 |
||
 |
||
 |
• HOME • GENERAL STORE • NATURAL HERITAGE • HISTORY, CULTURE & CRAFTSMANSHIP |
||||
|
JOPLIN
RELIEF |
|||||
| • LOOKING INTO THE EYES OF DESPAIR... AND SEEING HOPE • JOPLIN DISASTER RELIEF • ABOUT • BIBLIOGRAPHY • COMMENTS • PRESS ROOM • DESIGN • ADVERTISIN’ • LINKS |
|||
LOOKING INTO THE EYES OF DESPAIR...
AND SEEING HOPE
by Pepper Jackson
As I arrived at the briefing post before daylight, a little bit of anxiety began to come over me. At times my job takes me into devastated areas like this one in Joplin, MO to help survivors. I know what is to come over the next 12-14 hours. I have learned over the years to try and prepare myself for it, but you can never totally prepare for what is to come. This is what triggers the body’s anxiety mechanism, for me it ultimately passes as I move into the work. I see many people who are here with me, many who work beside me on a regular basis and in our own way we deal with the anxiety as we visit. The briefing starts and words of appreciation are expressed by Community Leaders . We are given our assignments for the day, some of us will be continuing the search for missing, while all of us will be involved in dealing with the aftermath of this storm. I ask the Lord for strength and we head out to our assignments.
As we arrive in the area of our assignment words cannot describe what my eyes see; destruction, total and complete destruction. Nothing now stands more than fifteen feet off the ground and that is what is left of the trees. They appear to be nothing but broken toothpicks stuck into the ground in random order across the landscape. In the tops of those trees are blankets, clothing, twisted metal and personal belongings. Cars are scattered about, much as if a child had just thrown a box full of toy cars out onto the ground. Some are lying on the sides, others are wrapped around trees and some are so destroyed you cannot tell the make or model. However, the most striking to me is the piles of lumber, insulation and sheetrock scattered across the landscape…what once were the homes of the survivors of this terrible storm. Partial exterior walls of houses facing the streets now appear as billboards to others who are searching for them; “Wilson’s we are OK and in Pittsburg, Kansas” “All in house OK, thank you God” “We survived” and even one of humor “House for Sale by Owner.”
I take notice to the fact that it is hard to tell exactly where you are. No Street signs, no real landmarks to pinpoint your location. If it had not been for the idea to spray paint street names in the middle of intersections being able to say where you were would be difficult. We acclimate to this idea and move about to various points using a map and looking for the paint.
Shortly after daylight photographers, “gawkers” and some “looters” have moved into the area. I know curiosity is the nature of all of us but it is very upsetting to those living in these neighborhoods. So much so I saw one sign which described it best “Put down your camera and pick up a shovel.” As for the “looters” they cannot be dealt with in the manner I would prescribe.
As the day moves forward, time passes quickly…yet due to the enormity of the situation, time needs to stand still. More people begin to arrive back into these residential neighborhoods to try and salvage their life’s collections. We hear of stories of survival along with loss of family and neighbors. I visit with a young couple who is taking a break from sorting through a pile of debris which once was their home. I can hardly recognize areas of the structure as they provide specific details of how they heard the storm and reacted by taking refuse inside of a closet. Geographically they appear to be at the center of this mile wide multi-vortex storm as it moved through this area. I was told the noise was deafening with the sounds of breaking glass, wood and wind. I heard their ears hurt from the popping caused by the changes in air pressure. Their lungs hurt from the vacuum reaction the tornado causes. Then it was over and quiet…for a few moments. The mother and father tried to comfort their two young daughters who were crying from the fear and minor abrasions they had suffered. The father was able to clear the lumber and sheetrock off of them and he looked out onto a field of destruction as far as he could see. The sounds of despair then returned and he heard his neighbors yelling and screaming; some yelling for help, some searching for loved ones and some crying over the loss of life. Due to the massive debris fields help could not immediately get to these people and for some it was too late. I offer them my condolences as I move on and I am reminded by him; “I have my family, this (material possessions) can all be replaced.”
The next area we move into does not provide the same hope I was just reminded of. This was a large apartment complex located near “big box retail stores.” What once were three floors, multi-buildings and a few hundred parking spaces. Was now one floor, 40-50 foot high debris piles nature had twisted, mixed and destroyed before depositing back onto the ground.
