Urgent Need for Volunteers in Winson Co.

WINSTON CO., Miss. – (WCBI) Support organizations are in place, but the volunteer pool is drying up in Winston County following the April 28 tornado.

Tony McNeil, a program manager with Samaritan’s Purse, said local volunteers typically become scarce as communities recover from a disaster and as media outlets turn their attention to other subjects.

McNeil arrived in Louisville the day after the tornado, and teams began assisting victims on April 30.

“Whether we have eight or 800 volunteers, we can put volunteers to work,” he said.

Samaritan’s Purse has addressed about half of the 200 work orders received in the first two weeks after the storm.

Another volunteer organization working the recovery is Team Rubicon, which formed after the Haiti earthquake and includes veterans and first responders. By May 13, Team Rubicon had assisted the Knights of Columbus in volunteer management at the Louisville Coliseum, and closed out 53 work orders for debris removal and roof tarping.

Samaritan’s Purse and Team Rubicon provide supervisors and equipment for volunteers. Charitable organizations cannot volunteer on commercial or rental property.

Americorp Volunteers are scheduled to arrive May 20.