Catholic Charities of Arkansas organized its first one-day Disaster Assistance Center May 9 at the Arkansas Rice Depot in Little Rock to serve those affected by tornadoes in central Arkansas over the past month.
Participating in the day were representatives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Small Business Administration, The Salvation Army, Red Cross, Helping Hand and the Taiwan Buddhist Tzu-Chi Foundation.
As many as 300 people from Saline, Pulaski and Lonoke counties were expected to be served, but by the end of the day, only 35 households, including 71 adults and 58 children, requested assistance.
Most families assisted were affected by the April 3 tornadoes but many came from the Hensley community in south Pulaski County that lost homes in the May 2 tornadoes.
Jamie Deere, director of Parish Social Ministry for Catholic Charities, said, "It’s so frustrating. People we know have lost their homes and they won’t come (to get assistance)."
Deere said the center was organized in two days after working with charities that were in town for the national Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster conference May 5-9.
Men from the Tzu-Chi Regional Foundation, based in Dallas, agreed to stay in Little Rock one additional day. The organization has been working throughout Arkansas since February. They are known for handing out cash cards to storm victims to help them with their immediate needs. At the May 9 event, the Tzu-Chi members gave out cards for $200, $300 and $500 after reviewing intake paperwork completed by Catholic Charities.
After personal information and photos were provided to Catholic Charities employees, tornado victims were escorted to another room where they were assisted by local charities and got questions answered from FEMA and SBA on low-interest loans.
Personal care items and blankets were given to those in need. Outside, families took shopping carts and filled them up with bulk items, including paper towels and plates, toilet paper and water.
Free hamburgers, hot dogs, chips and drinks were prepared by employees of Hanson Pipe and Precast. Walt Catlett, the company’s manager for Arkansas and Oklahoma and a member of Christ the King Church in Little Rock, volunteered to prepare the food as another way of helping Catholic Charities.
Sister Mary Lou Stubbs, DC, director of Catholic Charities, said an important part of the Disaster Assistance Center is the availability of Arkansas Crisis Response Team members. Msgr. Jack Harris, pastor of St. Mary, St. Patrick and St. Augustine churches in North Little Rock and an Arkansas CRT board member, was available to "debrief" tornado victims.
"This is called emotional first aid," he said.
Msgr. Harris said crisis counselors at the event would "companion" the victims if they needed extra support while they filled out paperwork and told their story, including losing loved ones and their homes.
Deere said Catholic Charities will continue to focus on long-term disaster needs from throughout the state. The organization has been recruiting and training parish volunteer teams to serve areas tormented by tornadoes and floods since February.
"Everyone who is here will be contacted by case management," Deere said. "Certainly they will have issues beyond this one spot. We will provide assistance in the long-term. We will be here from now until whenever." Deere said.
Catholic Charities will offer other Disaster Assistance Centers around the state.
"So far it’s been very positive," she said.
