Generous Kansans have been asked to put their well-meaning efforts on hold for a while, as lead agencies and residents work to restore some sense of normalcy for tornado victims in Greensburg.
“They are being overwhelmed by donations,” said Rick Frevert, Lyon County Emergency Management coordinator.
Frevert learned of the decision late this morning in a telephone conference with the State Emergency Operation Center.
Truckloads of donations are sitting outside Greensburg and Haviland, waiting to be admitted to the city, he said.
“What they need right now are those vehicles that have mission numbers by the Salvation Army, or tasking numbers, to continue on in. If you don’t have a mission number ... please do not bring anything else out there. They’re not asking,” Frevert said. “They’re begging.”
Salvation Army and the United Way of Kansas have been designated as lead agencies for organizing specific needs and functions at Greensburg.
Money and blood are under the auspices of the Salvation Army, as are the donations of goods and the trucks that haul them into the city.
“If you want to donate your time, go through the United Way of Kansas,” Frevert said.
That agency can be reached by dailing “211.”
Frevert said that one person had received a broken leg Thursday while working in Greensburg, and three others also were injured.
“There is heavy equipment still trying to move the debris out,” he said. Kansas Department of Transportation and military vehicles took out more than 620 truckloads on Thursday, which equates to about 5,652 cubic yards of debris. Homeowners took out another 170 truck loads, or 3,289 cubic yards.
“Yesterday alone; just yesterday,” Frevert said.
The State Emergency Operation Center is asking at the moment that people donate cash through the Salvation Army.
Efforts remain underway here to help collect goods and financial assistance for tornado victims in Greensburg.
Contributions to the Salvation Army are being collected at Price Chopper, both Reeble’s Country Mart stores, and Bluestem Farm and Ranch Supply through a project sponsored by Emporia’s Radio Stations/KVOE.
Cash donations, as well as a variety of items, continued to be accepted by the First Congregational Church.
Pastor Chad Poland said this morning that the church is working with the Kansas Food Bank, which has been designated as a primary warehouse and distributor by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
“We’re not going to roll into Greensburg,” Poland said. “It’s going to the Kansas Food Bank, where it will be sorted, organized and inventoried. As those items are requested by the various agencies, it will be distributed at that time. We’re not going to be adding to the bottleneck.”
Items will be collected at a truck on the south side of the Flinthills Mall parking lot. Collections will begin on Saturday and continue through Tuesday. Times of operation are: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday.
Poland said that John Alvarado will oversee the packing process of the trailer. Sutherland’s has donated use of a pallet jack to help with the loading, and Thomas Transfer has donated the 48-foot truck unit and packing boxes.
“The City of Emporia has also donated a dumpster to handle the waste that will no doubt occur as we sort and consolidate items,” Poland said. “We may do this again in the future though we probably will be collecting different items. As the recovery process goes through its various stages, the necessary items and personnel needs will change.
Donations of clothes and household items are not being requested or accepted at this time.
tunit (anonymous) says...
What a wonderful state we live in! I can't think of any other people anywhere else in the world where the state "begs" you not to donate. The people of this great state should be applauded for thier efforts and sincerity for the unfortunate people of Greensburg. This is truly an amazing display of how caring and giving we are as Kansans. My heart and prayers go out to the people of the Greensburg area. I can really say that I am proud to be from Kansas.
May 11, 2007 at 4:50 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )