Holidays are Surreal in Joplin

Many of you probably know about the EF5 tornado (EF5 being the highest ranking on the Enhanced Fujita Scale, meaning that winds were in excess of 200 mph) that hit Joplin, MO on 22 May 2011. It was one of the deadliest tornadoes on record, causing around 160 deaths and destroying a 1-mile by 6-mile strip of the city. I’m proud that ERT responded within 8 hours of the tornado, arriving in Joplin around 2:00 the morning after the tornado, and is still there.

I’ve been in Joplin for about a week now (with AmeriCorps friends Ali and Cody), but what with the holiday season upon us and the cold weather, there is not very much going on here. Going into the affected areas or looking at photos of how it used to be is simply unreal - this doesn’t feel like a disaster site, it feels like an office.

I guess I should back up a bit and explain what I’ve been doing. In general terms, ERT manages the volunteers in Joplin. The city set us up with an office and housing for our members, and we receive volunteers who come in to help out on a daily basis.

Of course, this involves a good bit more - coordinating with homeowners on what needs to be done, acting as a liaison between homeowners and the city, keeping track of all volunteer hours, tracking down heavy equipment to perform demolitions, and these days, taking applications for and planting new trees at homes.

Getting ready to plant our largest type of tree, the silver maple.
It was so big it didn't fit in Pickle's (the truck's) bed, but
instead made Pickle a unicorn. Clare, Cody, and Ali ready to go!

Since the tornado and up until about November, we would regularly have 300-400 volunteers on a weekday and up to 1,000 on weekends.

Not any longer.

Since I’ve been here, we’re lucky to get one or two volunteers a day. According to our databases, this is just a holiday slump and the volunteerism should pick up again in early- to mid-January.

My job specifically is to handle homeowners’ applications for new trees, and with cold weather fast approaching, there are very few new applications coming in; many people just want to wait for the spring planting season.

What we do at the office when there's nothing else to do,
apparently. Chuck, his son Brandon, Rolla Wayne, and
Chainsaw Wayne are regular volunteers with us, and Keith
(in the driver's seat) works here.

So with the exception of Cody, who as our only AmeriCorps-certified driver, still has enough to do in the field, Ali and I have mostly been hanging around the office every day with not a lot to do. There is some paperwork to be done, but to be honest, it’s dreadfully boring and I take frequent breaks... possibly too frequent.

But then every once in a while we go out to the field - to help Cody plant trees, or to help an evicted family move out of their FEMA-issued trailer, or to visit Cunningham Park, where the tornado hit and where a memorial was built - and seeing the destruction still there is simply surreal. It’s worlds away from my mundane office life and difficult to reconcile the two, but it does remind me of why I’m here. This need is incredible.

A hospital building that was shifted 4 inches off its
foundation during the tornado

At the memorial in Cunningham Park; a list of those killed
in the tornado

Cody and Ali looking at the displays made of debris and a
dedication to the volunteers rebuilding Joplin

"A Tribute to the Volunteers" at Cunningham Park

Some of the destruction near Cunningham Park. Many
structures were not even standing anymore

A specific tribute to AmeriCorps - note the "A" on the helmet.

A reproduction of the Rebuilding Joplin wristbands, dedicated
to "The Miracle of the Human Spirit." I got one at the office
and plan on wearing it for some time.

So, mostly for Joplin’s sake but also for the sake of my sanity, I really hope we do start getting a little busier soon after the holidays. Besides Christmas weekend (I fly home to Virginia this Friday-Monday!) and New Years’ weekend (Cody and Ali and I will drive back to St Louis to celebrate with the rest of ERT), I’m probably going to be in Joplin until mid-January. It’s enough time, I hope, to start seeing a little more action out here!

Christmas spirit (and Ali scootering around) at our housing