Emergency Update: Convoy of Hope Responds to Multistate Severe Weather Outbreak
March 25, 2025 | 4:28 p.m.
On the evening of Friday, March 14, an EF-3 tornado touched down and wreaked havoc on Poplar Bluff, a rural community in southeast Missouri.
Convoy of Hope immediately responded. In partnership with a local church, Bluff First, Convoy provided essential relief supplies to community members in need.
Poplar Bluff resident Michelle Crowley rode out the storm alone in her home, seeking shelter in a closet. A large oak tree fell on her house, causing considerable damage. Bluff First sent a team of volunteers to put three tarps from Convoy of Hope across her roof to prevent further damage.
“Convoy of Hope and the Bluff First family have truly been a gift from God,” Michelle said.
The Poplar Bluff Kindergarten Center was severely damaged, and another church in town was collecting totes for the teachers to save what remained of their classrooms. Bluff First sent over 200 Convoy of Hope totes to the school.
Kristen, an elementary school principal, was concerned about her students going without food since the school had to cancel a week of classes immediately following Spring Break. Bluff First loaded three trailers full of snacks and drinks from Convoy and took them to the school for distribution.
Additionally, Brad and Misty — two volunteers at the distribution — gave out supplies on site and then personally took more supplies directly into neighborhoods, ensuring more people had what they needed to get back on their feet, including a family who lost their home to a fire as a result of the storm.
Disasters are devastating to rural communities, but when people come together to help each other and serve their neighbors, there is hope. Convoy of Hope is honored to be a part of that.
March 20, 2025 | 2:36 p.m.
The National Weather Service has confirmed that 110 tornadoes touched down in the United States last weekend.
In Rolla, Missouri, an EF-2 tornado carved a path directly through the town proper Friday night, ripping roofs off of houses and felling trees from the root. Days later, the air is filled with the clanging of ruined gutters, siding, and sheets of metal.
Beverly, a lifelong resident of Rolla, has supported Convoy of Hope for years. The afternoon before the storm, she’d been reading Convoy’s latest Hope Quarterly issue.
When the storm passed, she hoped and prayed Convoy would show up to help.
The next morning, a Convoy of Hope truck pulled into the parking lot of her church.
“We are so thankful for Convoy of Hope,” she said.
Less than one week after the storms, Convoy has distributed over 535,000 pounds of relief supplies and served more than 28,000 people in 30 communities.
March 17, 2025 | 3:10 p.m.
Convoy of Hope’s response to the devastating severe weather outbreak continues as families in Missouri and Arkansas face the heartbreaking aftermath of multiple strong tornadoes. Homes are unrecognizable. People are left to sift through the debris to recover any of their possessions that made it through the storms.
In Poplar Bluff, Missouri, an EF-3 tornado tore a path of destruction through hundreds of homes and businesses. Relief supplies are en route to the area, offering hope to those who have lost everything.
Additional loads will leave our World Distribution Center this week to go to West Plains, Missouri, and Cave City, Arkansas — both communities were hit hard by EF-3 tornadoes this weekend.
As the scope of the destruction becomes clear, Convoy is committed to bringing hope and tangible support to those who need it most.
March 16, 2025 | 7:25 p.m.
Convoy of Hope continues to respond to the outbreak of severe weather that has occurred over the last few days. From wildfires to tornadoes, Convoy’s teams and trucks are in communities with food, water, and relief supplies to help people who are hurting.
More than 50 confirmed tornadoes struck communities across seven states this weekend, killing more than 30 people. At the same time, communities in Oklahoma and Texas are fighting deadly wildfires that were fed by the strong winds that came ahead of the storms.
Trucks filled with relief supplies continue to leave Convoy of Hope’s World Distribution Center. Teams are in communication with partners across the Midwest and South to coordinate how we can best help their communities.
As the chance for severe weather continues, Convoy will continue to provide hope in places where it can seem very far away.
March 15, 2025 | 10:41 a.m.
Yesterday, a strong storm system moved through several states, spawning multiple tornadoes that impacted numerous homes, businesses, and communities, and leaving more than 250,000 people without power.
The severe weather continues today as the storm system moves eastward. The South and East have the potential to face strong, long-tracked tornadoes, widespread damaging winds, large hail, and flash flooding this weekend. Convoy of Hope is ready to respond wherever and whenever needed.
With the arrival of spring comes a higher chance of tornadoes. The warm air from the Gulf mixes with cool air from the Rockies, creating the ideal conditions for these damaging storms. Though tornadoes can occur year-round, March through June — with May being the peak month — is the typical tornado season in the United States.
Disaster can strike at any time. To ensure your family has what they need, download Convoy’s free Disaster Preparedness Guide.
