A May 26, 2011 press release prepared by the Department of Foreign Affairs
The Philippine Consulate General in Chicago reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) that it is in contact with the family of a Filipina who perished in a tornado that struck Joplin town in Missouri on May 22.
Grace Aquino perished when the wall of the Harmony Heights Baptist Church collapsed on her when the tornado struck, according to her daughter Divine.
“The Consulate has conveyed its message of sympathy to Ms. Aquino’s husband Rizaldy, and assured them of our assistance,” Consul General Leo Herrera-Lim said.
He also said that they are in contact with the Filipino community leaders in Missouri, who informed them that that entry to Joplin is restricted to emergency responders who are still conducting search and rescue operation in the area.
“The Consulate will send a team to Joplin as soon as the weather conditions settle down in the region and it is safe for travel. Tornados continue to strike in Oklahoma, Kansas, Arkansas, and Illinois is under a severe thunderstorm warning,” Consul General Herrera-Lim explained.
“Nevertheless, we are in contact with Filipino community in the St. Charles and St. Louis, Missouri area and receives updates from the community, the Missouri State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and the American Red Cross,” he added.
There are about 10,396 Filipinos in the Missouri, most of them in St. Louis, St. Charles, Fort Leonard Wood, and Blue Springs.
In the meantime, Filipinos who have relatives in Missouri may contact the Missouri SEMA at telephone number (573) 526-9100 and fax number (573) 634-7966, the Office of the Missouri Governor at telephone number (573) 751-3222 or the American Red Cross at telephone number (1-800) 733-2767 or at its website at www.redcross.org.
