Viva Joplin!

May 25-28th:
I got a text from my friend  asking what I was doing Memorial Weekend.  I told her I had Sunday off and she asked if I wanted to help clean in Joplin. YEAHHHH I DO!  I love helping, it fuels me!  She said she knew friends down there that needed help.  We got signed up with Americorp, but ended up going directly to work on a house that wasn't under any restrictions.  It was a friend of a friend's home. This choice was much easier since President Obama was coming to town.

In the days before the trip, I did my usual routine of getting over prepared. I bought hiking shoes so my feet would be safe.  I bought granola bars and planned out the food I was going to pack.  I emailed a few folks at work to see if anyone would lend a 2 gal water jugs so that I wasn't leaching off the donated bottled waters.  I purchased trash bags received tons of supplies from my employeer and annoyed the heck out of my friend through text messages making sure everything was set up for the trip.

May 29th:

We got on the road after a few delays.  The car was fully loaded with donations and supplies for the job ahead.  No one knew what to expect, but we knew we were heading down to Joplin, MO.  We stopped outside of Webb City at Casey's General Store and had our first ever picnic in their grass.  Never thought we'd have a picnic at Casey's, but we think it would be a yearly event only we have to do it at a different Casey's each year.  Luckily there are many around, so we have years of picnics in the general area.

Onwards to Joplin!  We got to town and it looked like any other town, but you could feel the love and support enveloping this town before you could see the destruction.  American flags everywhere you turned, tents sprouting up as we went by, water in bottles EVERYWHERE!  Then we came to the start of destruction.  We entered Range Line Rd. and before we reached 20th St, the extreme destruction had already made itself visible.

 We reached the house on Florida St.  It was difficult to read the street numbers, but my friend has stealthy vision and read 2111 that was up by the door.

 

2111 Before EF5 Tornado on May 22, 2011

Me at 2111.

What use to be a garage

The garage wall

Back of the house.  Look the windows are intact!  Looks like brick homes are the way to go!!!

Their back yard and neighbors

Everyone was recovering what was worth salvaging of their lives and piling unwanted large pieces by the curb.  Some neighbors were trying to take down as much of the house as they could.  There were cars lined all the way up and down the block.  Many people came to help, it is heart warming to see all that help.

We drove a mile extra on the way out to get more pictures, here are some of the better ones:

Home Depot

Gas Station Pt.1

Gas Station Pt. 2

Used car lot

Truck service shop

Damn Straight!

And the Flag Still Stands!

 I know pictures of the devastation are interesting to see, but they cannot convey the emotions you get from actually seeing the destruction. I don't recommend everyone flocking to see it, but it's something that will stay with me for a long time.