As dawn broke Monday across a swath of destruction across central Mississippi, from Rolling Fork to Amory and continuing into Alabama, the sobering reality of what lies ahead was fixed in the minds of those who call these places home.
Between Friday night, when tornadoes first touched down near Rolling Fork, and Monday, the politicians have come and gone, staying long enough to have their photos taken and make proclamations. These little towns aren’t likely to see hide nor hair of them again.
By now, the curious gawkers have gone home, too, and the nation’s attention will turn to the next big event — the next storm, the next shooting — and the far less dramatic and less photogenic business of piecing together these little communities and towns will continue quietly. For days. For weeks. For months.
There will be no official end to the recovery and perhaps no full recovery, in the sense that some of these places can only hope to become an approximation of what existed before. The loss of 26 lives and the concentric circles of grief that accompany them will echo through the years. There’s no fixing that.
The people in these communities will have the nation’s sympathy for a brief moment, but it will be up to those of us whose investment goes beyond thoughts and prayers to rebuild and recover. Our federal and state governments will provide millions of dollars in support of that effort — grants for emergency housing, low-interest loans and other programs — to meet the intermediate and long-term needs of these communities.
But in these first few weeks, much of what is needed will be provided through donations and volunteer work of fellow Mississippians. History shows that we are up to that task.
It is something of a paradox, really. So many of us can be largely indifferent to the every-day misery that marks our state among the poorest in the nation. But when a disaster comes, we embrace them like treasured family members and are eager to help in almost every conceivable way. All judgments are set aside. It’s the need that matters.
That will certainly be the case in the little towns along the path of destruction.
This impulse to help is admirable, but for the individuals so moved, we urge them to register with organizations such as The United Way of North Mississippi, the Red Cross, The Salvation Army and other known and trusted charities so that the help offered can be used to maximum effect and directed to the areas of the most need. Whether it’s donations of food, water, clothing or volunteering to participate in clean-up efforts, a coordinated effort will maximize the effect of what is given.
Recovery and rebuilding should not be piece-meal nor random. It should follow a well-ordered plan that leaves nothing to waste and nothing ignored.
There will be a point where these kinds of efforts will no longer be needed, when the recovery will shift toward meeting the intermediate and long-term needs that only federal/state programs can provide.
But for now, the needs are great and much relies on the response of regular Mississippians. Let’s make sure no effort is wasted. As your first step, we encourage you to contact the agencies that are leading this effort. A list of agencies with volunteer opportunities can be found at VolunteerMississippi.org.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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