitching anything but a reminder that if you were in the same situation that somewhere someone offers real help. To me STO has to be part of everyday efforts or it'll never take root in others. Maybe others here might want to contribute too. I wish I could do more. Doing this poster to just remind me what it feels like inside a disaster looking out - You'd be surprised how grateful you are for acts of kindness from strangers. So it's time - for me at least - to donate a bit. Attaching the poster so anyone can get the Ozarck Red Cross address.


( edit: images removed.)

 

[NewOrleans]

Moderators:

Is it possible to delete this thread and images?

I have mixed emotions about posting pictures so early on in my "newbieness". It's trying too hard. I see that. I didn't before. My hope was to step out of the lurker's corner and participate. But that's something I need to observe a bit more thoughtfully. On reflection, showing artwork just may be too much of a distraction. I need to read more and show less.

thanks.

 

[NewOrleans]

So this is back again...Ha! OK, I'll live with it.

Just for the record, all efforts I made to raise funds for Tornado Recovery in Joplin Missouri have done poorly with the exception of my own donation. I was only trying to help. Not one volunteer donation from several sites and several creative approaches. Maybe it's disaster fatigue. Ah well.

 

[Nawd]

I looked up Joplin, MO threads and got this one second to the Rainbow thread after the Joplin tornado. (I've been offline for two months).

I live 2 hours west of Joplin; we've been helping so much as a city. It's lovely to see the people who go there to help. There are food drives, fund drives, blood drives, and volunteers.

The storm came through our city also, however we escaped much of the effect. I have to admit that I rallied up people who lived nearby to go home from work or join me and a few other coworkers to go to a local grocery store to come with me. The workers who lived nearby went home. Some stayed in the office which has no safe areas and is made of mostly tin and metal.

Thankfully nothing major happened. There was a lot of wind and green skies and scared people because we had heard Joplin was hit hard and it was headed towards us. They saw a couple of funnel clouds around our area, but they didn't hit the ground.

My friend Douglas has pictures of the clouds forming outside of the grocery store. We stood out there until the wind and rain started, and the store ordered everyone into the meat locker inside.

The sirens went off several times, and being in a meat closet/cooler was scary. It was heavy material, it was a lot of sharp and heavy objects. I joked that I'd be better off in the oven than in this place with heavy coolers and lots of sharp equipment. Actually I would have felt better in a bathroom.

But we survived, and now myself and the coworkers according to the staff at the store, still refer to our group as the 'Storm Chasers' because we were out as long as possible just watching.

Anyway, that was interesting, but finding out what really happened in Joplin really scared us. The real death toll is at 153 at this moment. I think that is their final death toll.

Thanks for trying to raise funds, but support is on going, and Jopin will rebuild. I've been there, it's a great town. It really made us here in Mid-Missouri realize how scary and fast a storm can come on. That really goes for anyone. Keep vigilance! Had the funnel clouds, which never reached ground above us and across the highway had came to the ground, well......many of us in the path would either not be here, or we would be dealing the way Joplin has. I feel really lucky and sad at the same time. The personal stories are devastating.

 

[NewOrleans]

Dawn, thank you so much for this commentary. It's always hard for outsiders to understand that the devastation happens in minutes and then lasts years in both emotional trauma and physical rebuilding of everything. I sympathize, and more than that: I have been offering help to raise funds. I have several projects still out there to raise money, but I seem to either have lost persuasiveness or my friends are cheap bast*rds.
Phase One of the response seems to have been very forthcoming and I'm glad to hear about people coming together so quickly with food drives and volunteerism. Phase Two of any disaster, long after the media spotlight moves elsewhere, requires determination, patience, and courage. Plus a good hammer. If Louisiana could do it after Katrina, I'm sure the good people of Missouri can do the same.
Disaster is Nature's way of editing possessions, restoring priorities and strengthening bonds. I'm sure that the C's would agree with that. If there is such a thing as the upside to catastrophe, it is that Good comes out of it. It's not easy to see at first. People tap a wellspring of resourcefulness in themselves. The inspiration to pick up and rebuild is the antidote to feeling like a victim. It's a shock to the internal system, that's for sure. And there are people from all over that want to help.
After weeks I finally reached my friend in Neosho, near Joplin and apparently they weren't in any danger. I gave her my poster to circulate and an offer to be available if anything else was needed. She says Joplin looks pretty wrecked.
I believe in the pay-it-forward approach to life. I can never forget the strangers who helped me when I was in a tight spot: anonymous, kind and pragmatic. There is only one thing that heals and that is time. It's going to take a long time to recover but the people seem strong and willing. Stay in touch.