Blood, Sweat, and ' Teers

It's been six weeks since Joplin was hit by this tornado. In that time, much progress has been made in the move forward towards rebuilding. Before rebuilding, there has to be the clean-up. This is done in most part by volunTEERS ~ ~ ~ many, many volunTEERS. As of this date, over 50,000 have come to do their part. The word around Joplin is that nearly every state, if not all, in the U.S. has been represented and many have traveled from all over the world as well. I have met people from Brazil, Japan, and Australia.

Many types of jobs are necessary to get Joplin back on its feet and it will take a very long time, so there is no shortage of work that a volunteer can do. It doesn't matter what the age, language, time of stay, or physical ability of any one person may be. EVERYONE can and will make a difference.

Let me give you an idea of what it is like to spend time clearing debris from neighborhood upon neighborhood that went from their typical small town atmosphere to war-zone-like buildings reduced to piles upon piles of rubble.

In my case, I have been working with Americorps. In doing so, once registered you can decide what, when, and for how long you want  to work. So most days of the past 15, I drive to MSSU (Missouri Southern State University) and sign in for the day. They give us a volunteer ID wrist band and ask us what we'd like to do. Most days I have done debris clean-up and it goes like this:

You walk from the sign-in tents over to the bus waiting to whisk you away. In the shade of a large tree (this is about the only shade I've ever stood in on debris days) tables are set up with supplies. This would include, work gloves, respirator masks, safety glasses, sunscreen, water, Gatorade ~ ~ ~ the most important items.

On the bus, an Americorps volunteer briefs you on safety considerations and rules. Drink water constantly, no less than 8 ounces an hour; wear respirators at all times so as not to breathe in dust, asbestos, fiberglass, and God-only-knows-what-else is floating around out there. They talk about keeping your eyes on everyplace you are walking as stepping on nails is the most common injury (other than the obligatory blisters). Although this is a "no-brainer" to most  people, we are still reminded to stay at least 10 feet away from chainsaws in use. Continue to drink water and Gatorade.

We are then driven from the University to the Joplin High School parking lot (the school itself was totaled) where we sign in, are briefed again, and from there we are bused to the home sites. We are only allowed to clear the front and side yards of the property unless the home owners have submitted an intake form that allows us to go into the back yard and onto the foundation. The main job is to clear and sort the debris from the property by hauling it to the curb. We have to sort the materials so that it is easier on the landfills. Such piles would include construction materials, metal, vegetation (trees and branches mostly), electronics, white items ..... (don't know why they don't call them appliances), liquid contaminants, non-liquid contaminants, miscellaneous. I have to say that keeping all this separate is a challenge as there usually isn't enough curb space, but we do the best we can.

~ This is where you ask yourself, "Where do I start?" ~

~ This pile of "vegetation" was originally stacked in the backyard. We had to relocate it to the curb.
It took several of us  close to two hours! ~

~ More 'debris engineers' arrive ~

Any personal items that we believe the homeowner would want to keep, we put on the foundation so they can retrieve it. Special documents such as birth certificates, photos, checks, etc., are set aside and taken to places where homeowners can also retrieve such things.

~ I found this LarryMobile toy under a pile of twisted metal. This made me very sad because my boys loved this toy in their VeggieTales days. I hope the homeowner retrieves it. ~

At some point the Army Corps of Engineers will come along and load all this into trucks and haul it away to debris sites. This is where you can see the progress. Once the yards are mostly clear and the debris has been hauled away, things look relatively better. However, the remains of the homes are still there for future demolition. Most are beyond reconstruction. Most are nothing more than fireplaces or small interior rooms that many survivors took shelter in.

~ These monsters are everywhere. There is a traffic alert in Joplin due to the amount of trips made by these and many other vehicles hauling debris. ~

~ One more property ready for the next step...... demolition. ~

~ Neat as a pin (after its' previous needle-in-a-haystack appearance) ~

~ Not sure where the homeowners could have taken shelter here. Only a fireplace left standing after the tornado ravaged it. The other little building is on the adjacent lot. ~

Have I seen injuries? Yes. Usually just scratches and cuts which require immediate attention and a tetanus shot. The first day I did debris clean-up a woman walked by me and I asked her if she realized she had BLOOD all over her arm. She did not realize it and off she went to check it out and get a tetanus shot. Sometimes you don't realize you have received a cut or scratch. I looked down at my arm the other day when I was pulling boards from a heap of various debris and saw a bit of blood. I never felt  it happen. This was two inches long but such a minimal surface scratch that I only cleaned it up and applied some antibiotic ointment and a large band aid.....good as new. Today I came within 6 inches of stepping on a 4 inch nail protruding from a small board that was buried under the pile of branches I was clearing. Lucky for me I constantly scan the ground and saw this just as I was about to take a step in that direction.

