A Month After The Tornado, Eldon Is Rebuilding

One month after an EF-1 tornado touched down in Eldon, Mo. the close-knit community is slowly working to rebuild and regain a semblance of order. The horrific tornado hit after many had already gone to bed on the evening of Wednesday, May 22. Delivering 104 mph winds, the twister toppled trees and power lines, ripped off roofs and destroyed homes. There was a single injury reported, and no fatalities.

The community of Eldon, emergency response officials, city workers, utility workers, churches and strangers from across the country, quickly sprang into action the same night, selflessly rallying around the victims to come to their aid.

An emergency shelter was set up at the Eldon Community Center to house those who lost their homes. The shelter immediately provided for basic needs; food, shelter, water and medical attention.

Eldon churches, through the Eldon Ministerial Alliance, and Serve Eldon, mobilized an army of volunteers, donating money, items, food, man hours and space to store emergency supplies.

Eldon Disaster Relief Center — photo by Ariel Thibodeau

Serve Eldon Team At Disaster Relief Center — photo by Ariel Thibodeau

Serving Eldon

Serve Eldon is a benevolent agency started six years ago. “We saw that there were needs in the community that were not being met, and we felt like the Lord was calling us to do more for our community,” Serve Eldon Co-Founder Sydney Tompkins said. Serve Eldon members volunteered all over the city in the aftermath of the tornado. A Disaster Relief Center was set up at the First Christian Church of Eldon, where they donated and collected specific necessary personal items lost in the storm such as; blankets, towels, pots and pans, etc. The Central Bank of the Lake of the Ozarks presented a check in the amount of $5,000 to Serve Eldon on Thursday, June 20 to assist them in their ongoing efforts. “From here on out, we will continue to identify the needs of the people,” Tompkins said.

Giving To Serve Eldon — Central Bank of Lake of the Ozarks Representative Todd Rader and Rick Caine presented a $5,000 check to the Serve Eldon group on Thursday, June 20 at Central Bank in Eldon. Pictured front from left are, First Christian Church Pastor’s Wife Lisa Foglesong, Haley Thompson, Charlette Crouch, Serve Eldon Co-Founder Sydney Tompkins, Rick Caine (with Central Bank), Logan Proctor, Tara Brownlee and John Coffman, back from left, Denise Taylor, Mary Martin, First Christian Church Pastor Bill Foglesong, Patti Gibson, Rose Adams, Dennis Gibson, Heather Brandt and Todd Rader (also with Central Bank)
photo provided by Serve Eldon

The Eldon Community Center Shelter closed on Tuesday, June 11. A second shelter was set up on Monday, June 9, to house an approximate 10 victims that are still homeless. The second shelter is located at the Russellville Baptist Church. Some of the people at the shelter were rendered homeless by the May 22 tornado, and a few were transported to Eldon, after losing their home to flood waters in Jefferson City.

Neighborhood Badly Damaged By Eldon Tornado — photo by Michele Vernon.jpg

Still Homeless

Residents of two senior housing developments were among the victims that lost their homes the night of Wednesday, May 22. Some of them were able to move in with family members. A few were relocated to low income housing in different cities. There are still some displaced seniors that have not found permanent housing. Currently, area churches are paying for them to stay at a hotel, while the search continues to find permanent homes.

The disaster response center at the First Christian Church of Eldon will remain open from noon to 4 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, to the end of June. They are distributing personal care, household and non-perishable food items. “We have plenty and we welcome anyone who has been displaced to come and help themselves,” First Christian Church Pastor Fogelson said. “If we have anything left when we close, we will donate it to the Mustang Back Pack program and/or The Eldon United Methodist Church Young Mother’s Program,” he said. For additional information, or for assistance, call 573-392-8282.

Slow Going

According to Eldon Emergency Management Director/Eldon Fire Chief Randy Vernon, they are still in the long process of cleaning up trees and debris, left in the wake of the tornado. “We will meet with FEMA officials on Monday to discuss public assistance,” Chief Vernon said. The city and the county will submit a report to see if they qualify for FEMA aid. “Everyone needs to bear with us, it is a slow process. That is just how the government works,” Chief Vernon explained.

Business Damaged By Eldon Tornado — LAKE SHOTS PHOTOGRAPHY

Eldon Businesses Recovering — photo by Ariel Thibodeau

If approved to receive FEMA funds, individual homeowners will be able to apply for monetary benefits to cover some of the damage costs. “Most of them had insurance that covered the needed repairs,” County Emergency Management Agency Director Mike Rayhart said. For those that did not, they will accept monetary donations to help with things like roof repairs, to get people who cannot afford repairs, back into their homes.

Pay Attention to the Weather, Call 211

Coming out on the other side of this disaster with hindsight, Rayhart urges people to pay attention to the weather. “The weather in Missouri changes constantly, especially during a storm event” Rayhart said. “The night of the Eldon tornado there were tornadoes spread across the state. It was a very significant weather event. Always be prepared for adverse weather conditions and have an emergency kit. If you need help, call 211, and you will be connected to all emergency agencies in one hub.”

“I continue to be heartened by the outpouring of response and the willingness of our community to step up and help each other,” Pastor Fogelson commended. “I just wish we had housing for the last few people, so they didn’t have to live in a hotel.”