Emergency and Disaster Response
World Vision responds to severe weather in Missouri
Text 'Tornado' to '20222' to donate $10 to World Vision's Disaster Relief Fund
Photos by Phyllis Freeman / © World Vision.
As communities across the South reel from the deadliest natural disaster in the United States since Hurricane Katrina, World Vision is appealing for $5 million to assist tornado survivors in an extensive, multi-state response effort.
- WV recovery teams providing ongoing recovery to tornado survivors throughout U.S. (Minnesota, Missouri, Alabama, Virginia, North Carolina, etc)
- Recovery teams focusing on most vulnerable tornado survivors, especially children
- Fundraising needs still falling short, many relief groups report
- World Vision's tornado fundraising appeal increased from $3 million to $5 million for extended tornado response
- The public can help by making a one-time donation to our U.S. Disaster Response Fund, calling (888) 56-CHILD, or by texting 'TORNADO' to '20222' to give a $10 donation. Your gift will help us respond quickly and effectively to life-threatening emergencies right here in the United States, like the recent storms and tornadoes in the South.
"We've been working around the clock in Tuscaloosa and the common request we get from survivors is to remind people not to forget what's happened to them," said Phyllis Freeman, World Vision's domestic emergency response director and a veteran of the agency's Hurricane Katrina response. "We've had back-to-back tornadoes devastate families and children all across this country but we refuse to let any survivor fall through the cracks."
"It is heartbreaking to see yet another tornado devastated an entire community and to see even more children left homeless."
World Vision relyied on the organization's Dallas warehouse to provide prepositioned supplies to Missouri, providing resources like personal care kits and cleaning supplies. Over the long-term, Freeman anticipates sending bulk shipments of building supplies to help survivors in the tornado rebuilding efforts.
"Out of my 14 years doing disaster response, I have never ever seen a weather season in the United States that is this severe where natural disasters keep coming and we haven't even started hurricane season," said Phyllis Freeman, World Vision's domestic emergency response director and a veteran of the agency's Hurricane Katrina response.
'Damage...every bit as devastating'
World Vision U.S. has raised its tornado fundraising appeal from its original $3 million goal, set in April after tornadoes ripped through parts of Alabama, to $5 million to help survivors impacted in Joplin too. World Vision also responded to a series of tornadoes that ripped through Alabama in late April, causing unprecedented devastation. Freeman says her team provided hygiene kits and basic cleaning supplies to tornado survivors over several weeks.
"The damage in Joplin is every bit as devastating as what we responded to in Tuscaloosa," said Phyllis Freeman, also a veteran of the agency's Hurricane Katrina response. "The damage is just as widespread but it's a smaller community which means there are fewer resources for survivors to rely on."
"We assessed and responded to the most urgent needs among children and families who have lost so much," said Freeman. We supplied clean up essentials like rakes, work gloves and hard hats, and World Vision intends to stand by these families as they move into the recovery phase."
World Vision response teams are also continuing relief work in Virginia, North Carolina and Alabama. In Tuscaloosa, AL, World Vision has served 6,700 tornado survivors since April 27th. World Vision's new domestic disaster headquarters is based in North Texas and provides high-quality resources nationwide to partners in areas impacted by disaster situations.
Help now
Make a one-time donation to our U.S. Disaster Response Fund or text 'TORNADO' to '20222' to give a $10 donation. Your gift will help us respond quickly and effectively to life-threatening emergencies right here in the United States, like the recent tornadoes in Missouri, Minnesota and Alabama.
Find out how your church can help provide vital supplies to tornado survivors.
Please pray for survivors of these deadly storms, especially those who have been left homeless or otherwise vulnerable.
Text 'Tornado' to '20222' to donate $10 to World Vision's Disaster Relief Fund
