Bodhisattva Action Alert: How to Help the People of Joplin, MO

New York Times photo by Patrick Fallon

The photos show a devastating reality — last night, the tornado that hit Joplin, MO, was the deadliest one in the U.S. since 1953. In a city with a population of about 48,000, nearly 100 people are dead so far with many more injured.

I picked up the following information from this page on the MSNBC website… it seems to be the most comprehensive list so far on how to help:

Donations

• The American Red Cross has set up a page for Missouri tornado and flood relief.
• The Joplin Red Cross could use some donations. You can contact it at (417) 624-4411 or info@redcross-ozarks.org in order to find out what supplies are most necessary.
• The Missouri SEMA has set up a donation page.
• A list of major non-profits that operate regularly in Missouri can be found on the National Donations Management Network website. You can also call (800) 427-4626 for further information.
• The Missouri Interfaith Disaster Response Organization is taking donations for longterm recovery efforts.
• The Community Blood Center of the Ozarks is in need of blood — particularly type O. A list of donation sites can be found here.

Volunteering

• 211 Missouri is helping organize volunteers in the affected areas. More information can be found by calling (800) 427-462.
  
• Nurses or doctors looking to help can call (417) 832-9500 for the Greater Ozarks chapter of the Red Cross.
• Health professionals can register to volunteer through the Show-Me Response website.

Animal rescue

• For those in the Joplin area: Emergency Pet Center of the Four States at 7th & Illinois near the Sonic is OPEN and accepting found/injured animals. Its phones are down at this time.
• The “Animals Lost & Found from the Joplin, Mo tornado” Facebook page is tracking lost and found pets.

Safety Information

• The National Americorp Volunteers are setting up a national hotline for residents to call to check on loved ones. The number is (417) 659-5464 and should be active later today.
• The American Red Cross has set up a site on which you can check in, report on the safety of others, or look for information on loved ones.
• The “Joplin people accounted for after the storm” Facebook page is helping people track loved ones who fell out of touch during the storm.
• The St. John’s Health System has been updating its Facebook page regularly with information relevant to the aftermath of the storm.

Related articles

• Joplin, Mo., tornado: How you can help (cbsnews.com)