disaster relief

People in Gaza are faced with a mounting humanitarian crisis. Heart to Heart International, a Lenexa-based nonprofit, is sending aid packages to the region, but it's difficult to get relief to those in need because of bureaucratic hurdles and safety risks.

Since deploying to Maui, Hawaii, Kansas City-based Operation BBQ Relief has served more than 20,500 free, hot meals to relief workers, first responders and survivors impacted by the island's deadly wildfires.

The approval comes just under two weeks after historic flash flooding hit the St. Louis area, damaging more than 750 homes and over 130 businesses.

Last week’s flooding in the St. Louis region damaged homes and businesses. Missouri is going through the process of seeking a federal disaster declaration, which would provide money for repairs and cleanup.

A major winter storm, expected to reach the Northeast later this week, has already brought more than 2 feet of snow to parts of the Midwest, and prompted airlines to cancel thousands of flights.

Farmers and ranchers in 13 Kansas counties are struggling to find resources to repair and rebuild their operations.

The EF5 tornado in May 2011 destroyed a third of Joplin, a city of 50,000, killing 161 people and causing $3 billion in property damage. “You never get over it, it just gets less raw,” one resident said after similar storms in Kentucky last month.

Western Kentucky is dealing with the aftermath of a deadly tornado now, but 10 years ago Joplin, Mo., was in the same place. Joplin Mayor Ryan Stanley offers his advice for those in Kentucky.

An EF-3 tornado ripped through Defiance, a town of about 150 in St. Charles County's wine country, last Friday. St. Charles County officials estimate damages will exceed $3.5 million.

Winds peaked at 100 mph in Russell, Kansas, one of many places where existing wind records for December were obliterated, the National Weather Service said.

The same storm system that hit Edwardsville and ravaged areas in Kentucky, Arkansas and Tennessee first reached tornado status near the community of Defiance.

As rescuers work against the threat of an approaching storm, officials continue to assess the damage after buildings throughout the island nation were flattened by the 7.2-magnitude quake.