Mission Report – May 23, 2011
Mission Report - May 23, 2011
Joplin Deployment
Sunday night we received the call that the City of Joplin had been hit by an EF 4 Tornado. There was a push for any volunteers that could respond at the time for that Monday. We managed to gather members from the 1/3 KC and 1/7 CO. We linked up with members of the 4/8 SF at the Missouri Southern State University. HAM net started 09:40 AM. Traffic was hazy at best with the rain picking up as we entered Joplin. We where directed to a different parking lot by the Local Sheriff deputy for the one we RV'd in was going to be set up as a temporary morgue. After we found parking, the C. O's Proceeded to see about getting us an assignment. Wavers and skill base information was received and signed at 10:00 but due to the overwhelming magnitude of volunteers along with damage ratio and lack of Organization. We did not receive any assignment but only word on an area that needed assistance, approximately two hours later.
Our Guide was a local named Tim. Along with a group of Nurses that patched with us and we proceeded in town to rally at a Sate Highway Patrol Base near a motel. After traveling through congested streets of a post destructive worn people and traffic, We arrived at the same time as the National Guard convoy. We received our task for a street in need of assistance. We proceeded out along with the dispatch of National Guard and Law Enforcement. Arriving on scene at a church that had been hit at in subdivision, we decided to get started. The church members and Pastor were distributing food for neighbors and laborers. We assisted in clearing their Parking Lot of debris so that a larger distributer could set up for later that evening and next day. After clearing the lot we assisted neighbors with tarping their Roof and then proceeded deeper into the subdivision assisting neighbors with clearing wreckage and recovering property.
As we reached deeper in the neighborhood, we seen the extent of damage that had been caused. From the center out. Houses and buildings had been decimated for roughly a mile wide and several miles long. It was difficult to Imagine how there where not more casualties then there were judging by the destruction. Everything was Generally Crushed and scattered. Walls and partial structures that still stood, where rittled with projectile marks. Vehicles displaced in yards, Tree's and even 3ft concrete forms of relay stations where unearthed. Evidence of unimaginable force continued to astound us while remains of fine things surprisingly remained in place. Books and food on shelves and clothes in closets. Few houses had crawl spaces but almost none had basements. Most people we came across survived by taking cover in their tubes. A women we came across who was a volunteer fire fighter, survived by taking refuge in her closet. Amazingly the rest of her house was destroyed around her. It was clear that some people where being watched over.
While working through the disaster, the whether hadn't let up for the citizens. The rain and hail continued through our relief efforts there. We cleared most of our street and decided to turn into the Community Hall to assist with any First Aid and Humanitarian efforts. When we arrived there and there wasn't a great need for those professions. So we assisted in the off loading of logistics with the in coming medical supplies, clothes, food and other materials. Afterwards we looked to donate blood at the mall. We decided that their storage was sufficient and the wait was going to over spend our time and availability. Radio net and end mission for Monday closes off 17:20.