- Title: Life lessons from loss: Veteran turned aid worker lands in Mississippi
- Date: 25th March 2023
- Summary: ROLLING FORK, MISSISSIPPI, UNITED STATES (MARCH 25, 2023) (REUTERS) GARAGE AND DESTROYED HOME AS BROWN CAN BE HEARD, SAYING: "This was a garage, but this one had its roof completely ripped off." (SOUNDBITE) (English) VOLUNTEER LEADER OF TEAM RUBICON, JARRETT BROWN, SAYING: "(BROWN WAS RECENTLY IN SELMA ALABAMA HELPING RECOVERY EFFORTS) And the stories I heard from the citizens there it's like a freight train that comes through, they thought it lasted 30 minutes; it was 18, 20 seconds. One of the homeowners said they finally woke up, and they looked up, and they thought they were dead. And they were like, 'I don't see the clouds of heaven, and then I looked down, and I didn't see the fires of hell. So, from right there, I knew I wasn't dead.' But it is that quick. And then you look at the aftermath you say there was no way that was 18 seconds."
- Embargoed: 8th April 2023 21:44
- Keywords: Mississippi Team Rubicon aftermath aid workers disaster tornado
- Location: ROLLING FORK, MISSISSIPPI, UNITED STATES
- City: ROLLING FORK, MISSISSIPPI, UNITED STATES
- Country: US
- Topics: Disaster/Accidents,North America,Wind/Hurricane/Typhoons/Tornadoes
- Reuters ID: LVA004027325032023RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: PART VIDEO QUALITY AS INCOMING
Jarrett Brown, volunteer leader of Team Rubicon, landed in Rolling Fork, Mississippi, Saturday (March 25) with a mission to help in the tornado recovery effort. At least 23 people were killed and dozens injured after thunderstorms spawning high straight-line winds and tornadoes ripped across Mississippi late on Friday, leaving hundreds without shelter, state officials said on Saturday.
Brown joined Team Rubicon, a veteran-led humanitarian organization that serves global communities before, during, and after disasters and crises.
"Really, there is not much of a difference," Brown told Reuters TV. "For me, I signed up for the army to serve this country and protect this country. Now I am responding to disasters with Team Rubicon, serving this country and protecting this country. I can't quite protect it, but I can sure help them."
Four people were missing following the storms, which left a trail of damage for more than 100 miles (161 km). The tornadoes struck Silver City, a town of 200 people in western Mississippi, as well as Rolling Fork, with a population of 1,700, which was hardest hit. Parts of the state remain under a tornado warning.
"At least twenty-three Mississippians were killed by last night's violent tornadoes," Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves wrote on Twitter. "We know that many more are injured. Search, and rescue teams are still active. The loss will be felt in these towns forever."
Reeves declared a state of emergency in the affected areas, which he said would remain in effect "until such time as this threat to public safety shall cease to exist." Reeves, who visited Silver City, said a request for a major disaster declaration had been submitted, adding that "the scale of the damage and loss is evident everywhere affected today."
President Joe Biden described the images from Mississippi as "heartbreaking" and said in a statement that he had spoken with Reeves and offered his condolences and full federal support for the recovery.
At least 24 reports of tornadoes were issued to the National Weather Service on Friday night and into Saturday morning by storm chasers and observers.
The reports stretched from the western edge of Mississippi north through the center of the state and into Alabama. Unconfirmed reports said one person had died in Alabama.
(Production: Deborah Lutterbeck, Njuwa Maina) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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