KOAM TV 7 Joplin and PittsburgVolunteers inspire more donations to Joplin relief effort

Volunteers inspire more donations to Joplin relief effort

News release issued by FEMA

COLUMBIA, Mo. - The spirit of service has been the hallmark of the hundreds of volunteers who donate their time and efforts to rebuilding Joplin after the EF5 twister tore through the city on May 22, 2011. That drive to help others needs to be tempered with attention to safety, disaster officials in the devastated city point out.

"Early in the disaster response, we sent out nearly 1,000 volunteers each day," said Bruce Bailey, director of AmeriCorps-St. Louis, the group tasked with registering and organizing volunteers in Joplin.

That robust response of those wanting to lend a helping hand to victims of the disaster outstripped available supplies, triggering yet another wave of generosity - donations of safety equipment to protect the volunteers.

The Falewitch Construction Services, Inc. of LaVista, Neb. helped create the Joplin AmeriCorps Safety Fund, which has provided personal protective equipment for the volunteers laboring in the danger zone.  Others gave as well.

In addition to cash, donations include hard hats, leather and cloth work gloves, safety glasses, reflective vests, ear plugs, dust masks, eye wash, and first-aid supplies.  The fund was inspired by Mark Baden, a U.S. Department of Labor Compliance Assistance Specialist who noticed that some volunteers from the first wave of debris removal needed treatment of minor injuries.  He asked for help from companies active in producing safety equipment, and the response was immediate.

On the first day of operations after the tornado, some volunteers suffered "cuts and lacerations," Banden said.  "They didn't have enough protective equipment for the work they were doing," Banden said.

AmeriCorps organizers had provided on site-EMT services and protective clothing, and gloves.  But the huge outpouring of volunteers quickly exhausted the supplies.

The generosity of the volunteers thus inspired generosity from others.  That spirit was recognized by President Obama last month when he said the response to the Joplin disaster - the deadliest tornado in recent history - serves as an example to the world of "what makes life worth living."

"Safety is the first and foremost objective every day," Bailey said. "The donated protective equipment issued to volunteers is an essential element in mitigating the multiple risks that exist in the aftermath of the tornado."

FEMA's mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status.  If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-FEMA (3362). Those with a speech disability or hearing loss who use a TTY call 1-800-462-7585; or use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS) to call 1-800-621-3362.

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