|
Picking Up the Pieces in Tornado-Ravaged Pierce City
Written by Bonnie Gillespie, Staff Writer, RedCross.org
Pierce City, Missouri, May 8, 2003 —
“It was the prettiest little town in Missouri,” said Matt Langford as he surveyed the wrecked buildings in his hometown of Piece City, Mo. “But now it’s all gone, all the history, all its character, everything.”
In the wake of the tornado, little is left of historic Pierce City.
|
Only the facades remain of many of the historic buildings in downtown Pierce City. More than a century old, the small and once little-known community of 1,800 found itself in a worldwide media spotlight after a massive tornado churned through on Sunday, May 4, demolishing hundreds of structures, including the local armory where dozens were taking cover from the twister.
Now, in the aftermath of the storm, residents attempt to salvage some belongings from the mountains of rubble while grieving the loss of lives, homes, businesses, and, possibly, their town.
“Even if people didn’t lose their homes, they are still affected by a disaster like this,” said Cynthia Gergen, an American Red Cross Disaster Mental Health Services volunteer, who traveled to Pierce City from Wisconsin to counsel storm victims, many of them still in shock from the horror of the massive twister and resulting devastation. “In addition to the trauma of the experience, they face wondering if anyone should rebuild at all.”
The main area of downtown Pierce City looks like a war zone as demolition crews clear out the debris and tear down destroyed buildings.
|
More than 800 Red Cross volunteers and staff are in communities throughout the South and Midwest, offering support to victims of last Sunday’s vicious storms and the continuing severe weather, helping to meet their needs as they face the challenging days ahead.
“Yesterday, we served more than 600 meals for lunch alone,” said Toni Adams, a Red Cross volunteer from Rogersville, Mo. Adams arrived in Pierce City soon after the storms hit to manage shelter operations at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, which was one of the only structures relatively unharmed by the tornado.
Red Cross volunteers in Pierce City have joined forces with church and community members in a united effort to assist local residents. Donations consisting of everything from food and clothing to bottled water and baby wipes have poured into the church recreation hall, arriving almost faster than they can be sorted and distributed.
Red Cross volunteer Kenneth Imhoff of Springfield, Il., receives a hug from his new friend, five-year-old Cody Cameron, after he and other Disaster Mental Health workers distributed Ty teddy bears to children staying in the shelter in Pierce City.
|
“The people here really look out for each other and it’s a real close knit community,” said Adams. “It’s a combined effort from everyone involved and we’re here supporting the work they’re doing for their community.”
With nearly 100 homes and possibly 40 percent of the local businesses completely demolished, countless challenges hinder not only long-term recovery but also emergency relief services as debris, rubble, trees and clean-up crews clog the streets of the small community.
“One of our biggest obstacles here in Pierce City is that a lot of the roads are still blocked off, so we can’t get out there and get to the people like we want to,” said Bob Winkelhake, with Red Cross Family Services.
A Red Cross Emergency Response Vehicle provides refreshment to crews cleaning up the crumbled Armory where residents sought shelter during the storm.
|
Despite the difficulties, though, many Missouri residents remain grateful in the wake of the disaster. When Judy Blisner returned to survey the damage to her hometown of Pierce City from a neighboring community, she was overwhelmed by the immense number of volunteers that were on hand to help in the relief effort.
“This is all so terrible, but times like this really do show you that really are lots of good people in world,” said Judy Blisner. “So we just want to thank all those good people from the Red Cross who are here helping out.”
Your Help is Needed
You can help the Red Cross assist victims of this and thousands of disasters across the country each year by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, which enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to those in need. You can make a secure online credit card donation or call 1-800-HELP NOW (1-800-435-7669) or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Or you may send your donation to your local Red Cross or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, D.C. 20013.
Related Stories:
Related Links:
|
| 
|
|
All American Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the American people. The Red Cross also supplies nearly half of the nation's lifesaving blood. This, too, is made possible by generous voluntary donations. You can help the victims of thousands of disasters across the country each year by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, which enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to those in need. You can make a secure online credit card donation or call 1-800-HELP NOW (1-800-435-7669) or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Or you may send your donation to your local Red Cross or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, D.C. 20013. To donate blood, please call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE (1-800-448-3543), or contact your local Red Cross to find out about upcoming blood drives.
|
