I am sending an edited report from a local involved friend concerning the tornado. This is from the Aurora. Pat <big clip> There was 23 miles, 3/4 mile wide through Lawrence County of disaster. Every mile is devastating. Locally, we have all we can handle and it is hard to look beyond your immediate community. Pierce City still has buildings standing even though they will have to be torn down. Stockton didn't even have buildings left. We came into Pierce City from the north Sat. evening. There were no trees around the spring area just before you enter town. The metal buildings and old houses you first pass have parts standing but are not salvageable. The old downtown area has the building fronts standing, but shells behind. Yesterday, I saw a 10 minute video of the tornado approaching Aurora. It was unbelievable. You could see the smaller ones spin off and then go up. One man I spoke with said his neighbor got two pictures of the tornado just before it hit his house. It was well forecasted and on the ground so long that there are lots of good pictures. The County emergency services were warned Sat. noon to expect a major storm later Sunday. They were in place and waiting. The County has contracted for the debris to be picked up. Most of the area hit is rural. The company cannot go onto the private property. So there is a need for volunteers to help move the debris to the road. There is a mobil home frame in a fence row on ZZ. I hope that is close enough to the road! I am learning about all types of disaster ministries. The one I learned about today is a church in Iowa has a daycare ministry. They have trailers set up as daycares that they move in for the victims so they can work on their property. All the personnel are cleared and licensed. You can't have the ladies at the local church do it, they have to have background checks! How regulated we are!!! I had Red Cross Volunteers come in today. One from Iowa and one from Vermont. Their job was to see to the elderly and minority storm victims!!!............. <clip> Your report about no clothing is true. I was warned from the start about accepting clothing. Red Cross wouldn't accept it from day one and now I know why. I stopped accepting clothing late last week and received a call from someone on the County level warning about accepting more. I have accepted extra large clothing. That is the only request I have had................. .......... a handout of places in the two towns where people can get food, clothing, showers, household items, and volunteer help. The Aurora Rural Fire Department is handing them out to the people. Communication is difficult. They are all working on their property without electricity. They are not listening to the TV or radio. Many even lost their cars. One "upscale" looking family said their three cars were all parked in different areas and all were destroyed. We are seeing a tremendous outpouring of support from family, friends, employers, and coworkers. Most people are getting what they need through this sphere of support. <big clip>