I hesitate to provide the following graphic description but one has to realize what this storm was. Some who saw this storm as it was in the areas of mass destruction described it as; a tornado with at least 4 or 5 vortexes or funnels twisting in all directions with 200 mph winds. Imagine taking your household blender turning it on and then dropping food products into it…you know the results. This is what this storm was doing on a much larger scale with cars, buildings …and people.
As I move through the complex we are contacted by an on sight maintenance person. He inquires of the length of time it will take to empty the lake on the complex to search for bodies. As the pumps run nearby, I have no answer. He then tells of an event shortly after the storm passed, it reminds me of the lack of civility some have for their fellow man. As the storm passed he looked out to see a few people running towards an open field separating this complex from a nearby large retail store. He saw bodies lying in the field, undoubtedly deposited there by this horrific storm. He saw these people running past and even stepping over the bodies as they were grabbing up; clothing, electronics and even a cash register then running away. I will let you form your own opinion as to what kind of people these are. As for me…the human nature in me hopes Hell holds a special place for those who would treat their fellow man in this manner.
Time in this complex also involved the use of cadaver dogs, those which search for human remains. Unfortunately, their work resulted in additional findings. One cannot totally prepare themselves to deal with this. You are a professional, you have a job to do and you make yourself “numb” to the event. However, this once was someone’s loved one, a neighbor and a member of this community and you cannot avoid these feelings. A name will be associated to this person, but at this time only God knows who it is.
As the day progresses the stories and events from the beginning, fade into the stories and despair of the current situation. I have been inside this zone for about 12 hours now and mentally I am getting tired. I want to leave and know soon I will be returning to “my life” in a clean, warm home with food and not much to worry about including what clothing I will put on when I get there. Yet, I can’t forget what I have seen today. I have the feeling of “guilt” knowing I am returning to a life of normalcy these people just lost. It’s a haunting feeling to know someone is still looking for their loved ones or a young child is crying about the loss of a favorite pet…or worse the loss of a parent.
Over the last 50 plus years I have seen a lot of destruction and man’s evil actions towards his fellow man. Yet, as this day ends and I drive east towards my home I know I have witnessed the worst natural disaster in my lifetime. However, my interactions with many in the City of Joplin tell me they are a determined group of people. They are determined they will overcome and life will move forward.
You and I can help, at this time they are overwhelmed with people wanting to “grab a shovel and dig in.” Remember this is a process, it will take months if not years to bring total recovery. As time passes others will be needed, with the resources of time and money…please keep this in mind and prepare to help in the future if you can.
Please God provide peace and comfort to those in Joplin, Missouri.
Pepper Jackson
This article cannot be republished or reposted without the written consent of the author.
AND SEEING HOPE
by Pepper Jackson
As I arrived at the briefing post before daylight, a little bit of anxiety began to come over me. At times my job takes me into devastated areas like this one in Joplin, MO to help survivors. I know what is to come over the next 12-14 hours. I have learned over the years to try and prepare myself for it, but you can never totally prepare for what is to come. This is what triggers the body’s anxiety mechanism, for me it ultimately passes as I move into the work. I see many people who are here with me, many who work beside me on a regular basis and in our own way we deal with the anxiety as we visit. The briefing starts and words of appreciation are expressed by Community Leaders . We are given our assignments for the day, some of us will be continuing the search for missing, while all of us will be involved in dealing with the aftermath of this storm. I ask the Lord for strength and we head out to our assignments.
As we arrive in the area of our assignment words cannot describe what my eyes see; destruction, total and complete destruction. Nothing now stands more than fifteen feet off the ground and that is what is left of the trees. They appear to be nothing but broken toothpicks stuck into the ground in random order across the landscape. In the tops of those trees are blankets, clothing, twisted metal and personal belongings. Cars are scattered about, much as if a child had just thrown a box full of toy cars out onto the ground. Some are lying on the sides, others are wrapped around trees and some are so destroyed you cannot tell the make or model. However, the most striking to me is the piles of lumber, insulation and sheetrock scattered across the landscape…what once were the homes of the survivors of this terrible storm. Partial exterior walls of houses facing the streets now appear as billboards to others who are searching for them; “Wilson’s we are OK and in Pittsburg, Kansas” “All in house OK, thank you God” “We survived” and even one of humor “House for Sale by Owner.”
I take notice to the fact that it is hard to tell exactly where you are. No Street signs, no real landmarks to pinpoint your location. If it had not been for the idea to spray paint street names in the middle of intersections being able to say where you were would be difficult. We acclimate to this idea and move about to various points using a map and looking for the paint.
