By: Josh Egbert

What began as a typical Friday afternoon, turned into chaos for Thedra Hall and her Jacksonville, AR neighbors. As the skies darkened and the sirens blared, Thedra and her daughter ran to their laundry room as they took shelter from the storm.

“We could see all the debris flying in the air,” said Thedra. “In a matter of seconds, everything started hitting the house and the sounds, it actually sounded like a freight train.”

That freight train, and EF3 tornado, caused extensive damage to homes in Jacksonville, Little Rock, North Little Rock, and Wynne. Thedra’s home was spared much of that damage, but her neighborhood now looks completely different.

“It’s just so sad that we have to all go through this, a lot of us,” said Thedra. “To come out and see all the devastation, no matter where you go, you can see all the devastation around us.”

In the midst of the devastation, Thedra says one thing is clear, people are there to help. People like volunteers from the American Red Cross. More than 200 from 30 different states have descended upon The Natural State to help families just like Thedra’s.

“It makes me feel good because you’re providing something that we need and we all need a bit of help right now,” said Thedra. "They care and to see a person go through something like this, you want to help and the Red Cross is.”

Red Cross teams set up a shelter in Little Rock, and supported community shelters in Wynne and Jacksonville, ensuring residents in need have water, food, snacks and a place to stay.

Red Cross volunteers have also been providing clean up kits to residents throughout the state. Clean up kits consist of things like mops, brooms, squeegee, trash bags, sponge, scrub brush, work gloves, cleaning solution and a bucket. Thedra picked up several buckets for her and her neighbors to begin the clean-up process.

“Some of my neighbors lost their cars, so I’m sharing them with them,” said Thedra. “Even though I was affected by the storm, I still want to make sure my neighbors who were affected as well can get the supplies they need.”

Through the darkness of the storm and as the clean-up process begins, Thedra is thankful for the help she and her neighbors are receiving. Because she knows no matter what, the Red Cross will be there.

“To see the Red Cross here, it makes me feel better because for every disaster there is, who do you see, Red Cross,” adds Thedra. “You see the people first in the community and then you see the Red Cross to come and take care of us.”

If you’d like to support those affected by the tornadoes or want to learn more about becoming a volunteer, visit RedCross.org/Arkansas