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IBEW Helps With Tornado Recovery Efforts

June 6, 2011

The labor movement has been in the front lines of relief efforts in Joplin, Mo., getting food and supplies to those in need and raising funds for families who lost everything in the deadly May 22  twister, which leveled a third of the city, killing more than 130 residents.

Says Eleventh District International Representative Greg Logan, who came to Joplin to help with the recovery efforts:

We’ve all seen the pictures on TV, but I couldn’t believe the scope of destruction after seeing it in person.

Annie Deken, AFL-CIO community services liaison with the nearby Springfield Central Labor Council, writes about being on ground in Joplin on the AFL-CIO Blog:

The Joplin area was in disarray, dealing with missing loved ones, loss of homes and all possessions and tragic death … By Tuesday I had started making contact with local unions. They were having difficulty getting accurate counts of members who have suffered minor damage or major damage, injuries, deaths or who were accounted for.

The building trades have set up grilling stations in the city to feed rescue workers, while the Teamsters donated food items to keep volunteer kitchens stocked.

The disaster left no Joplin family untouched, including those of IBEW members. Local 95 has eight members who lost their homes.

The local set up a membership relief fund to help those brothers and sister in need. Donations can be sent to Local 95, 3316 S. Main Street, Joplin, Missouri 64804.

IBEW linemen and tree trimmers from throughout the region have poured into Joplin, working days and nights to help restore power to the area.

Logan says:

It will take time, but everyone is pleased with the restoration efforts so far.

Meanwhile, recovery efforts continue in Alabama, which was devastated by a series of twisters in April.  

In addition to getting the power back on in only five days, the IBEW has been active in helping needy families in affected communities.

Birmingham Local 136 member Bobby Hammer, who chairs the local’s tornado relief effort committee, reports:

Local 136 decided that we could help by doing what we do best other than electrical work and that is cook something. We have been able to cook over 300 Boston butts, make barbeque sandwiches and distribute them to hard hit areas.

In many areas, Local 136 provided the first hot meal many families have had in weeks.

Union Plus provides grants to union members affected by natural disasters. Click here for more information.

Photo used under a Creative Commons License from Flickr user el clinto.

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