Tornado hit Mississippi US ‘like a war zone’, say volunteers | World news

Outside, houses were torn open and trees lay with their roots in the air. Inside, tables are lined up in front of tables full of food.

In Rolling Fork, Mississippi, where the hurricane has caused chaos and death, volunteers are pouring into surrounding towns to help.

The American Red Cross moved into the National Guard building less than 24 hours after the tornado struck Friday night, killing at least 25 people in an area of ​​2,000.

Read here: Tornado in Mississippi kills 25, dozens injured; Biden assured help

An ambulance was parked at the door of a room used as a hospital and, through the back door, boxes full of cereal bars and baby diapers continued to arrive.

“We’re trying to give people a chance to stay the night with food and medical support so they can just have a place to lay their head down, because they’ve lost everything,” said John Brown, a Red Cross official for Alabama and Mississippi. ” said John Brown, a Red Cross official for Alabama and Mississippi. .

The city is like a “war zone,” he said. “It looks like a bomb has gone off.”

Whether or not residents choose to stay downtown, they will have access to information and food and still have some energy, Brown said.

Anna Krisuta, 43, and her 16-year-old son Alvaro Llecha, 16, sit in the shelter, one on a stretcher, the other on a chair, light blue energy drinks in front of them.

Their house is “in pieces,” Anna Krisuta said, putting on a brave smile.

Both pulled out their cellphones to show the extent of the damage, captured on video.

The pair are not sure if they will spend the night in the center. Maybe they want to sleep in the car, Alvaro said, giving his mother a doubtful look.

The young man said he survived only by hiding in the bathroom, which he thought was the safest room in their house.

“I thought I was going to die,” he said, citing a strong wind “rushing in through the bottom of the door.”

“Stability”

Lauren Hoda traveled 70 miles (110 kilometers) from Vicksburg to Rolling Fork to volunteer.

He described a mix of sadness, grief and anger that felt “unfairly” done to the residents.

“When I woke up this morning, I wanted to cry for the people of this city because I don’t think they have much time before (the hurricane) comes. There are people eating in restaurants, families in bed ,” the 28 said. -year-old, who also experienced Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

He spent his Saturday night in Rolling Fork taking donations from the collection points: water, food, canned goods, diapers, wipes, medicine, deodorant, and toothpaste.

Jon Gebhardt, an assistant professor of military science at the University of Mississippi, traveled three hours to Rolling Fork, arriving in the middle of the night to help set up the facility.

Read here: ‘We lost everything…’: Stories of survival in post-tornado Mississippi

“I cried a lot today,” she said. “But this morning, when I woke up and saw the generosity and strength of this community to come together in such a difficult time, (I feel) lucky to be in Mississippi.”

He said he was confident in the resilience of the Mississippi Delta.

Will this community rebuild for quality and become a better version of itself in the next few years? Yes, I think so.”