Community Pulls Together (Continued from Page B 6) Nobody had taken full charge of the chaotic scene. Donations of food were pour ing in, but she wondered, with out electricity, water or refriger ation, how to begin. Yoder worked by her wits. Her obvious capabilities soon found others gravitating to her for guidance. By 7:30 p.m. her persever ance had paid off and Foxwell also reached the site. She pitched her lot with that of Yoder. Down the hall at Red Cross headquarters the victims’ imme diate needs of food, shelter, med ical and family services were being met. Unlike the high school which took a severe hit on its roof, the primary school sustained no damage. An old grand-stand that the Work Progress Administration had built in 1938 lay in pieces near the twisted fence around the athlet ic field. Some thought there was no other like it left in the state of Pennsylvania. “We had to slice meat for sandwiches and there were no condiments and no lights except the emergency lights in the ele mentary school. It was a mess,” reported Yoder. ‘We were farming dirty dish es out to people in their homes because there was no water,” reported Foxwell. “We couldn’t see in the (cafeteria) kitchen at night,” she said. Besides that, with the help of their kids, the bleary-eyed women attempted to mop the large floor before leaving the scene late on Monday. Then, because it posed a health risk the women were told by the Red Cross that privately prepared food donations were not to be accepted. “We did the best we could with what we had,” aid Foxwell with pride. “We had not been trained in public food safety and food tem peratures "Yoder, whose home is spanking clean, said. With passing hours, donated generators and refrigerated trucks arrived. Literally tons of ice disappeared with unbeliev able speed, along with bottled water. The two unsuspecting moms accepted their lot as food co managers and directed the workers, one being the reliable Thelma Lanteigne from Grantsville, Md. “It was kind of like wg read each other’s mind,” they observed about how well they worked together. Yoder’s church, however, agreed to furnish one meal each day since 700-1,000 meals were always needed. And then came Tuesday with its muggy warmth and ominous tinges across the sky. Weather forecasters warned that conditions were ideal for tornadoes to develop that evening in Somerset County, As the day lengthened, event tension increased. The citizenry, after experiencing the first dev astating blow, were taking the watch very seriously, although (Turn lo Pag* B 8) ping gv ig during . aster Is demanding work. From left, volunteer Tim Foxwell, Sandy Bodes, Sallsbury-Elk Lick maintenance supervisor, and Clyde Stein, staff member, work together. Farmii irdi.,, jMn# 27, 1998-B7
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers