Organizations respond to Missouri tornado disasters

From left: Jono Anzalone with FEMA and
Karen Haren, with Harvesters.
A press conference was held at Harvesters food bank in Kansas City on Thursday, May 26, 2011 with Jono Anzalone, Regional Voluntary Agency Liaison with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Margaret Larson, Disaster Services Specialist with the Feeding America, and Karen Haren, president of Harvesters. At least two television stations and a reporter with the Kansas City Star were in attendance.

Anzalone emphasized the importance of working through designated agencies like Harvesters to deliver assistance most effectively. He stated that 6000 people have registered to volunteer at Missouri Southern State University, the Joplin tornado relief coordination site. The influx of concerned people was straining the resources of the very community that was dealing with devastation from the tornado.

He further encouraged people to donate money to organizations designated by the state of Missouri  or register their skills at the Show-Me Response website, a site run by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. Anzalone underscored the importance of donating money, when possible, because it is a more effective, quicker way to deliver disaster relief. He noted that a 50 cent can of vegetables donated from out-of-state ends up of costing $18 when the cost of transportation and labor is considered.

Larson emphasized the effectiveness of private, non-profit organizations like Harvesters working with public institutions like FEMA to coordinate the collection and distribution of food. She mentioned that six truckloads of food have been gathered for delivery to Joplin through area donations.

Harvesters, acting in concert with Feeding America and FEMA, collected a truckload of bleach and personal hygiene products like shampoo and conditioner. The food bank also delivered 10,000 sack lunches for delivery for relief workers. The lunches included ready-to-eat items like cheese, pudding, tuna, crackers, and apple juiceboxes.

The conference highlighted the importance of a private-public partnership to provide disaster relief and assistance.

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