Community members helping out in the aftermath of EF-2 tornado in Delta

DELTA, Mo. (KBSI) – UPDATE: Those interested in volunteering for sandbagging efforts can report to the Black River Coliseum lobby at 10 a.m., 2 p.m. or 4 p.m. today.

Alternatively, volunteers can join Samaritan’s Purse sandbagging team at First Baptist Church at 12:30 p.m.

Community members in need of sandbags can pick them up outside the Downtown Farmer’s Market in the parking lot across from the Black River Coliseum.

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Community members are helping each other out in the aftermath of an EF-2 tornado that hit the area Wednesday evening. 

Resident Evan Tellor lives on the outskirts of town. He said he grabbed his dogs and ran inside when he saw the storm coming. The house shook and the lights flickered, but it sounded differently than he expected.

“It wasn’t like a freight train like they tell you,” he said. “It was more like jets on a plane and you could hear trees snapping — power surging. It was – it was intense, for real.”

The powerful tornado damaged approximately 200 structures as it moved northeast along Highway 25, causing severe roof damage to many structures.

Facing a long road ahead of them as they grapple with the wreckage, people are coming out to support one another.

Lyberty Glueck lives in Advance just south of Delta. She had planned to pick up a puppy from Delta resident Chris – worried about him and the dogs after the storm hit, she went to check on them.

“He saw me and he was like, ‘your dog’s fine, your dog’s fine,'” she said. “I was like, ‘Okay. Are you okay?’ I asked if he needed any help and he said no, but I said I was here to do it anyway. So, we’ve just been picking up debris.”

Out front of the Delta Quick Mart — which was damaged by the storm – free hot dogs and hamburgers were being served to residents, workers, and anyone else in need.

Without power, local business owner Chuck Stratton said he couldn’t open his drive-in, so he and others decided to help out instead.

“There’s lots of damage and it’s pretty bad here. So we decided, today let’s go serve some food,” he said. “We’re trying to serve a lot of these people here that need something to eat and drink and just try to keep them going so they can keep doing their job.”