Area citizens wanting to help the recovery effort from Friday’s brutal tornadoes can go through three local agencies to help, although there is currently not a special relief effort underway locally.
United Way of the Flint Hills Chief Executive Officer Mickey Edwards says residents can use the local United Way as a pass-through for their financial donations. Donors will need to designate their money for a certain United Way or specific disaster.
It’s a similar story for people wanting to donate through Emporia’s Salvation Army and the Red Cross Central Plains. Salvation Army Lt. Mylie Hadden and Red Cross spokesperson Susan Faler say donations need to be designated for the disaster for those funds to reach afflicted areas.
Friday night’s tornadoes — at least 22 confirmed — sliced through parts of several states, including Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky and Tennessee. Over 70 are likely dead in Kentucky alone, and the overall death toll may surpass 100. One tornadic supercell crossed parts of four states, and if the damage path is confirmed from one tornado instead of several, the twister would set a record for continuous damage path at around 240 miles.
To reach the United Way of the Flint Hills, call 620-342-7564 or go online to www.unitedwayoftheflinthills.org. To reach the Red Cross, call 800-RED-CROSS or go online to www.redcross.org. To reach the Salvation Army, call 620-342-3093. You can also find these organizations on Facebook.
