Arkansas Tornado Relief
July 2023 – December 2023
Last updated: December 2023
Communities in Northeast Arkansas are still recovering after a series of devastating tornadoes struck the region in December 2021. With the support of the American Red Cross, All Hands and Hearts (AHAH) will conduct long-awaited home repairs. Additionally, we aim to build local resilience to future events through installing storm shelters and delivering Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) training.
Our Work
Our team is working alongside Northeast Arkansas communities, primarily in the towns of Trumann and Leachville, whose homes were heavily impacted by the Quad State Tornadoes. We plan to install 40 MightySafe Tornado Shelter Systems, impacting 149 lives. Engineered to exceed all standard requirements for an EF-5 tornado (the most powerful rating on the Enhanced Fujita Scale), families can be fully protected to withstand 250 mph winds and 100,000 pounds of roof load while inside the shelter. The team will also conduct essential repairs on 19 homes, including ripping out moldy drywall, replacing flooring and siding, removing and updating broken doors and windows and felling hazardous trees.
We are partnering with the Long Term Recovery Group (LTRG), the American Red Cross and Legal Aid of Arkansas to host a series of DRR and preparedness trainings. The training supports each community to develop DRR practices and reduce the risks posed by future disasters. This program will be the first in AHAH history to incorporate DRR training into a U.S.-based program.
Current Happenings
With the program closing at the end of the year, the team is busy wrapping up the final projects. They are diligently finalizing four crucial home repairs, ensuring families can return to safe and secure dwellings. Simultaneously, they’re wrapping up the completion of 23 storm shelters, safeguarding communities from unpredictable weather. With a strong focus on mitigation and building resilience within the communities of Northeast Arkansas, we are proud to have worked alongside these disaster-affected regions and have made a lasting impact.
Disaster Profile
In early December of 2021, the tornado outbreak recognized as the Quad State Tornadoes crossed Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, and Missouri in four hours, killing 71 people and causing $4 billion in damages to homes, buildings and crops in its 250-mile path.
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