Aa
Missouri members check in, please
The news this morning is heart wrenching - I hope all of you in Missouri are safe and the same for your loved ones. The pictures on the news are beyond belief. Please check in when you can.
hoping you all are safe,
Lulu
hoping you all are safe,
Lulu
The memorial service was televised. All the speakers did a perfect job. Very moving.
The day trip got the job done. We got the DIL and the pets settled in and started picking up junk out of their yard. I found a tablet of forms that were filled out for dental patients to order crowns or something, from an office fairly near the destroyed hospital, roughly 18 blocks west. Right after the storm, a group of people from a church had attacked the neighborhood with chain saws, so the tree was in pieces along the curb. They thought their shed had been blown into the corner of the fence. Upon investigating, we discovered the tornado had swapped their shed with their next door neighbors' over the fence. So there was definitely rotation over the house.
After rain had washed all the mud off the house, the numerous holes in the vinyl siding became apparant. They'll probably get the house re-sided with insurance. Also a new chain link fence. It was so strange how randomly roofs were damaged. Theirs was fine. DIL's parents house 3 blocks farther from ground zero had a tarp on it.
The day was hot and humid, with a heat index of 90-something. My slightly weakened hip flexors are telling me they're not happy about bending over and hauling sheets of metal from the back yard to the street a few dozen times. A team of about 8 of us dispatched both sheds and got all the branches and shingles out of the yards.
My son with the undamaged house was at the store my boys own together, because it was open. He had been spending the night there since Sunday, and last night was the first one he spent at home. There are loads of snacks and bottled water, and they have set up a tv and video games so their friends/customers can have a place to get away from the horror and do something normal. They have a refrigerator at the store, so my other son has put his frozen meats and things there. We charged up our cell phones and the battery to the impact tool my husband was using on the sheds.
He walked me through the sequence of events--watching the tornado pass by, certain it was headed directly for his brother's house. Being unable to reach him afterwards. The relief after redialing him nonstop when he finally got through. Going out with a friend to check on friends. Finding that a couple had emerged from their own rubble to pull dead and dying patients from the nursing home next door. They are very, very messed up. He is experience some survivor's guilt, feels he should have been out there digging for people right away. He has been doing his thing by providing a haven to the homeless customers and the battle-weary friends.
His close friend, who has opened his home to about a dozen homeless friends and relatives, and who provided his basement to over 30 people on Tuesday night when the repeat warnings were issued, was in the store, so I got a chance to hug and thank him.
My DIL's mom came by and thanked me for taking good care of her baby, and I thanked her for taking good care of my baby. A little thankfest.
We got home around 12:30 this morning. Today we will be able to watch the memorial service, either on CNN if they carry it, or definitely streaming online. The opening and benediction will be by Father Monahan, the pastor of the Catholic church you've seen on TV so much with the cross still standing. That's my in-laws' church, and where the St. Vincent DePaul Society that her dad runs had its office. The message will be by our former pastor, Aaron Brown, of St. Paul's United Methodist Church. It is about 10 blocks west of the hospital and the new sanctuary we built in 2004 or 5 is gone. Their steeple is also standing, a high landmark in a sea of flat land and naked tree stumps. Aaron will cry, because he does that. So will we.
As Sissie said, the boil order was lifted yesterday. My kids expect to have their power back tomorrow or Tuesday. Joplin will begin experiencing what will become their "new normal."
Driving between the store and my son's house, I took one wrong turn because the street signs are all gone. Many people have spray painted their addresses and street names on their houses, the status of their families, threats to looters. My favorite: "Have Water. Need Beer."
After rain had washed all the mud off the house, the numerous holes in the vinyl siding became apparant. They'll probably get the house re-sided with insurance. Also a new chain link fence. It was so strange how randomly roofs were damaged. Theirs was fine. DIL's parents house 3 blocks farther from ground zero had a tarp on it.
The day was hot and humid, with a heat index of 90-something. My slightly weakened hip flexors are telling me they're not happy about bending over and hauling sheets of metal from the back yard to the street a few dozen times. A team of about 8 of us dispatched both sheds and got all the branches and shingles out of the yards.
My son with the undamaged house was at the store my boys own together, because it was open. He had been spending the night there since Sunday, and last night was the first one he spent at home. There are loads of snacks and bottled water, and they have set up a tv and video games so their friends/customers can have a place to get away from the horror and do something normal. They have a refrigerator at the store, so my other son has put his frozen meats and things there. We charged up our cell phones and the battery to the impact tool my husband was using on the sheds.
