Sikeston storm survivor tells her story
SIKESTON, Mo. (KBSI) – Sikeston resident Retikeo Buchanan recounts what happened when a severe storm hit her property on May 26.
Buchanan says she was asleep when the tornado hit Sikeston. She woke to the noise of the storm on her doorstep that evening.
She says she awoke thinking someone was trying to break into her house before taking cover the night of the storm.
Now in the aftermath Retikeo says she was overwhelmed by the recovery process. since losing her positions in the storm but thankful for her friends that are standing behind her through the entire process.
“I feel overwhelmed but I’ve got friends that are sticking in and standing behind me,” said Buchanan. “You know making sure my needs and my everyday need but you know certain needs they can’t provide for me, I’m just working through it taking it day by day. ”
Micheal Sullivan, an executive director with the American Red Cross, says that disasters like this is what the Red Cross is here for, to be able to be there when people are in need of support in a trying time.
“So when disaster like this go through the American Red Cross is there or volunteers, our team deploys to areas like Sikeston to set up shelters and help address immediate needs,” said Sullivan.
Sullivan says hearing stories like Retikos’ is the reason he wakes up in the morning, just knowing that he is able to make a real impact in other peoples lives.
“Hearing her story is just so inspiring to me personally, you know this is why I get up every morning,” he said. “This is why all these guys we prepare, and we build volunteer base, we train our volunteers on what to do, and how to deploy. When they get here how to set up a shelter and so seeing that all come together to be able to do the work, to elevate human suffering that’s what the American Red Cross does and it’s all about helping communities like Retikos.”
While staying at the American Red Cross shelter Retikos says she feels like family in the environment they created and she wants to thank them for being there when it mattered most.
“I stayed there for a week,” said Retikos. “Oh, y’all did an awesome job. I can’t thank y’all enoug.h I’ll tell the world about you guys. I feel like they were family. I just felt all the love. I could feel all the energy from them. It was just amazing. I feel like I been knowing them all my life. ”
Because of he impact that the American Red Cross made on Retiko, she has decided to join the team with the American Red Cross to help others when it matters most.
If you would like to sign up to work with the American Red Cross you can do that by going to their website at redcross.org and be trained for when the next disaster occurs.
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