State Sen. Volunteers to Clean Up Joplin, MO.

State Sen. Tom Dempsey and his daughter, Meaghan Dempsey, spent two days in Joplin with other volunteers helping with the recovery from the tornado that destroyed the town.

They worked with a rescue group and dogs, searching for a woman who had been a resident of an assisted living program.  They dug through debris – paying special attention to “hot spots” – where odors had been detected. 

That night the group had been prepared to sleep in the trucks, but got an invite from a Joplin state representative to stay at his home.  The state representative had barely survived the storm, trapped in an I-HOP restaurant right next to Home Depot, which was completely destroyed.
 
Driving home the second night, Tom and Meaghan wondered how they would be able to describe what they had just seen.  “It’s indescribable,” he said.  

Though the tornado was a tragic event, Tom is heartened by the compassion and concern that St. Louisans showed by supporting the collection drives.  He also had no trouble getting volunteers to help load the trucks and others to accompany him.  He asked for monetary donations and got them — including a $2,500 check from his employer, First National Bank of St. Louis.  Tom collected another $500 in donations as well.
 
Tom says the only way he can explain the magnitude of the destruction is to relate it to his home town of St. Peters.  He says if you imagine the area between Jungermann Rd. and Spencer Rd. from Hwy 70 to Hwy 94 almost completely destroyed. Barnes St. Peters Hospital, the surrounding office medical, the schools, churches, grocery stores, apartment buildings, and every home in that area a debris pile and you get an idea of the size and scope of the damage.