"It was pretty shocking:" Volunteers return from helping tornado victims

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Thousands are recovering after tornadoes ripped through states in the south. They received help from volunteers all over the country including from right here in Wisconsin.

Sally Reamer just returned from Baxter Springs, Kansas as a volunteer with the Red Cross of Southeastern Wisconsin.

“There were about 118 homes that were totally destroyed by the tornado. It was pretty shocking when you drive into town, because all of a sudden there are just piles of debris on the side of the road,” said Reamer. Her job was to provide food, supplies and shelter to tornado victims there.

Jeannie Peters used her skills as a nurse to provide medical support to victims in Arkansas.

“We went out in the communities and talked to some of the clients that were out there cleaning up after looking for memories, pictures, Christmas ornaments, different things, the children`s toys, recovering them,” said Peters.

Both women said that their experiences left them with more than they were expecting.

“I feel it’s an opportunity to go down there and do something for someone else. I’ve never been affected by a disaster like that. It has to be very difficult and I feel that I can go down there and help them from what I am able to do and put the pieces back together and return to some normalcy,” said Peters.

“It inspired me. It gave me hope again,” said Reamer, “I’d be standing in front of a house that was totally gone and I’d say do you want some rakes and they’d say sure we’ll take one and I’d say well you have 5 people here don’t you want 5 rakes? And they’d say well yes but our neighbors need it more. I can’t tell you how often they said give it to our neighbors.”

In response to the severe spring weather nearly 1900 trained Red Cross workers across the country have been called on to provide help in the hardest hit communities.

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