springfield, missouri

Description

http://socialmediabar.com/moreformoore This is my story of Oklahoma's 2013 Tornado devastation. I am a native to Oklahoma, born and raised in Tulsa. Today, just 100 miles west of my own home- my place of security, where I spend time with those I love- tornadoes devastated Moore, Oklahoma. Flattening 2 schools and numerous homes, there are over 50 reported dead, including 9 children who drowned in their collapsed school. In two more days, it will be the two-year anniversary of the day an F-5 tornado killed 158 people in Joplin, Missouri; which lies 100 miles east of my home. In early June of 2011, 2 weeks within the Joplin tornado, my brother and I drove to Springfield, Missouri to visit my grandparents. Passing back through Joplin on the way home, I was thinking for miles that I should stop and help with whatever work was happening to relieve those devastated so close to my home. I didn't have a lot of time to spend, probably 2 hours at most to help, but I made the decision that day to keep driving home. I have regretted that decision since then, and today was a tragic reminder of that regret. I was 2 exits from home on my way back from work this evening when I made the decision to turn around and go to Tulsa's Red Cross location all the way across town. When I arrived, I was crushed to see an empty parking lot; nothing was being done to help those in need. The only signs of life in the parking lot were a cameraman and newscaster. I asked them if anything was happening that night for disaster relief and they told me that Tulsa was "Standing by". Dismayed, I turned around and went home. The only thing I prayed on the way to and back from the Red Cross was this: "Use my eyes to find the hurting, my feet to bring me to them, my hands to rebuild, my mouth to comfort and my heart to love." I decided when I got home that I could give my camera, laptop and business to the cause as well, so I shot this video.