Shortly after daylight photographers, “gawkers” and some “looters” have moved into the area. I know curiosity is the nature of all of us but it is very upsetting to those living in these neighborhoods. So much so I saw one sign which described it best “Put down your camera and pick up a shovel.” As for the “looters” they cannot be dealt with in the manner I would prescribe.
As the day moves forward, time passes quickly…yet due to the enormity of the situation, time needs to stand still. More people begin to arrive back into these residential neighborhoods to try and salvage their life’s collections. We hear of stories of survival along with loss of family and neighbors. I visit with a young couple who is taking a break from sorting through a pile of debris which once was their home. I can hardly recognize areas of the structure as they provide specific details of how they heard the storm and reacted by taking refuse inside of a closet. Geographically they appear to be at the center of this mile wide multi-vortex storm as it moved through this area. I was told the noise was deafening with the sounds of breaking glass, wood and wind. I heard their ears hurt from the popping caused by the changes in air pressure. Their lungs hurt from the vacuum reaction the tornado causes. Then it was over and quiet…for a few moments. The mother and father tried to comfort their two young daughters who were crying from the fear and minor abrasions they had suffered. The father was able to clear the lumber and sheetrock off of them and he looked out onto a field of destruction as far as he could see. The sounds of despair then returned and he heard his neighbors yelling and screaming; some yelling for help, some searching for loved ones and some crying over the loss of life. Due to the massive debris fields help could not immediately get to these people and for some it was too late. I offer them my condolences as I move on and I am reminded by him; “I have my family, this (material possessions) can all be replaced.”
The next area we move into does not provide the same hope I was just reminded of. This was a large apartment complex located near “big box retail stores.” What once were three floors, multi-buildings and a few hundred parking spaces. Was now one floor, 40-50 foot high debris piles nature had twisted, mixed and destroyed before depositing back onto the ground.
I hesitate to provide the following graphic description but one has to realize what this storm was. Some who saw this storm as it was in the areas of mass destruction described it as; a tornado with at least 4 or 5 vortexes or funnels twisting in all directions with 200 mph winds. Imagine taking your household blender turning it on and then dropping food products into it…you know the results. This is what this storm was doing on a much larger scale with cars, buildings …and people.
As I move through the complex we are contacted by an on sight maintenance person. He inquires of the length of time it will take to empty the lake on the complex to search for bodies. As the pumps run nearby, I have no answer. He then tells of an event shortly after the storm passed, it reminds me of the lack of civility some have for their fellow man. As the storm passed he looked out to see a few people running towards an open field separating this complex from a nearby large retail store. He saw bodies lying in the field, undoubtedly deposited there by this horrific storm. He saw these people running past and even stepping over the bodies as they were grabbing up; clothing, electronics and even a cash register then running away. I will let you form your own opinion as to what kind of people these are. As for me…the human nature in me hopes Hell holds a special place for those who would treat their fellow man in this manner.
Time in this complex also involved the use of cadaver dogs, those which search for human remains. Unfortunately, their work resulted in additional findings. One cannot totally prepare themselves to deal with this. You are a professional, you have a job to do and you make yourself “numb” to the event. However, this once was someone’s loved one, a neighbor and a member of this community and you cannot avoid these feelings. A name will be associated to this person, but at this time only God knows who it is.
As the day progresses the stories and events from the beginning, fade into the stories and despair of the current situation. I have been inside this zone for about 12 hours now and mentally I am getting tired. I want to leave and know soon I will be returning to “my life” in a clean, warm home with food and not much to worry about including what clothing I will put on when I get there. Yet, I can’t forget what I have seen today. I have the feeling of “guilt” knowing I am returning to a life of normalcy these people just lost. It’s a haunting feeling to know someone is still looking for their loved ones or a young child is crying about the loss of a favorite pet…or worse the loss of a parent.
Over the last 50 plus years I have seen a lot of destruction and man’s evil actions towards his fellow man. Yet, as this day ends and I drive east towards my home I know I have witnessed the worst natural disaster in my lifetime. However, my interactions with many in the City of Joplin tell me they are a determined group of people. They are determined they will overcome and life will move forward.
You and I can help, at this time they are overwhelmed with people wanting to “grab a shovel and dig in.” Remember this is a process, it will take months if not years to bring total recovery. As time passes others will be needed, with the resources of time and money…please keep this in mind and prepare to help in the future if you can.
Please God provide peace and comfort to those in Joplin, Missouri.
Pepper Jackson
This article cannot be republished or reposted without the written consent of the author.