Five Ways to Help Lee County Tornado Victims

 ========= Old Image Removed =========Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2019/03/Image_from_iOS.jpg
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:5:{s:5:"width";i:1920;s:6:"height";i:1440;s:4:"file";s:26:"2019/03/Image_from_iOS.jpg";s:5:"sizes";a:13:{s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:26:"Image_from_iOS-336x252.jpg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:252;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:5:"large";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:26:"Image_from_iOS-771x578.jpg";s:5:"width";i:771;s:6:"height";i:578;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:26:"Image_from_iOS-140x140.jpg";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:12:"medium_large";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:26:"Image_from_iOS-768x576.jpg";s:5:"width";i:768;s:6:"height";i:576;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"1536x1536";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:28:"Image_from_iOS-1536x1152.jpg";s:5:"width";i:1536;s:6:"height";i:1152;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:24:"Image_from_iOS-80x80.jpg";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:26:"Image_from_iOS-600x338.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:338;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:26:"Image_from_iOS-600x600.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:600;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:26:"Image_from_iOS-415x311.jpg";s:5:"width";i:415;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:26:"Image_from_iOS-353x265.jpg";s:5:"width";i:353;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:28:"ab-block-post-grid-landscape";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:26:"Image_from_iOS-600x400.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:400;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:25:"ab-block-post-grid-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:26:"Image_from_iOS-600x600.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:600;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:26:"Image_from_iOS-125x125.jpg";s:5:"width";i:125;s:6:"height";i:125;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}}s:10:"image_meta";a:12:{s:8:"aperture";s:1:"0";s:6:"credit";s:0:"";s:6:"camera";s:0:"";s:7:"caption";s:0:"";s:17:"created_timestamp";s:1:"0";s:9:"copyright";s:0:"";s:12:"focal_length";s:1:"0";s:3:"iso";s:1:"0";s:13:"shutter_speed";s:1:"0";s:5:"title";s:0:"";s:11:"orientation";s:1:"0";s:8:"keywords";a:0:{}}}
        )

    [_imagify_optimization_level] => Array
        (
            [0] => 0
        )

    [_imagify_data] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:2:{s:5:"sizes";a:10:{s:4:"full";a:4:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:13:"original_size";i:1119609;s:14:"optimized_size";i:492675;s:7:"percent";d:56;}s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:13:"original_size";i:7133;s:14:"optimized_size";i:6692;s:7:"percent";d:6.1799999999999997;}s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:13:"original_size";i:23617;s:14:"optimized_size";i:22313;s:7:"percent";d:5.5199999999999996;}s:5:"large";a:4:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:13:"original_size";i:101269;s:14:"optimized_size";i:96417;s:7:"percent";d:4.79;}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:4:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:13:"original_size";i:3080;s:14:"optimized_size";i:2819;s:7:"percent";d:8.4700000000000006;}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:4:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:13:"original_size";i:46379;s:14:"optimized_size";i:44144;s:7:"percent";d:4.8200000000000003;}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:4:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:13:"original_size";i:24964;s:14:"optimized_size";i:23685;s:7:"percent";d:5.1200000000000001;}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:4:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:13:"original_size";i:33651;s:14:"optimized_size";i:31923;s:7:"percent";d:5.1399999999999997;}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:13:"original_size";i:25888;s:14:"optimized_size";i:24477;s:7:"percent";d:5.4500000000000002;}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:13:"original_size";i:5958;s:14:"optimized_size";i:5585;s:7:"percent";d:6.2599999999999998;}}s:5:"stats";a:3:{s:13:"original_size";i:1391548;s:14:"optimized_size";i:750730;s:7:"percent";d:46.049999999999997;}}
        )

    [_imagify_status] => Array
        (
            [0] => success
        )

    [_media_credit] => Array
        (
            [0] => Miranda Fulmore
        )

    [_navis_media_credit_org] => Array
        (
            [0] =>  WBHM
        )

    [_navis_media_can_distribute] => Array
        (
            [0] => 
        )

)
1618826830 
1551717564

Twenty-three people lost their lives and dozens more were injured in the powerful tornado that swept through Lee County Sunday. Many lost their homes, loved ones, and pets. Here are five ways to help those affected.

Update — March 22, 2019 – 3:00 p.m.

Donate Supplies or Money

You can donate perishable supplies at Greater Peace Baptist Church. Goree’s Furniture is taking items such as food, diapers and clothing. They’ll pick up the items.
Greater Peace Baptist Church: 650 Jeter Ave, Opelika, AL 36801
Goree’s Furniture: 334-742-0607

Want to give money? The Red Cross of East Alabama and the Salvation Army are accepting donations, and the United Way of Central Alabama created a disaster relief fund.

More options:

Samaritan’s Purse International Relief
Community Foundation of East Alabama Tornado relief
The Governor’s Emergency Relief Fund

Volunteer

Church of the Highlands is organizing volunteers to help those in need and to assist in clean up efforts. Text the word “response” to 74000 to get updates on ways to get involved.

Give Blood

The East Alabama Medical Center has treated more than 40 people after the tornado. You can make a blood donation through LifeSouth. The Opelika location is at 505 E Thomason Circle, 36801.

Help Lost or Displaced Pets

Opelika Animal Hospital is boarding displaced pets for free.

Help with Shelter Needs

Smith Station Fire & Rescue is distributing donations.

 

You can also follow the Lee County Emergency Management Agency on Twitter for volunteer and donation updates.

Know of more to add to the list? Let us know. Email [email protected]

 

Alabama’s racial, ethnic health disparities are ‘more severe’ than other states, report says

Data from the Commonwealth Fund show that the quality of care people receive and their health outcomes worsened because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

What’s your favorite thing about Alabama?

That's the question we put to those at our recent News and Brews community pop-ups at Hop City and Saturn in Birmingham.

Q&A: A former New Orleans police chief says it’s time the U.S. changes its marijuana policy

Ronal Serpas is one of 32 law enforcement leaders who signed a letter sent to President Biden in support of moving marijuana to a Schedule III drug.

How food stamps could play a key role in fixing Jackson’s broken water system

JXN Water's affordability plan aims to raise much-needed revenue while offering discounts to customers in need, but it is currently tied up in court.

Alabama mine cited for federal safety violations since home explosion led to grandfather’s death, grandson’s injuries

Following a home explosion that killed one and critically injured another, residents want to know more about the mine under their community. So far, their questions have largely gone unanswered.

Crawfish prices are finally dropping, but farmers and fishers are still struggling

Last year’s devastating drought in Louisiana killed off large crops of crawfish, leading to a tough season for farmers, fishers and seafood lovers.

More Environment Coverage