I've been following the relief and recovery efforts in Jackson following the devastating tornados that left Union University in shambles and so many other people homeless. The damage to Union's facilities was extensive, almost indescribable, and amazing because no one was killed. It's unimaginable, really. It truly does look like a "war zone". Damage estimates exceed $40 million at Union alone.
Let's take a step back, however, and think: The students displaced by the damage to Union's residence halls, for the most part, have somewhere to go -- they have family, places they call "home". Even now, just a week following the storm, arrangements have been made to house all those students.
What about the other $40 million in damages in Jackson (damage estimates for Jackson-Madison County, including Union, top $85 million)? How many people are truly left homeless following this storm?
The news media has focused so much attention on Union that I think we forget that hundreds of people may be homeless, penniless, or jobless (587 homes were damaged, 71 were completely destroyed according to Mayor Jerry Gist).
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