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Army's top general visits Ft. Leonard Wood
Posted: 01.04.2011 at 6:54 PM
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FORT LEONARD WOOD -- Tuesday, the Army's Chief of Staff toured storm ravaged Fort Leonard Wood.

General George Casey came to Missouri to meet with military families who lost their homes to the new years eve tornado.

Stacy Chambers lost everything, she said, "I did, I lost my home, everything...."

Chambers is just one of the hundreds of victims tyring to get their lives back together after Friday's devastating twister. Some homes were left untouched by the twister, while others were demolished. Officials say there were around 50 homes destroyed and another 20 to 30 left unlivable.

Cars were picked up and tossed around like toys, victims belongings littered the yards, and recent Christmas presents will now have to be replaced.

General Casey toured the area, he said, "I talked to a family that went to a closet, got in the closet, husband wife, child, dog, and that closet was about the only thing in that house left standing."

The U.S.O is helping families recover. They have everything from food and clothing to televisions and household goods.

Chambers said this about the U.S.O, “They're amazing, they're actually telling me what I need because my mind is so far from anything.”

Kelly Brownfield is an Operations Coordinator with the U.S.O, she said, "All of this stuff in here is for the families displaced by the tornado, not just those homes that were completely destroyed but its also open to those families who might have lost electricity and maybe lost all their food."

Joe Pongratz is just one of the many U.S.O volunteers, he came to help all the way from northern Wisconsin, "It was in the news about the tornados down here, and something immediately popped up in my brain and it was a message that said 'Joe we're going to Missouri to help those people".

General Casey says the biggest part of the effort will be adjusting claims. He said he hopes to have the assessment and final bill within about 45 days.

All of the families we talked to said they've been well taken care of and some have even been given new base housing.

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