LAMAR COUNTY, Miss.—Local nonprofit leaders are working to better coordinate volunteers, donations and relief efforts after they said the May 2026 tornado highlighted the need for a more organized disaster response network.
This past May, an EF3 tornado destroyed 46 homes, damaged eight businesses and injured four people in Lamar County. Local nonprofits, churches and national disaster relief organizations responded in the storm’s aftermath, and President Donald Trump later approved a major disaster declaration.
Zella Bush, founder and president of Developing Family Resources in Purvis, said the storm showed that while many organizations were eager to help, they often operated independently, making it difficult to coordinate donations and connect residents with available resources.
“I was a drop-off zone, First Baptist was a drop-off zone, Good Hope was this drop-off zone, but we weren’t very coordinated about who was taking what, when people were open,” Bush said.
Bush said the experience highlighted the need to establish designated donation sites before disasters occur and to clearly communicate which locations are open, what supplies are needed and when volunteers are available.
“Just having those locations that we know from the beginning are going to be open and ready to serve, I think that’ll help out a lot,” Bush said.
In response, Bush said she is starting a volunteer-based disaster relief program for the Purvis area. She said the program will train residents in Purvis and surrounding communities to respond to emergencies and will include a truck equipped with a generator and oxygen.
Bush said local organizations are also discussing ways to maintain volunteer lists and strengthen communication among nonprofits so families can be connected with help more quickly after future disasters.
“It was really an eye-opener for a lot of the community. I think it takes a storm like this to really remind us, ‘Oh, we need these programs,’” Bush said.
Other nonprofit leaders said those efforts can build on the relationships that already allowed organizations to begin helping residents immediately after the tornado.
Jossette Thompson, thrift store director for Jacob’s Well Ministries, said the organization quickly began assisting storm survivors and partnered with the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team, which deployed crisis-trained chaplains and a response vehicle to provide emotional support.
“We always try to step up, and it’s always word of mouth that gets out,” Thompson said. “We don’t coordinate it. We don’t collaborate with anybody. It’s kind of like, ‘This is happening.’ We just hit the ground running.”
Jacob Brogan, chief financial officer for Jacob’s Well Ministries, said the tornado reinforced that disaster recovery is most effective when the entire community works together.
“What we really need to do when a catastrophe happens is everybody has to pitch in as a community,” Brogan said. “It’s not just the government agencies. It’s not just the thrift stores or the missions that are out there.”
Although local nonprofits are planning for future disasters, Bush said many families are still recovering months after the storm and continue to need help with everyday needs.
“Just being able to have that extra support, not having to choose between buying necessities and food. Hygiene items—that’s the biggest thing people have come in for,” Bush said.
As recovery continues, Bush said Developing Family Resources is partnering with the Purvis Strong Foundation on a fundraiser through September. Supporters can purchase a $25 raffle ticket for a chance to win a 2026 Kawasaki Brute Force 300 ATV. Proceeds will benefit tornado victims and community recovery efforts.
Bush said the tornado showed how willing the community is to help. The next step, she said, is making sure that generosity is organized so assistance reaches families as quickly and effectively as possible when the next disaster strikes.
This article first appeared on RHCJC and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
