A contractor named Jake (last name retracted after he was bombarded with calls) was on a job in the Penrose neighborhood when the sky turned black and the wind grew fierce. He saw a few older women sitting in a car, and helped them get to a nearby house. He was then lifted up by the wind and thrown around. Hear his story in this viral video. It seems that Jake, who is now known as “Tornado Jake,” was running on pure adrenaline during the interview. When he got to the hospital he went into shock, and didn’t know his own name or recognize his mother. He is currently recovering at home.
Photo credit: Tyler Small.
Friday’s powerful EF3 tornado swept through St. Louis causing widespread devastation. With wind speeds estimated between 136 and 165 mph, the tornado touched down in Clayton around 2:30 p.m. and carved a destructive path through neighborhoods including the Central West End and North City, resulting in at least five fatalities. Over 5,000 buildings were damaged or destroyed.
In response, numerous LGBTQ+ community members, including Ohun Ashe of For the Culture STL, Keith Rose, Alex Cohen, Maxi Glamour, State Rep. Elizabeth Fuchs, Chef Curtis McCann , Aja La’Starr Owens and many others have worked to organize, helping with food, cleanup, transportation, and any other needs citizens have. On Facebook, Ashe posted that over 200 volunteers organized by For The Culture STL and Action St. Louis served over 300 people yesterday.
Their efforts are ongoing, and this story will be updated as new information is obtained.
In addition to joining For The Culture and Action St. Louis’s efforts, St. Louis Public Radio has created this Comprehensive List for those seeking to help, or to receive services.
