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For those of you who don’t know me, I am a HUGE Missouri fan; in 2009, I graduated from the University of Missouri and my immediate family has lived in Eureka, Missouri for the past seven years. You can say that Missouri is like a second home to me. So, you can imagine my feelings toward the recent tornados that have touched down in Missouri, particularly Joplin. The May 22nd tornado in Joplin killed more than 120 people and hundreds of homes were completely destroyed – reports are coming in of more than $3B worth of damage in Joplin alone!
Check out this video from inside a convenience store as the tornado actually hits the store, sucking out the glass in the process: [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQnvxJZucds[/youtube]
I read Mashable quite frequently, the top source for news in social and digital media, technology and web culture. This past Monday, the featured article on Mashable’s home page was titled 4 Ways to Help Missouri’s Tornado Victims, which caught my attention immediately.
This article reminded me of how great social media really is and the ways it can actually help people in times of need. Mashable collected some ways you can support those in Missouri:
- Relief Spark, a non-profit focused on remodeling schools, turned its Twitter feed into a resource of information. Sample tweets direct first responders to meeting places and to posting what shelters have just opened their doors.
- Facebook pages including the Joplin, MO Tornado Recovery Page and Joplin, MO Survivors’ Page were created to help residents find loved ones and join in the recovery process.
- You can search Missouri-based Red Cross shelter centers to learn more about programs, needs, and how they are helping the tornado victims.
- OzarksFirst.com, a local community and new site, put together a resource with help hotlines, phone numbers, and web pages for volunteers and victims.
This Mashable article concluded with:
“Let us know in the comments how you plan on helping and any other good resources to get aid to Joplin.”
The comments are outstanding and this article was tweeted more than 2,000 times in less than 24 hours. The article ends with some great advice – with all charities and non-profits, make sure any site you visit is properly registered and trustworthy before blindly sending money. Make sure your help does the most good possible.
My thoughts go out to everyone impacted by this terrible disaster, but it’s comforting to know that there are so many online resources to help bring us all together – isn’t it amazing what social media can do?
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