By Camerron Martin
Residents of the state of Colorado often say that the seasons are a lie and that the weather is a myth due to how quickly the weather often shifts from one type to another statewide. However, many residents see horrible weather less often due to Colorado’s location. High winds and large amounts of snow and rain work their way through the state, and these storms have been known to cause large amounts of damage, but they rarely compare to the damages created by hurricanes or tornados that many other states often have to worry about each year.
When extreme weather hits places like this, they are subjected to much more damage and loss. After all, is said and done, many wonder what can be done to help those affected.
Within the last couple of weeks, Midwestern and southern states, including Tennessee, Indiana, Iowa, Arkansas, and Illinois, have seen violent weather in the form of powerful tornados that have torn through large and small communities, leaving nothing but wreckage. On Friday, March 31, a powerful EF3 tornado touched down in Arkansas, destroying parts of central and eastern communities. Little Rock, Ark., was among the twister’s path, with winds of around 166 miles per hour as it pulled apart homes and businesses.
Residents of Little Rock are not the only ones to have experienced this tragedy, as many of Arkansas’s bordering states in the south and up into the northern end of the tornado alley have all faced the same problems throughout the beginning of this year alone. With still around eight months left in 2023, it is still being determined whether or not more of these storms will break down more communities.
To have homes and businesses that have had years of hard work put into them in some cases destroyed in such a short amount of time, on top of the possibility that friends and family might not come out in one whole piece or even at all, is a sad and frighting reality those you live in these places have to think about when these events happen. Even with all the sorrow these communities are experiencing, one logical step always follows these devastating circumstances. People will always set out to rebuild.
For those who live in these communities, it’s as simple as going out and helping their neighbors pick up the pieces, but what about those who aren’t a part of them? Many people see these horrible things happening on their local news when they might live on the other side of the country and often don’t even consider ways to offer support due to the distance.
There are ways of assisting people experiencing devastations like these, even at greater distances from the event. The United States has organizations that provide services to help those who need to rebuild, such as the American Red Cross. Services such as clean-ups, search and rescue, medical assistance, sheltering, food services, and more are all rolled out into areas affected by severe weather events.
All relief organizations, such as the Red Cross, accept donations through their websites as money and supplies for the cleaning and rebuilding efforts, allowing anyone, regardless of location, to provide a little support. Even if it doesn’t feel like much, it will still make all the same difference in helping those who need it most.
