This story is written by Allen Crabtree, Red Cross worker in Joplin.
Red Cross nurse Christine Stockwell is passionate about her job and the mission of the Red Cross to help those who have been cruelly impacted by the Joplin tornado. She has been working nearly straight out since she arrived at the Red Cross shelter in Joplin 36 hours ago, arriving right after the worst disaster to hit Joplin in its history.
“The Red Cross treats the cuts and bruises that people suffered living through the tornado, but there is also a huge emotional component to what we do,” she said. “We have wounded spirits that need an arm around them, who need to talk, to cry. That is why we are here.”
Stockwell was talking to Allison Warren, one of the tornado survivors staying at the shelter with her 7-year old son. Warren’s apartment complex was completely destroyed, and the residents survived only by taking shelter as soon as the tornado sirens sounded, a group of 14 people huddling together under a stairwell. “Our ears popped, and the noise was deafening,” recounted Warren. “We didn’t hear a freight train sound, but the sound of steel, wood, glass breaking was deafening. When it was over, we could look up and see daylight – the roof was gone!”
Stockwell gently guided Warren to tell her story, how she and her son were doing, and how they were coping with their upside-down lives.
“It is a really good thing that the Red Cross shelter is here,” Warren said. “I don’t’ know what we would have done without it. We have nothing, just the clothes on our backs.”
Warren and her son moved in with her aunt and uncle whose home was not damaged by the tornado, but then moved out and in to the Red Cross shelter. “We felt awkward living in their calm and serene home and needed to be among others who had the same disaster experience that we had,” Warren said. “I feel somehow that that is part of our healing process, so I can reach out to others and help them through our mutual trauma.”
Stockwell cautioned her “It may take you some time to recover from this. It is important that you build a sense of foundation in your life. The fact that you can talk about it and are reaching out to help others is a good sign.”
“The Red Cross is so much more than a hot meal and cold drink,” Stockwell continued. “It is hands and hearts to serve those in need.”
