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Community Corner

Hazelwood Helped Neighboring Communities After Good Friday Storms

A month after the Good Friday storms, "Patch" looks back at how Hazelwood residents and businesses reached out to help the victims of the Good Friday storms in neighboring communities.

After the Good Friday storms, the reported no major damage. Still, many Hazelwood residents, businesses and organizations sprang into action to help their neighbors repair the significant damage their homes and businesses suffered as a result of the storms.

Tim Davidson, the City of Hazelwood’s communications coordinator, said that the and the were among the first to respond after the storms.

After determining that there was no significant damage in Hazelwood, firefighters responded to calls for help in neighboring communities, Davidson said. Despite the fact that paths were blocked with trees, firefighters walked nearly 30 blocks checking for injuries, gas leaks and other problematic situations.

As a result of the firefighters’ presence, storm victims were able to receive first aid, and those with medical conditions were helped. The firefighters found some gas leaks, which can cause explosions, Davidson said. They reported the leaks to Laclede Gas workers on the scene.

Along with the police presence, firefighters were also able to reassure people that they were safe from looters, Davidson said.

After the Bridgeton Police Department requested help, the Hazelwood Police Department’s supervisor on duty asked officers to come in early for their shifts. Davidson said officers arrived at the station within a half hour, and four officers and detectives were in Bridgeton an hour later.

Other officers helped in Berkley by directing traffic at the intersection of North Hanley and Airport roads, as the power was out in that area.

Three Hazelwood Public Works Department employees, along with two dump trucks and a loader, were sent to Ferguson to help with cleanup efforts, and two more employees and dump trucks were sent to Berkley to help storm victims. Hazelwood also loaned a wood chipper to the City of Maryland Heights.

Area businesses and residents also helped. The held a special event, “Mills Means More Weekend of Giving Back.” Held the weekend of May 1, participating retailers donated 30 percent of their weekend profits to the Salvation Army.

David Reed, the Mills’ general manager, said that they had tallied about $1,700 in donations from the weekend. At the time Patch interviewed him, however, he was still waiting on a total from an additional retailer.

“One hundred percent of proceeds raised will go to the Salvation Army, which has ensured us that these funds will be used for local tornado relief to help victims with temporary shelter, insurance, food, clothing and other immediate needs,” Reed said.

The mall saw a surge in traffic and in sales that weekend, thanks to Hazelwood shoppers who wanted to help give back, Reed said.

"St. Louis Mills is committed to its community, which includes giving back, supporting relief efforts and much more,” Reed said. “We are also looking at several other ways in which we can continue to support local tornado victims.”

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