Over the last week a record-breaking weather system spun tornadoes in Midwest- the first December twister in history. The disaster had hurricane-force straight-line winds that leveled trees and utility lines in six states from Minnesota to Kentucky. The damage from the disaster is being compared to images seen after Hurricane Katrina [see photo (top) the Midwestern tornado damage and (bottom) damage from Hurricane Katrina]. FEMA arrived in hard-hit Midwest cities to assess the devastation and assist survivors. Recovery is underway, as utility crews work to repair power outages for tens of thousands of homes and businesses. There are few things you can do to help the tornado victims.

1) You can volunteer to donate blood at the Red Cross (https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/how-to-donate/eligibility-requirements.html)

2) You can donate money to help the survivors directly through the Salvation Army by texting:  HLTORNADO to 51555 to make a monetary donation to The Salvation Army. For more details, visit salarmy.us/3emwtnd.

Be sure to check back next week for more information on storms and updates on my latest media interview about my book, The Overlooked Voices of Hurricane Katrina: Mississippi Black Women Survivors Resilience and Recovery.

#Tornadoes, #Drosays, #disasters, #disasterrecovery, #disasterrelief