On Good Friday, and EF4 tornado touched down in my hometown of Bridgeton, Missouri.
It's where I grew up. It's where a majority of my relatives still live. It's where I ran and played as a child.
Luckily, all of my family is fine, and their homes are standing. Some of them are without power and could be for days. Most of them have extensive damage to their yards. But all of them are safe, and still have homes.
This isn't the case for many. The streets I used to ride my bike through are changed permanently. Houses have been leveled. And as with all tornadoes, the destruction doesn't make any sense. One house stands perfectly fine, while the next is missing shingles and siding, but the one after that? Well, it's leveled. Leaving it's occupants homeless.
http://media.trb.com/media/graphic/2011-04/426119780-23083814.jpg
I know there are disasters everywhere, all the time. And I always feel lucky and blessed to realize that I am safe and my family is safe. This one touched a little too close to home for me, and once again I am thankful beyond all words for my family's safety. But I am so very saddened for those who have lost so much. Who have lost their homes.
If you want to help, you can donate to the St. Louis chapter of the Red Cross here: https://www.redcrossstlstore.org/newdonate.aspx
You can also donate to the United Way's 2-1-1 storm help here: http://www2.stl.unitedway.org/site/TR/Events/General?pxfid=1310&fr_id=1030&pg=fund
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