He walked me through the sequence of events--watching the tornado pass by, certain it was headed directly for his brother's house. Being unable to reach him afterwards. The relief after redialing him nonstop when he finally got through. Going out with a friend to check on friends. Finding that a couple had emerged from their own rubble to pull dead and dying patients from the nursing home next door. They are very, very messed up. He is experience some survivor's guilt, feels he should have been out there digging for people right away. He has been doing his thing by providing a haven to the homeless customers and the battle-weary friends.
His close friend, who has opened his home to about a dozen homeless friends and relatives, and who provided his basement to over 30 people on Tuesday night when the repeat warnings were issued, was in the store, so I got a chance to hug and thank him.
My DIL's mom came by and thanked me for taking good care of her baby, and I thanked her for taking good care of my baby. A little thankfest.
We got home around 12:30 this morning. Today we will be able to watch the memorial service, either on CNN if they carry it, or definitely streaming online. The opening and benediction will be by Father Monahan, the pastor of the Catholic church you've seen on TV so much with the cross still standing. That's my in-laws' church, and where the St. Vincent DePaul Society that her dad runs had its office. The message will be by our former pastor, Aaron Brown, of St. Paul's United Methodist Church. It is about 10 blocks west of the hospital and the new sanctuary we built in 2004 or 5 is gone. Their steeple is also standing, a high landmark in a sea of flat land and naked tree stumps. Aaron will cry, because he does that. So will we.
As Sissie said, the boil order was lifted yesterday. My kids expect to have their power back tomorrow or Tuesday. Joplin will begin experiencing what will become their "new normal."
Driving between the store and my son's house, I took one wrong turn because the street signs are all gone. Many people have spray painted their addresses and street names on their houses, the status of their families, threats to looters. My favorite: "Have Water. Need Beer."
They lifted the boil order this morning. Hope your son gets power back soon and you dil gets better. You can all come to the Scottish Rite building on 5th and Byers ave. We have hotdogs, bbq pork, hamburgers chips and more. They are also serving breakfast. and will have a pantry that people can come and get food/hygiene products. They are open until 4. Come on by, I am sure you will all need something to eat and drink while you are cleaning up or until they get power back on.
Had a good day today got even more food delivered and there are even more groups making food and taking it around while the people clean up. They death toll is up to 142 And I know that there were more bodies found in businesses but am unsure about the total of missing/unaccounted for. The people cleaning are doing and amazing job. The same areas that we went to just a couple of days ago look completely different now. When I get the chance I will post some more pictures so you can see the difference. They also may have found the looters that broke into my friends house :) but it will be a couple of days before they can see if it is their computers and stuff. Bless you all for everything.
Sissie
Had a good day today got even more food delivered and there are even more groups making food and taking it around while the people clean up. They death toll is up to 142 And I know that there were more bodies found in businesses but am unsure about the total of missing/unaccounted for. The people cleaning are doing and amazing job. The same areas that we went to just a couple of days ago look completely different now. When I get the chance I will post some more pictures so you can see the difference. They also may have found the looters that broke into my friends house :) but it will be a couple of days before they can see if it is their computers and stuff. Bless you all for everything.
Sissie
hbananas, thanks for checking in and letting us know your status. This is going to be with you forever. I know the devastation of Joplin reminded people everwhere not to ignore the warnings. We were in the basement the other night when the sirens and tv warned us, but we also lived in the area of the last super outbreak in 1974 - the Xenia tornado claimed many lives. My family NEVER ignores the warnings and I hope others take note and do the same.
As for your sons - give them an extra hug before you do the smackdown. If your DIL continues with the panic, be gentle but urge her to get counseling. It is often needed after a disaster like this - it can make us feel totally helpless and hopeless.
@sissie - I know the Red Cross and all the volunteers are doing excellent work - I hope the patience and compassion and sharing continue as the days stretch into weeks. Be sure to be good to yourself as you are being kind to these strangers who desperately need your kindness.
As for your sons - give them an extra hug before you do the smackdown. If your DIL continues with the panic, be gentle but urge her to get counseling. It is often needed after a disaster like this - it can make us feel totally helpless and hopeless.
@sissie - I know the Red Cross and all the volunteers are doing excellent work - I hope the patience and compassion and sharing continue as the days stretch into weeks. Be sure to be good to yourself as you are being kind to these strangers who desperately need your kindness.
I moved away from Joplin 5 years ago. I don't list my current town for privacy reasons. My children still live there and are OK. One son's house has slight damage. He lives 3 blocks from total destruction. The other son lives in an untouched neighborhood. Neither has a basement, which has always been a concern for me.
On Sunday the married son had time to leave his work, go home and gather his wife and pets and go to her parents' house, where they have a storm shelter. They were outside in very strong winds before getting into the shelter. She is having a terrible time with fear, and on Tuesday when more severe weather was forecast for Joplin, he brought her to our house for some R&R. Naturally, she was all alone at our house when we had a tornado warning where WE live and was in a full-blown panic attack when my DH got home. Fortunately he was working nearby, and we DO have a basement.