You know, as uncomfortable and dirty as we all get, SWEAT is a very good thing. And we do a lot of it. We are told to watch for each other and if we notice someone who no longer seems to be sweating, to alert someone as this is a sign of heat exhaustion or sun poison. One or the other, or both. Don't quote me..... all I know is it is a bad thing and to watch for it!

~ So this is what I would look like as a surgeon ~

We are so fortunate to be so well taken care of. There is always someone from the Americorps team that has bottled water in hand asking if you need some. There have been times when The American  Red Cross will be driving vans around with water, Gatorade, and sometimes snacks. We can takes breaks as often and for as long as we need. I can't stress how much they take care of the volunteers. The buses will come at any time we feel that we have had too much to take us back to the high school. A bus also comes to take us to the high school for lunch. They also bring lunch to the sites but that is usually for the Americorps people that work very, very, hard and are constantly on site to greet the continuous arrival of volunteers.

At the high school, other groups of volunteers are waiting for us supplying wonderful lunches. I have eaten breaded chicken, lasagna, pulled-pork wraps, BBQ beef, hotdogs, burgers, salads, yogurt, fruit, and more. The people on the food lines are adamant that we eat well. It is amazing. Luckily we work off most of this good food. I don't want to go home because I will have to make my own lunch and clean up after myself.

~ Lunch courtesy of Relief Spark (I believe) ~

When we are ready, we can jump on a bus that will take us back to the University. It is not recommended to work debris clean-up all day. Keep in mind that there is no shade, it is very hard work, and the temperatures while I have been here (over two weeks) have been in the high 90s and low 100s almost everyday.  I don't recall too many clouds that have given us a break from the hot, glaring sun, the heat index is often over 100 degrees. Humidity.... you betcha!!!

Each day I've cleared debris I crash for about three hours, usually not even having the energy to shower first. GROSS!!! However, I do change my clothes first before I drop.

I have to stress that all the volunteers that I have talked to feel the same way....... no matter how hard we work to clear this debris, it is worth every muscle aching minute, every drop of blood, and every ounce of sweat!!!

The Sounds of Silence

As you drive through the hardest hit areas of Joplin, there is a somewhat eerie silence. Somewhat.

It is a relative silence in comparison to five weeks ago when the sounds taken for granted could still be heard. Traffic. Children laughing and playing. Dogs barking. Those sounds are gone or infrequent at best. Now, when you drive slowly through the abyss, and stop, you'll hear the distant crawl of bulldozers, the buzzing of chainsaws, the crunching jaws of heavy machinery, flags whipping in the heated breeze, and a sound that will haunt me the rest of my days ..... the scraping and grinding of the swaying metal that hangs from rafters, trees, posts, or protrudes from blown-out windows, or encompasses unrecognizable vehicles.

This is some of the strong heavy equipment picking up the
debris that we mere weak humans sort and haul to the curbs.

Most of this metal is in unfathomable places; discarded by the evil forces of nature with such reckless abandon, as if to say, "I've done all I can with you, go find a place to look menacing". And it does. It's the sights as well as the sounds that send chills throughout my being!

Sheared sheet metal ~ compliments of the mega tornadic can-opener

This bothers me to think that such a HUGE mass of metal
 traveled through the air all at once to attach itself to this house

Joplin High School in the background of this metal-wrapped tree

One of many flags throughout the rubble symbolizing the American spirit

There Are No Words

I tried to prepare myself for what I would see with my own eyes in Joplin, Missouri. I am on several Joplin tornado-related Facebook pages and have kept up with the event since the beginning. I've read several newspaper articles, watched many videos, and sat awestruck through countless online photos of the destruction. I knew what I was going to encounter once I arrived. Or so I thought!!

The first night I just settled in with my awesome, generous hosts who live in Carthage, Missouri, just northeast of Joplin. I had previously prepared to sleep on a cot in some church somewhere. I knew from the day I made the decision to go, that I would do whatever it took, including sleeping in my van if there were no     cot ~ type options. I cannot believe the blessings God sent my way the day I left on this journey. From finding, at the last minute, my misplaced GPS cord, as well as my checkbook which had gone missing for over a month (laying right next to the GPS cord).......to gas prices heading quickly downward.......to being sought out on Facebook by Mary and Bill Book (people I had never met before), to stay the entire length of my trip, safely in their home, in accommodations that make me feel guilty given the reason I am here in the first place ~ ~ ~ more about my Joplin home-away-from-home in another post. Anyway, like I said, I didn't go into Joplin until the next day and the anticipation of arriving at ground zero was making me nervous.

The next morning, I drove to MSSU (Missouri Southern State University), where I registered to volunteer. There is so much you can do, little jobs and big jobs. Any job is one more step in the recovery/rebuilding process. As it was both Sunday and Father's Day, there were not as many options for work. I was asked what "I" wanted to do. I asked what my choices were and for that day there was only data entry or field work. I chose to help with data entry just to get my feet wet and because I had gotten a later start than I had planned. All the volunteer information has to be entered into a data base and I knew I could do that job with ease. And besides, it was in the upper 90's and HUMID and I made the decision to sit comfortably in a quiet air-conditioned room. I have to say that it gets very boring just inputting the same data for three hours straight.

