Resources for Tornado Victims in Tupelo

For Immediate Release May 4, 2014

Resources for People in Lee County / Tupelo Affected by Last Week’s Tornado

The City of Tupelo and Lee County have announced plans for the coming week to provide resources for

those affected by last week’s tornado.

Those resources include:

 The Red Cross shelter at the BancorpSouth Arena will remain open Sunday and Monday night.

On Saturday, the Red Cross had 26 registered. Red Cross workers are in the community

conducting evaluations for assistance. On Sunday a Federal Emergency Management Agency

worker arrived on site to try to help relocate families in the shelter. The Red Cross continues to

feed people at the arena and in the community.

 The United Way is searching for a semi-permanent location for the volunteer registration

center. Until then, it will continue to be the Tupelo Convention & Visitors Bureau, 399 W. Main

St, Tupelo, and will be opened each weekday from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. No satellite locations will be

open for volunteer registration during the week. For more information, call Melinda Tidwell at

(662) 213-3397.

 The Salvation Army continues to feed approximately 1,000 people each day. Food, clothing and

hygiene supplies are available at 327 Carnation St., Tupelo. The Salvation Army also has a

representative on site at the Disaster Recovery Center at 320 Court St., Tupelo, for requests and

then are sending those requests to the Carnation Street location. The Salvation Army will have a

representative at the DRC until they are no longer needed.

 The Resource Center will now serve as the single donation site for the Tupelo/Lee County

relief effort. It is open 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, is located in the Lanier Building

at 1031 South Green Street, Tupelo, MS 38804. Donations can be coordinated through the

donation hotline 662-871-2819. Individuals in need of supplies may also call 662-871-2819.

 North Green Street and Lakeshire Drive are open to through traffic. Comcast and AT&T have

crews stringing lines on North Gloster Street, so expect one lane of traffic from McCullough

Boulevard to the Highway 78 overpass.

 The Tupelo Fire Department will begin going into affected areas on Monday and clearing debris

from around hydrants.

 Workers will be in the affected areas picking up debris and replacing stop signs, which are a

priority. Workers with Tupelo Parks & Recreation will be cleaning up and documenting damage

at Ballard Park, City Park and Bel-Air.  Development Services will respond to requests as need for inspections and to offer support as

needed. The BancorpSouth arena will continue to provide shelter space as needed or requested

by the Red Cross. The CVB will work with United Way to provide a volunteer resource center

until the agency finds a semi-permanent space; CVB will conduct normal business operations.