My other son was standing in front of his business 16 blocks north of the hospital that was hit and watched it pass and fill with debris. I am going to hug him hard when I see him today, and then I'm going to sock him for being reckless.
Today we are returning our DIL and the menagerie home. (4 cats, 1 dog) They still don't have power at their house, but expect it Monday or Tuesday. Joplin still has a boil order. We're just making it a day trip, about 3 hours each way, since we don't want to impose on either kid or get in the way of relief workers. The kids have friends who have lost their homes or workplaces. We have good friends who are fortunately fine. Neither we nor the kids know anyone who died.
I have no desire to see my former hometown in this shape. I can't bear the thought of my kids having gone through this and seeing the things they have seen. Most tornados are survivable as long as you are on a lower floor in a small windowless room, but nothing but being below ground can protect you from an EF5 direct hit. Neither of them has that option, but they know people who do. With a good 20 minutes of warning time, thanks to radar, people who have friends or families with basements or shelters have a chance to go somewhere safe, IF they heed the warnings. I doubt anyone in Joplin will play tornado roulette in the future.
On Sunday the married son had time to leave his work, go home and gather his wife and pets and go to her parents' house, where they have a storm shelter. They were outside in very strong winds before getting into the shelter. She is having a terrible time with fear, and on Tuesday when more severe weather was forecast for Joplin, he brought her to our house for some R&R. Naturally, she was all alone at our house when we had a tornado warning where WE live and was in a full-blown panic attack when my DH got home. Fortunately he was working nearby, and we DO have a basement.
My other son was standing in front of his business 16 blocks north of the hospital that was hit and watched it pass and fill with debris. I am going to hug him hard when I see him today, and then I'm going to sock him for being reckless.
Today we are returning our DIL and the menagerie home. (4 cats, 1 dog) They still don't have power at their house, but expect it Monday or Tuesday. Joplin still has a boil order. We're just making it a day trip, about 3 hours each way, since we don't want to impose on either kid or get in the way of relief workers. The kids have friends who have lost their homes or workplaces. We have good friends who are fortunately fine. Neither we nor the kids know anyone who died.
I have no desire to see my former hometown in this shape. I can't bear the thought of my kids having gone through this and seeing the things they have seen. Most tornados are survivable as long as you are on a lower floor in a small windowless room, but nothing but being below ground can protect you from an EF5 direct hit. Neither of them has that option, but they know people who do. With a good 20 minutes of warning time, thanks to radar, people who have friends or families with basements or shelters have a chance to go somewhere safe, IF they heed the warnings. I doubt anyone in Joplin will play tornado roulette in the future.
Just got back from Joplin. We passed out more food and made care packages to pass out tomorrow. Also setting up a pantry so people can come and get what they need. We have passed out an average of 600 burgers and hotdogs each day so far that count does not include the chicken salad and ham salad sandwiches. There is still alot of need there but we also ran across another group that are going to the damaged areas passing out food!!! That is so great. I think most people either have no way to get to the shelters or don't want to leave what little they have left because of looters. Most people try to share their burgers with the rest of the family and we have to force them to take more. One family of 7 were going to share 4 burgers! (We try to count how many people we can see and grab that many and go up to them.) Their courage and generosity is humbling.
The death toll is 136 now and 152 missing. At least that is what the news is saying. I think their numbers are way off. As a matter of fact I was told that by someone who is working in the morgue. I hope they meant they are lower than that I didn't have the heart or stomach to ask. As of now it is no longer considered a search and rescue it is now recovery. Miracles happen every day though and that is what I am praying for.
I'm gonna get off here for now got to go to bed and get up early to start again tomorrow.
ps I am doing a little better I went to drs and had more blood work done it will be a couple of weeks before I get the results.
Thank you all for your support, prayers and concern. It means a lot to me just to be able to get on here and talk. I think it is the only thing that is keeping me from depression and helps keep me going.
Best wishes to you all and God bless, Sissie
The death toll is 136 now and 152 missing. At least that is what the news is saying. I think their numbers are way off. As a matter of fact I was told that by someone who is working in the morgue. I hope they meant they are lower than that I didn't have the heart or stomach to ask. As of now it is no longer considered a search and rescue it is now recovery. Miracles happen every day though and that is what I am praying for.
I'm gonna get off here for now got to go to bed and get up early to start again tomorrow.
ps I am doing a little better I went to drs and had more blood work done it will be a couple of weeks before I get the results.
Thank you all for your support, prayers and concern. It means a lot to me just to be able to get on here and talk. I think it is the only thing that is keeping me from depression and helps keep me going.
Best wishes to you all and God bless, Sissie
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