Blue Springs, Mo. – The City of Blue Springs has received an official request from the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to send a police team to aid in the recovery operations of Sunday’s devastating tornado in Joplin, Mo. The Blue Springs Police Department team consisting of 1 commander and 5 officers will perform traffic and security duties during their assignment to the Jasper County Emergency Operations Center. The team left for Joplin this afternoon at 4 p.m. and are expected to be deployed for the next 5 days.
The Joplin Emergency Operations Center is coordinating all requests for assistance though SEMA as part of the National Incident Management System (NIMS.) This system streamlines requests, eliminates redundancies and ensures getting the correct resources at the right time.
“When news of the devastation in Joplin reached us, we wanted to respond immediately. But our emergency management training taught us that unsolicited responders compete with disaster victims and first-responders for food, water, valuable cell phone band width and lodging,” said City Administrator Eric Johnson. “We are pleased to have the opportunity to respond and confident that our assistance will be well coordinated by those managing this enormous recovery effort.”
SEMA has requested that all donations (financial/blood/shelter volunteers) be coordinated through the American Red Cross and the United Way. To donate to the Red Cross, you can visit any Price Chopper, text REDCROSS to 90999 to donate $10 or call 1-800-RED-CROSS. You can volunteer time or make a donation by calling the United Way at 2-1-1 in most areas in Missouri.
The Red Cross has also partnered with the Blue Springs Family YMCA to host a blood drive this Friday, May 27 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. You can make an appointment at www.redcross.org and enter sponsor code BLUESPRINGSYMCA or by calling the Blue Springs Family YMCA Welcome Center at 816.224.9620.
The City of Blue Springs would like to extend our sympathy to the entire community of Joplin as they cope with the devastation and loss of life, and best wishes to them as they begin to rebuild lives and property.
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