Groups working to cover the basics with significant damage, more storms ahead

ST. LOUIS, Mo. (First Alert 4) - Going from block to block, numerous businesses and homes have partial or complete damage to their roofs. That’s leading to a more common sight of blue and gray tarps covering what’s left to provide a little bit of protection. It’s especially needed with more severe weather coming Monday night.

Eugene Thomas said, “Borded up now just to keep people from getting in there, but it’s gone.”

Thomas was home on Friday as the tornado tore through his block of Enright.

“When we looked out the window, all we saw was just trees, just flying and everybody’s house was just going everywhere,” said Thomas.

Monday, he found out he’ll need to find a new home.

He said, “I’m in the process now, I’m going to work and coming back at 11 o’clock tonight and move out cause it’s condemned. We got some time to move out, but it’s condemned.”

Work continued on Monday on the basics, cleaning up and fixing what could be. Volunteers with Action STL were going street to street again, clearing branches from sidewalks and picking up debris. One concern is that it blocks storm drains if there is significant rain.

Action STL volunteer Kevin Renick said, “It’s hard to imagine how things are going to look through the recovery and everything. The damage is so extensive.”

Wanting to help with this effort are Mike and Sarah Avery of Operation Any Means Necessary. Since Friday, they’ve been out helping with clean up, but have focused on collecting and distributing tarps to cover up people’s damaged homes.

Operation Any Means Necessary’s Sarah Avery said, “Incoming storms, the need for tarps has been the biggest demand and a way to install those tarps as well.”

It’s become an ongoing process of constant phone calls and coordinating donations and drop-offs.

Sarah Avery said, “Calls are nonstop. We have a long list of people that we’re sending out with deliveries. Volunteers are asking what can we do. We’re sending people with delivery packages. The work has been overwhelming but so is the fight.”

Sunday, Sarah Avery said they distributed 500 tarps to more than 50 homes and to groups like Black Girls Build, who are volunteering their time and efforts to install the tarps on people’s homes.

Sarah Avery said, “A volunteer or someone, donor, is coming in and dropping off a 30x50 tarp, and this amazing. As the needs are being presented to us, we’re able to meet those demands.”

“First floor is very good but the second floor, the back side has been destroyed, but with the tarp, don’t (do) more damage inside of the house,” said Gerson Bonilla, whose home was damaged and was provided with tarps. He added, “It’s incredible the situation for a lot of people here. Tried to fix the house temporarily, put on a tarp.”

Sarah Avery said they’re meeting people who have lived in their homes for 50-plus years, now working to figure out next steps.

She said, “It’s a very traumatic event for them to have to go through this and lose a portion of their home, or some altogether lose their home. Even while people are driving in traffic, you can see the tears. You can see people just absolutely hurt and distraught.”

Sarah Avery said Operation Any Means Necessary will continue their work in the days and weeks to come. She also pointed to the outpouring from the community to help the people impacted. A positive when there has been significant loss and destruction.

Copyright 2025 KMOV. All rights reserved.