ST. LOUIS, Mo. (First Alert 4) - Here’s how to find help and first steps towards disaster recovery following the May 16 storms.

Finding shelter

The American Red Cross has opened emergency shelters in St. Louis City, Sikeston, Missouri, Marion, Illinois, and Decatur, Illinois. The locations are listed below:

• Urban League Water Tower Campus, 2141 Bissell St., St. Louis, MO
• Friendly Temple Outreach Center, 6356 Dr. Martin Luther King Drive, St. Louis, Missouri
• Peter & Paul Community Services: Garfield Building, 2612 Wyoming St. Louis, Missouri
• 12th & Park Recreation Center, 1410 S. Tucker Blvd., St. Louis, Missouri
• Refresh Community Church, 829 North Hanley, St. Louis, Missouri
• Peter & Paul Community Services, Garfield Building, 2612 Wyoming Street, St Louis, Missouri
• City of Miner Convention Center, 2610 E Malone Avenue, Sikeston, Missouri
• Cornerstone Church, 2705 Walton Way, Marion, Illinois
• The Red Cross Decatur Office, 2674 North Main Street, Decatur, Illinois

The Grace United Methodist Church, 6199 Waterman Boulevard, St. Louis, Missouri, is closed due to a roof leak.

Those in need do not need to provide identification or proof of residency for shelter. You can also call the Red Cross on their 24-hour line at 1-800-Red-Cross (800-733-2767) or the St. Louis office directly at 314-516-2800

The Red Cross said all locations can provide help in both English and Spanish.

A resource directory can be found on the Red Cross website, at redcross.org/get-help/resources

Annie Malone has also opened a crisis center to provide shelter, food, and recovery guidance. The center is located at:

• Annie Malone Crisis Center, 5355 Page Blvd., St. Louis, Missouri

Food, laundry and other aid

Meals

The Urban League offers three hot meals daily at 1408 N. Kingshighway Blvd., St. Louis, Missouri. Mealtime is at:

• 7:30 to 9 a.m. for breakfast
• 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. for lunch
• 5 to 6:30 p.m. for dinner

Sandwiches are being given to those affected at The Biscuit t, 649 Washington Ave, St. Louis, MO, United States, Missouri. This is during their business hours of 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Warm meals will be served from 3 to 5 p.m. at Deli Divine 5501 Delmar Blvd. Suite 5535D, St. Louis, Missouri.

The Northside Youth and Senior Service Center is offering meals and transportation to those over 60 years old and to disabled adults. These services can be accessed by calling for meals 314-531-1937 and for rides: 314-652-9946

On Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., non-perishable foods will be distributed at New Horizons United Methodist Church, 4234 Washington Blvd, St. Louis, Missouri.

Red Cross shelters, listed above, are providing three meals a day.

SNAP residents whose power went out and food spoiled can request replacement SNAP benefits. The request must be made by Monday, May 26. Anyone eligible can fill out a form on the Missouri Department of Social Services website.

Laundry and showers

Laundry and shower services are being offered from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the New Horizons United Methodist Church, 4234 Washington Blvd, St. Louis, Missouri.

Shower services are available at the 12th and Park Recreation Center. MetroBus is providing nightly pick-up from the Save-A-Lot in The Ville 3645 Page Blvd., St. Louis, Missouri, to the rec center.

General

Wagner Portraits will be replacing school portraits free of charge.

Medication can be refilled for free at Betty Jean Kerr People’s Health Centers – Delmar Location, 5701 Delmar Blvd., St. Louis, Missouri.

You can access food, toiletries, and clothes at the Metro Trans Umbrella Group at 3133 Oregon Avenue. They also offer chargers for electronic devices.

Various relief supplies can be accessed at the Urban League’s Kingshighway location, 1408 Kingshighway Blvd., St. Louis, Missouri. As well as at 4144 Martin Luther King Drive, St. Louis, Missouri.

The Bullet Related Injury Clinic is at Fountain Park on Wednesday, and is offering meals, hygiene kits and diapers, and various household items.

The St. Louis Recorder of Deeds Office is offering alternative ways of identification for residents in certain area codes to make it easier to obtain records like birth certificates, death records, and marriage licenses. The following zip codes are eligible:

• 63101
• 63102
• 63103
• 63105
• 63106
• 63107
• 63108
• 63110
• 63111
• 63112
• 63113
• 63115
• 63147

Cleaning up

Safety should be the first priority when cleaning up debris after a disaster.

The initial steps should be to seek professional help through government assistance or organizations like the Red Cross to help guide you through the process.

