By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
The American Red Cross has dispatched volunteers to areas riddled with damage from recent tornadoes.
Red Cross volunteer Shoba Brown was dispatched to the Jonesboro, Arkansas area. She says that while the line the tornadoes took was northeast of the area, the Red cross is still continuing to assess the damage in the community.
"They've done quite a bit of damage assessment, major damage assessment, and they're working on the rest," Brown tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. "And everyday, it's changing, the numbers going up, as more damage assessment is being done."
Brown says Red Cross volunteers are slowly getting underway distributing tarps and shovels, adding it takes time assessing the damage before volunteers can determine the best way to assist the people.
Brown just arrived recently in Jonesboro, but she says that other Red Cross volunteers have told stories of people just grateful to be alive after the tornadoes devastated their homes.
"He had a story of a woman who was just grateful that she and her grandson survived the tornado that blew over their home," Brown says. "So yes, there are people who are just grateful to be alive.
Red Cross volunteers are continuing to assess damage caused by these tornadoes, as well as reaching out to the communities to figure out their biggest needs
Brown is part of community engagement, is working in the underserved parts of Jonesboro, Arkansas. She says at the end of the day it comes down to getting out and finding out the biggest needs of the community
"It's a matter of getting out in the community, and we will soon be working with our other partners to see how we can assist those in need," Brown says.
Red Cross volunteers are distributing tarp and shovels as they continue to assess the damage caused by the tornadoes.
For more information on how to assist the Red Cross you can click the link HERE.
