Before Sunday’s EF2 tornado tore through Baxter Springs, American Red Cross offices around the state were gearing up for the worst.

Nicole Bartman, Executive Director of Salina’s American Red Cross tells KSAL News that her office monitored weather reports and began prepping on Wednesday, “Before the weekend even hit we were putting people on call and on standby,” she said.

“Currently we have 30 Kansas volunteers and staff members that are responding by providing shelter, food, relief, health and mental health services to those impacted.”

Bartman says the best way to help residents in Baxter Springs is by donating to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief, online at www.redcross.org or calling 1-800-Red Cross or text the word RedCross 90999 to make a $10 donation.

Officials say the EF2 tornado struck the town in southeast Kansas at around 5:39pm Sunday and destroyed more than 100 homes and businesses and hurt 25 people. The Weather Service reported the tornado traveled about eight miles, starting in Quapaw, Okla., and ending about two miles northeast of Baxter Springs.