Do not approach downed power lines. Instead, call Ameren Missouri at 800-552-7583 to report them. Always assume power lines are live and dangerous and should be immediately reported.

Residents of St. Louis City can report storm damage to the Citizens’ Service Bureau.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has resources on best practices for cleaning up after a disaster. This includes:

• Clean and disinfect everything. They suggest following the steps of “air out, move out, tear out, clean out and dry out.”
• Be aware of any hazardous or dangerous material. Call the fire department if there are any issues with items like propane tanks or leaking chemicals. The St. Louis City Fire Department can be reached at (314) 533-3406
• Know how and what materials to separate. FEMA suggests separating electronics, large appliances, construction debris such as drywall or carpet, household garbage, and “vegetative” debris such as trees and leaves. Check that you do not block any roadways, fire hydrants or meters when disposing of debris.

Nonprofit organizations can apply through FEMA for assistance at fema.gov/assistance/public

U-Haul is offering those affected by storms 30 days of free self-storage and U-Box container to help with clean up and storage. Participating stores can be found at the following U-Haul locations:

• 14767 Manchester, Ballwin, Missouri. Their number is: (636) 230-6770
• 9820 Page Ave, Overland, Missouri. Their number is: (314) 423-5151
• 418 S Tucker Blvd., Saint Louis, Missouri. Their number is (314) 667-4239
• 7270 Olive Blvd., University City, Missouri. Their number is: (314) 862-4433
• 415 N Illinois Ave., Carbondale, Illinois. Their number is: (618) 529-2771

Mental health

Natural disasters are stressful, but you don’t have to cope alone.

Behavioral Health Response is available 24 hours a day to call at 988 or 314-819-8811, or text at 31658. For help with disaster distress, specifically call 1-800-985-5990

The Annie Malone Crisis Center offers on-the-spot connection to counseling and recovery guidance. They are located at 5355 Page Blvd., St. Louis, Missouri.

The Urban League will help connect you with counseling and mental health referrals, as well as long-term case management, housing assistance, following the initial storm response. Their main location is at 1408 N. Kingshighway Blvd., St. Louis, Missouri. You can also them at 314-615-3600 or www.ulstl.com

Financial

After you and your family are safe, here are steps to help alleviate any financial burden brought on by the tornado.

• Make a claim with your insurance. Document what was lost or damaged and a timeline of events. If you are unsure where to start, you can learn with this video.
• Protect yourself from scams. For repairs, work with local contractors, check with the Better Business Bureau before g any contracts, and make sure you have a written contract. For donations, make sure you are donating to a government organization or a certified nonprofit.
• Losses from natural disasters may be tax-deductible. Keep track of losses, any money spent to repair damage, and proof of any insurance benefits. IRS Publication 574 lists more in-depth information on this tax relief.

St. Louis County says anyone who needs help with food assistance, disaster relief applications, emergency shelter, job searches and unemployment resources can schedule an appointment with a St. Louis County Library social worker. Details can be found by clicking here.

St. Louis Realtors are offering housing assistance grants for those impacted up to $1000. You can apply until July 31 on the St. Louis Realtors website.

Ways to help

Those wishing to help their community have opportunities to donate and volunteer.

You can the Missouri State Emergency Management Agency by dialing 211 or (800) 427-4626. This information is also available at the 211 Missouri website.

The SEMA 211 website also has ways to donate to those affected.

SEMA stresses that volunteers should not “self-deploy” and ask that volunteers sign up to avoid putting themselves in danger or causing interference through disorganization.

The city of St. Louis has set up a Tornado Relief Fund for those who can donate.

St. Elizabeth’s Adult Day Care Centers have launched a relief hub for tornado victims. You can drop off essential goods, including bottled water, hygiene kits, baby supplies, cleaning supplies, flashlights and tarps between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. weekdays at the center at 3683 Cook Avenue in St. Louis.

St. Elizabeth’s will also match $1 for $1 up to $10,000 for donations made through here.

The Williamson County Emergency Management Agency in Illinois is opening a volunteer reception center for those able to help clean up debris at 10 a.m. at the City of Marion Training Center, 211 East Boulevard Street, Marion, Illinois. The EMA manager noted they are especially looking for volunteers who have chainsaws to help clear the large debris left behind.

The office of Alderman Daniel Valquez is collecting supplies for first responders such as water, trash bags, flashlights batteries, snacks and more at Power Creative at 3221 Oak Hill Ave in South City between 12 p.m. and 5 p.m.

