More and more people in our community are coming to the aid of those hit by the tornadoes in Oklahoma. Diane Parker in Murfreesboro told us her employer, Team Worldwide, is a transportation company that is helping the Delta New Alpha Transportation Fraternity collect goods to be sent to the victims in order to help them recover from the devastation. The trailer will be set up in nearby Franklin Thursday through Sunday, but Parker told us she will pick goods up from local residents at their homes in Murfreesboro and Smyrna.
To donate items and have them picked up at your home or place of business, call 542-1306.
WGNS talked to Toby Kemp with Rajor Trucking who is spearheading the Oklahoma collections in Franklin. He and several others with the Transportation Fraternity are in charge of getting the donated items to the devastated area. Kemp said if you live outside of Murfreesboro and you don't need Parker to pick up your donations, you can drop them off at Battleground Academy in Franklin. The trailer will be set up at the school Thursday through Sunday. To reach Kemp, call 615-347-8537.
In the meantime, residents of Oklahoma are cleaning up debris right now. Alex Stone with ABC News reports…
Oklahoma Sooners football coach Bob Stoops stated…
Scroll down for our source list on this story and the information posted within this news blog.
The Red Cross told WGNS, "The American Red Cross is helping people in Oklahoma and throughout the Midwest with shelter, food, relief supplies and emotional comfort after tornadoes destroyed homes and left thousands without power. This has been a major disaster, and the Red Cross will be there for the people in this state and this community. People who wish to make a donation to support the Red Cross response can visit redcross.org, dial 1-800-REDCROSS or text REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation."
More on this situation:
The Oklahoma City suburb of Moore remains in a state of shock after Monday’s colossal EF4 tornado that left an unimaginable trail of death and destruction.
Spokeswoman Amy Elliott of the Oklahoma City medical examiner’s office initially said she believed at least 91 people to be dead, including 20 children. That death toll was revised Tuesday morning to 24 dead, including seven children.
More than 120 adults and children were being treated at area hospitals. Many of those children attended Plaza Towers Elementary School, which took a direct hit from the killer storm.
In Murfreesboro, we are told that the Red Cross is in the process of sending volunteers to Oklahoma throughout the week. Local Churches of Christ are also helping in recovery efforts. Joe Dudney with the Church of Christ Disaster Relief Effort told WGNS…
Dudney told us that volunteers will be needed in Nashville to load the trucks on Wednesday. To help, phone 833-0888.
Area residents were given a 16-minute warning before the tornado packing winds of up to 200 mph touched down near Newcastle shortly before 3 p.m. CDT.
Described as reaching nearly two miles in width at one point, the tornado stayed on the ground nearly 40 minutes, literally ripping up and sweeping away everything in its path. Entire neighborhoods were eradicated by the twister.
President Obama and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano spoke with Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin to express their condolences and offer the full resources of the Federal Emergency Management Agency and all other available support. Obama also declared a state of emergency in Oklahoma.
First-responders from all around the region and other states along with troops from Oklahoma National Guard units are assisting in the rescue and recovery efforts.
According to the National Weather Service, there continues to be a risk of severe weather during Tuesday across areas of the southern Plains including Oklahoma. Over a three-period, 50 tornadoes of various sizes have blown through the Midwest.
Residents are being advised to listen carefully to instructions from their local officials and take the recommended protective measures to safeguard life and property.
On May 3, 1999, Moore, Oklahoma, was struck by an EF5 tornado that left more than 40 people dead. Monday's twister was the deadliest in the U.S. since 161 people were killed in Joplin, Missouri, two years ago.
American Red Cross – Tennessee Volunteer Region is heading to Oklahoma today. The details of that trip are below.
NOW: 6 Red Cross Volunteers are driving to Oklahoma now with 3 Emergency Response Vehicles (Mobile Feeding trucks) to Shawnee, OK to help with tornado relief efforts
WHEN: Volunteers with the Red Cross are leaving Nashville today to head to Oklahoma City in order to help with the aftermath of the devistating tornadoes that struck on Monday afternoon.
INFO: Volunteers will be meeting at the Nashville Area Chapter to receive deployment briefings before they depart to assist with disaster relief efforts on Tuesday.
Special note from the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross has one shelter open in Moore and is working on locating others; we continue to operate three shelters that were opened Sunday in the Oklahoma City area following the storms on Sunday.
Red Cross volunteers were out last night with food and supplies supporting first responders.
More than 25 emergency response vehicles were deployed Tuesday morning, and we expect that the number will increase. The Red Cross is also sending in kitchen support trailers to support the upcoming operation to provide meals to those forced out of their homes.
This has been a major disaster, and the Red Cross will be there for the people in this state and this community. People who wish to make a donation to support the Red Cross response can visit redcross.org, dial 1-800-REDCROSS or text REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.
Source:
American Red Cross, Beth Fergusson
ABC Radio News
Murfreesboro Resident Diane Parker 615-542-1306
Church of Christ Disaster Releif Effort Dir. Joe Dudney
Team Worldwide Trucking is based in Franklin, Tennessee
Delta New Alpha Transportation Fraternity
Toby Kemp with Rajor Trucking is spearheading one of the efforts 615-347-8537