Finally back in the van, and done volunteering for the day, it was time to drive into the "war zone". It's very surreal to be driving along when you know what lies ahead, and yet the minutes just before, everything looks totally normal and untouched. Next, you see some damaged trees. Just ahead, roofs that have lost shingles..... some from the wind and others from fallen trees. THEN YOU SEE IT!!! In my case, from the direction I was driving, there straight ahead and just to the left was St. John's Hospital, which I found out yesterday was lifted 4 or 5 inches off its foundation. This is a 9-story building.

Just across the street from the hospital I drove past a brick wall that read, "Cunningham Park". What park? There was not a single tree, although there was a basketball hoop still standing. The park sits on the corner of 26th and Maiden Lane. Perhaps I read it wrong. It should  have read "Cunningham Parking Lot". At that intersection, once you pry your eyes off the hospital, whether you look down 26th Street to the east or the west, all you see are trees stripped of their bark, if they are even still standing, and leaving if anything, the trunks and heaviest lower branches.

I was horrified by the sight of the mangled vehicles. How were those shapes even possible? How many of those vehicles had passengers in them?

The homes for countless blocks in both directions are totally flattened, many with just the foundations left behind, or some left intact just enough that demolition crews will have to come in to finish the job.

All of this is something that even those with huge imaginations could not dream up. It is just destruction as far as the eye can see...........and beyond. That being said, I was horrified by what was in front of me! But what really hit home was when I stopped and got out of the van to photograph the images. First I would see an interesting angle of something like this church, totally destroyed, but the cross standing undefeated as a symbol of hope.

You see metal-wrapped trees everywhere you look ~ ~ ~ and you realize all of it, at some point, was hurtling through the air in all directions at over 200 mph.

As I continued to walk around with camera in hand, I noticed things that really made my heart sink. Things that brought to light the realization of what this powerful force of nature was doing to the lives of those caught up in its' wrath.

Several blocks from the hospital, the contents from the locker of someone on the hospital staff (notice the stethoscope in the bag next to the shoes).

Perhaps this teddy bear had brought comfort to a patient using one of these wheelchairs.

I cannot speculate on this photo ~ ~ ~ but I can tell you I cried while I stood at this spot.

          Should you assume that this childs' toy belonged at this home?           More than likely not!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

After what seemed like quite a long time of walking or driving through the area, it was apparent that the path of destruction was so immense, it would take more than one day to really have an understanding of what happened to Joplin. How long would it take to come to such an understanding? I realize that "understanding" is the not the word I am looking for. What word would explain it better? Why am I trying to choose a word? There are no words!!!

It's Not Oz. It's Not Kansas......but It's Close.

Just over two weeks ago I knew what I'd be doing after June 15th, the last day of school for the boys. They'd head off later that week to their dad's house for a couple weeks and I'd focus big time on house projects, as well as a little relaxation. It was a no-brainer.

Another plan for that particular time period, although somewhat tentative, was to visit a friend in Texas for a few days and then drive back to Michigan via Route 66, one of my passions, especially since last summer when I drove a large portion of the Mother Road through Illinois. One of many towns along Route 66 that I was looking forward to stopping in was going to be Joplin, Missouri, the first town east of the Kansas/Missouri border. Joplin has some interesting history

Yep, that was my  plan and if the Texas visit fell through, I would certainly make some progress in the new house, maybe surprise Spencer by completing his bedroom and finish painting Cooper's bed so he could get off the sofa/sleeper in his room. So anyway, going back a couple weeks, on May 22nd, I stopped by the cemetary to take a look at mom's headstone which had finally been placed. I picked that day because it would have been dad's 82nd birthday on the 22nd, and I wanted to see mom and dad's stones together for the first time. I got home later that evening and shortly after the boys were in bed, I jumped on the computer to check my email, work on my other blogs, post some photos to Facebook..... the usual routine. That's when I saw the reports of yet another weather-related disaster...... this time, my Route 66 town, Joplin, Missouri. Another tornado. Well we all know by now that this was not just another tornado.

I don't know for sure why I am so drawn to this tragic event. So many have been happening lately and how can we ever forget 9/11? I won't ever forget that unspeakable loss of lives, but still, I felt helpless and I was just another far-away observer. Same thing with Hurricane Katrina, the tsunami in Japan, the very recent tornado in Alabama. I could  go on but it's all the same thing....... bad things taking place that make me sad, mad, or speechless, but I have always just gone on with everyday life.

Not anymore. Within a few days of the tornado, I couldn't keep it out of my mind, and before a week had gone by, I knew what to do. Forget relaxing,or even painting furniture or stripping floors. I'm jumping in the van and heading to Joplin. What will I do? Whatever I can!