Area residents help town recover

By By Steve Gillespie / staff writer
Dec. 6, 2002
Area residents were first responders to victims of a tornado that damaged or destroyed hundreds of homes and businesses in Columbus and Lowndes County on Nov. 10.
A convoy of vehicles from radio station WOKK 97.1 FM delivered supplies on Nov. 14. The items, including bottled water, food, clothing and toys, were contributed by residents from Meridian and the surrounding area days after the disaster.
WOKK on-air personality Jodee Jordan, also known as Big Joe, was one of the organizers of the effort. He said the radio station used one of its vehicles as well as a race car trailer, a horse trailer and an Office Depot delivery truck, donated for the delivery of items.
Three Salvation Army buildings in Columbus were damaged during the storm.
Several other Salvation Army units, including Meridian and Tuscaloosa, Ala., sent people to help in the recovery.
Captain Joe Mur, director of the Salvation Army in Meridian, said he stayed in Columbus for a week.
The Salvation Army in Columbus is now operating out of a building provided by the Winn Dixie grocery store chain.
At least one death in Lowndes County was reported as a result of the storms that also spawned tornadoes in Alabama and Tennessee.
President Bush declared a federal disaster in Mississippi on Nov. 14, making Lowndes, Monroe, Clay, Oktibbeha and Noxubee counties eligible for disaster relief.