Rupp: Keep The Joplin Tornado Victims in Your Thoughts; Stay Safe During Tornadoes

In the afternoon of Sunday, May 22, a powerful tornado hit Joplin, leaving thousands of buildings destroyed, hundreds of people injured, and of this writing, at least 125 dead. The storm has been titled the deadliest tornado that the United States has seen since records began more than 60 years ago. It’s hard to imagine the devastation that so many people have suffered — much of Joplin has been flattened, and families are desperately trying to find loved ones. I’d like to extend my deepest sympathies to all the victims of the Joplin tornado. You are in my thoughts and prayers daily. If you are looking for a missing loved one, please visit the American Red Cross “Safe & Well” website at https://safeandwell.communityos.org/cms/index.php and click on “Search Registrants.”

Many Missourians have stepped forward and want to help. Officials are asking that potential volunteers call or register on websites before venturing to Joplin, due to dangerous conditions and continuous search-and-rescue missions. If you are interested in volunteering, please call (800) 427-4626. Those with medical skills interested in volunteering should go to www.showmeresponse.org. For more information about how you can assist the tornado victims, please visit the Missouri State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) website at www.sema.dps.mo.gov and the Greater Ozarks Regional Chapter of the American Red Cross website at www.redcross-ozarks.org. I am proud to see so many Missourians eager to help out those in need — it is a true demonstration of how the people in our state rise up and overcome challenges.

As people in the Midwest understand, we are only in the middle of tornado season, which typically lasts from April to June, and the potential for more tornadoes still exists. It is important to know the difference between a tornado watch and a tornado warning. A tornado watch means tornadoes are possible. Remain alert for approaching storms, watch the sky, and stay tuned to your radio or television for information. A tornado warning means a tornado has been sighted or indicated by radar in your area, and it’s essential that you take shelter. Before a tornado touches down, the sky will often have a dark green appearance, and low-lying clouds will be present.

Where you take shelter during a tornado is vital. If you are indoors, basements are the best choice, but if a basement or storm shelter isn’t available, go to the center of an interior room at the lowest level of the building, away from windows and doors. If you are in a vehicle or mobile home, find shelter in a nearby building, or lie flat in a ditch. Vehicles and mobile homes offer very little protection and can easily be picked up and damaged during a tornado. Take the same precautions if you are outside and a tornado hits — find shelter in a nearby building or lie low in a ditch. Don’t seek refuge under a bridge or overpass, because a “wind tunnel effect” often occurs, and the structure could collapse.

Thank you for reading this weekly column. I hope you will take this opportunity to discuss a safety plan with your family, should a storm occur in your area. Again, I would like to offer my condolences to the victims of the Joplin tornado and the other deadly tornadoes that have occurred this year. Please keep the victims and their families in your thoughts and prayers during this time of hardship.