The Urban League is collecting donations to help with immediate and long-term aid. Supplies donations can be dropped off at the Urban League at 1408 N. Kingshighway. To volunteer with the Urban League, call 314-337-3683 or visit www.ulstl.com

The United Way is asking people who want to donate to visit helpingpeople.org/stormrelief, and those wanting to volunteer to go to STLVolunteer.org.

The Salvation Army is responding to impacted neighborhoods in St. Louis with water, snacks and emotional and spiritual care. Visit salarmy.us/middisaster to donate to their efforts.

The Northside Youth and Senior Services Center will be providing meals and transportation to seniors and disabled adults. Donations to the center can be made on their website, nsyssc.org/get-involved/donate

The Little Bit Foundation is collecting items and money to help those impacted. Click here to learn more.

Many organizations around St. Louis are stepping up to help in their own way. Do314 has organized a web page to promote tornado relief events.

The St. Louis Blues are selling ‘St. Louis Strong’ shirts to benefit local relief efforts. Click here to learn more.

Volunteers are needed at City Foundry to sort through the many donated items and get them ready to be distributed to ECE Hubs, where they will be donated directly to child care centers and the families they serve. Other shifts are available today through Saturday. Volunteers should sign up here: https://www.genius.com/go/10C054EA9A928A6FFC43-57020334-early#/

If you’d like to donate specifically to the Gateway Early Childhood Alliance Fund, you can click here, to visit the St. Louis Community Foundation website.

The St. Louis Area Foodbank is accepting donations for tornado recovery. Click here to donate.

The Gateway YMCA has been providing on-site aid for those in the community. You can donate to help on their website; 100% percent of the donations go back to the community.

Home Sweet Home in Maplewood is accepting nonperishable food items, cleaning products, disinfecting wipes, bleach, paper towels and toilet paper to bring to tornado-impacted areas. Donations can be made at their loading dock at 10 Sunnen Drive, Suite 100, Maplewood, MO 63143, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Pets

The Humane Society of Missouri (HSMO) has been giving away pet food and water, as well as offering temporary boarding for pets of those affected by the storms. If you or someone you know needs pet assistance while recovering from the storms, HSMO at 314-647-4400 for help.

If your pet became lost during the storms, here are some steps to help you reunite.

If your pet has a microchip, the microchip company and notify them that your pet is lost. Make sure your information is up to date.

Visit area shelters to see if your pet has been found and turned in. You may need to visit each shelter a few times, depending on when your pet is found. Shelters they may be at include:

• Animal Protective Association of Missouri, 1705 S. Hanley, Brentwood, Missouri. Their number is: (314) 645-4610
• Humane Society of Missouri Best Buddy Pet Center, 11660 istration Dr. (Page & Schuetz), Maryland Heights, Missouri. Their number is: (314) 951-1588
• Humane Society of Missouri – Macklind Ave. Headquarters, 1201 Macklind Ave., St. Louis, Missouri. Their number is: (314) 951-1562
• St. Louis County Animal Care & Control, 10521 Baur Boulevard, Olivette, Missouri. Their number is: (314) 615-0650
• Animal Care Center (managed by CARE STL), 2801 Clark Ave., St. Louis, Missouri. Their number is: 314-612-5310
• Stray Rescue of St. Louis, 2320 Pine Street, St. Louis, Missouri. Their number is: 314-771-6121
• Saint Louis County Animal Care and Control, 10521 Baur Boulevard, Olivette, Missouri. Their number is: 314-615-0650

Check STL Lost Pets to see if your pet has been listed, and check community pages on social media, such as Missouri Lost & Found.

Stray Rescue announced it is coordinating pet food donations with tornado relief drop off sites for free community pick up.

If you are forced to leave your pet behind, Stray Rescue urges you to them first — do not leave animals locked inside damaged homes. If you are a community drop-off point and need pet food, please Stray Rescue. If you see a stranded, abandoned, or stray animal in need, call Stray Rescue at 314-771-6121. If you would like to open your home to a shelter animal to keep them safe during this difficult time, please Stray Rescue of St. Louis immediately. Stray Rescue says it currently has 13 dogs living in crates, and is on an emergency rescue freeze.

You can learn more about fostering here.

Stray Rescue will give you all of the supplies needed to care for the dog or cat.

Businesses

The St. Louis Development Corporation is helping St. Louis assess business conditions. They ask businesses that were damaged during Friday’s storms and tornado to complete their Business Assessment form.

Business owners can also 314-657-3708 with any questions.

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