ST. LOUIS – A devastating tornado destroyed property and took lives in Joplin in 2011. The city has made a remarkable recovery in the years that followed.
FOX 2 reached out to Leslie Haase, Joplin’s finance director, to ask how the city managed the influx of goodwill and disaster relief and if she had any advice for anyone wanting to help those devastated by Hurricane Helene.
Haase pointed out that there were citizens who needed help and the city itself needed help after assets, including fire stations, were lost.
She said the work of charities, donations that included clothing, water and food were all beneficial, but volunteers and neighbors helping neighbors were critical components to Joplin’s recovery.
The city with help from the state maintained a detailed documentation of damage and donations that helped determine federal assistance as well.
“It really took all of that to help us recover in the manner that we recovered and as quickly as we recovered,” Haase said.
Part of a community’s disaster recovery process includes identifying what help is needed and the type of help that can address those needs, according to Haase.
“You need to give communities some time to do that,” she said. “I think the best advice is to listen to the information that’s coming from those communities and provide what they’re asking for,” Haase said.
She believes when donating to a disaster relief effort, it’s important to listen to what community’s say. She also hopes donors will remember that help will be needed well beyond the immediate aftermath.
“Don’t forget what’s happened and look six months out and see what you can do to assist at that point,” Haase added.
She teared up when asked for her reaction to communities devastated by Hurricane Helene.
“They’re in our hearts and our prayers, and we’re here to assist in any way that we can,” she said.
The American Red Cross provided three years of long-term recovery assistance in Joplin, according to Beth Elders, executive director of the American Red Cross of Greater St. Louis.
The same type of commitment is taking place right now with volunteers providing disaster relief to hurricane damaged areas in multiple states.
“The American Red Cross is in it for the long run to help bring those individuals and their families impacted and through a full recovery.”
The agency continues to seek more volunteers.
Elders said in some cases, well-intentioned donations do not match up with a community’s needs.
“Sometimes those uncoordinated efforts of individuals wanting to bring loosely donated items, used clothing, whatever that might be is sometimes what we refer to as ‘the disaster after the disaster,’” she said.
In some cases, it takes a lot of additional resources to find ways to get those supplies to those in need.
The Better Business Bureau provides guidance for those looking for ways to donate following major disasters.
The agency has more specific guidance related to Hurricane Helene.
The BBB also points out that in the age of artificial intelligence, consumers may see images that pull at their heartstrings. The agency encourages everyone to make sure any calls to action are from a legitimate charity before donating.
