Red Cross volunteers in Mississippi say 'there are no words for the devastation'

LINE OF STORMS BLEW THROUGH OVER THE WEEKEND. JOSHUA DAVIS SHOWS US HOW LOCAL RED CROSS WORKERS ARE ONCE AGAIN ANSWERING THE CALL. THE VOLUNTEER I SPOKE TO SAYS IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE TORNADO AND SEEING THE DESTRUCTION FIRSTHAND EVERY BIT OF AID MAKES A DIFFERENCE. THEIR HOUSES ARE IN ONE BIG RUBBLE MIXED WITH TREES. THEY HAVE NOTHING, NOTHING. THEY HAVE LOST EVERYTHING BUT THEIR DIGNITY. THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAYS THE EF FOUR TORNADO, WHICH HIT ROLLING FORK AND SILVER CITY, MISSISSIPPI, WAS ON THE GROUND FOR MORE THAN AN HOUR AND TRAVELED AT LEAST 170 MILES. PAULETTE FOR NIKE’S OF NORTH CAROLINA SAYS IN THE TWO DAYS SHE’S BEEN THERE, SHE’S SEEN PEOPLE WHO HAVE LOST EVERYTHING, RUMMAGING THROUGH THEIR DESTROYED HOMES, TRYING TO SALVAGE WHAT THEY CAN SALVAGE, WHAT THEY CAN SALVAGE, WHICH IS NOT A LOT AT ALL. A MAN WEARING PERSONAL THINGS BECAUSE EVERYTHING IS ON A TOUR AND EVERYTHING IS JUST ALL OVER. THEY’RE NOT EVEN TRYING TO GET AND I THINK THEY’RE TRYING TO SAVE FAMILY PICTURES AND SUCH. THIS IS I DON’T KNOW, THAT GETS ANY WORSE. THIS IS THERE ARE NO WORDS FOR THE DEVASTATION AND THE PICTURES DON’T EVEN SHOW YOU THE REAL HURTING GOING ON. IT’S A AMAZING THAT THEY’RE ALIVE. BUT PAULETTE SAYS SHE’S SEEN PEOPLE COME TOGETHER TO SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER AMIDST THE DEVASTATION. AND SHE’S ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO HELP IN ANY WAY THEY CAN. PEOPLE ARE BRINGING WHAT THEY CAN BRING TO HELP EACH OTHER OUT, USED CLOTHING, WHATEVER ONE HAS THEIR SHARE WITH THE OTHERS. PEOPLE HAVE BEEN INCREDIBLE IN THIS COMMUNITY. I’M SURE THEY COULD USE AS MUCH AS PEOPLE CAN DONATE COMFORTABLY TO KEEP THIS GOING BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT WE NEED TO HELP EACH OTHER AS HUMAN BEINGS. AND YOU CAN FIND INFORMATION ON HOW YOU CAN DONATE TO THE AMERICAN RED CROSS AND SUPPORT THOSE AFFECTED. ON WXII 12 DOT COM AND WINSTON-SALEM.

People in Mississippi are still reeling after a devastating tornado killed more than two dozen people. The Red Cross is one of multiple disaster relief organizations that are there helping people recover, and volunteers say every bit of aid makes a difference.Top StoriesSurveillance video shows Nashville shooter going through schoolTwo Republic Services garbage trucks collide head-on, troopers sayJuvenile responsible for bomb threat at the North Carolina Zoo identified, deputies sayGet the latest news stories of interest by clicking here"Their houses are in one rubble mixed with trees," says American Red Cross volunteer Paulette Fernekees. "They have nothing. They have lost everything, but their dignity."The National Weather Service says the EF-4 tornado which hit Rolling Fork and Silver City Mississippi was on the ground for more than an hour, traveled at least 170 miles. Fernekees says in the two days she’s been in Silver City she’s seen people who have lost everything rummaging through their destroyed homes. "They're trying to salvage what they can, which is not a lot at all," she said. "They're looking for very personal things, because everything is just all over. I think they're trying to save family pictures and such. I don't know if it gets any worse. There are no words for the devastation. And the pictures don't even show you the real hurtin' going on. It's amazing that they're alive."Amidst the devastation, Fernekees said she’s seen people come together to support one another. She’s encouraging people to help in any way they can. "People are bringing what they can bring to help each other out," she said. "Whatever one person has they're sharing with the others. People have been incredible in this community. I'm sure they could use as much as people can donate comfortably to keep this going. Because this is what we need, to help each other as human beings." You can donate to the American Red Cross for disaster relief here.Watch: NOWCAST streaming newscastsNAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Watch NOWCAST TV | Local News | National | News We LoveTRENDING STORIESKeep up with local news, weather, and current events with the WXII app here

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"Their houses are in one rubble mixed with trees," says American Red Cross volunteer Paulette Fernekees. "They have nothing. They have lost everything, but their dignity."

The National Weather Service says the EF-4 tornado which hit Rolling Fork and Silver City Mississippi was on the ground for more than an hour, traveled at least 170 miles.

Fernekees says in the two days she’s been in Silver City she’s seen people who have lost everything rummaging through their destroyed homes.

"They're trying to salvage what they can, which is not a lot at all," she said. "They're looking for very personal things, because everything is just all over. I think they're trying to save family pictures and such. I don't know if it gets any worse. There are no words for the devastation. And the pictures don't even show you the real hurtin' going on. It's amazing that they're alive."

Amidst the devastation, Fernekees said she’s seen people come together to support one another. She’s encouraging people to help in any way they can.

"People are bringing what they can bring to help each other out," she said. "Whatever one person has they're sharing with the others. People have been incredible in this community. I'm sure they could use as much as people can donate comfortably to keep this going. Because this is what we need, to help each other as human beings."

You can donate to the American Red Cross for disaster relief here.

Watch: NOWCAST streaming newscasts

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Keep up with local news, weather, and current events with the WXII app here

Red Cross volunteers in Mississippi say 'there are no words for the devastation'

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