Andrea Durway May 20, 2025
On Friday, May 16th, a devastating EF-3 tornado swept through the St. Louis area, leaving a trail of destruction and heartbreak. With winds reaching up to 152 mph, the tornado carved a 22-mile path through densely populated neighborhoods before crossing into Illinois. Five people lost their lives, and 38 were injured. Roughly 5,000 buildings were affected, including homes, businesses, and public facilities, with a damage estimate in excess of $1 billion.
The tornado first touched down near Richmond Heights, east of the I-170/I-64 interchange, and moved rapidly through Clayton. Then it entered the City of St. Louis, passing through:
Most fatalities and major damage clusters were concentrated in the Ville, Fountain Park, and Kingsway neighborhoods.
While the extent of the damage is overwhelming, the resilience and compassion of St. Louis residents shine through. Citizens, non-profits, and government are all organizing to assist. Here’s how you can support recovery efforts:
If you’re able to give financially, these organizations are providing direct support to those impacted:
Offers direct financial assistance to survivors in the St. Louis area.
Accepting donations through their Humanitarian Fund to support local recovery efforts.
If you prefer to give financially, both the Missouri REALTORS® Relief Fund and the REALTOR® Housing Assistance Fund (RHAF) are accepting donations. RHAF has pledged that any funds received for this campaign designated for tornado relief will go directly to storm victims and will not be used for general grants or fundraising. Fill out our form to donate directly to the RHAF Tornado Relief Fund. Please specify in the comment section below that your donation is for the ‘Tornado Relief.’
Essential items like tools, plywood, tarps, non-perishable food, bottled water, diapers, hygiene products, and clean clothing are in high demand. Needs change daily—check with these local Instagram accounts for updates:
4343 W. Florissant Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63115
Drop off between 10AM – 3PM
Note: you can also order supplies online and have them drop-shipped to this location.
1408 Kingshighway Blvd Suite 108, St. Louis, MO 63113
4144 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63113
Power Creative – 3221 Oak Hill Avenue, St. Louis MO 63166
Drop off between 12PM – 5PM
3015 Locust Street, St. Louis, MO 63103
Drop-off Hours: Monday – Thursday, 10 AM – 6 PM
@workandleisurestl
3159 Cherokee Street, St. Louis, MO 63118
Drop off items between 12 PM – 4PM any day but Monday
@stlstylehouse
12777 Olive Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63141
Visit website for specific items
Several groups are organizing boots-on-the-ground efforts for cleanup and relief.
For food and supplies distribution at the O’Fallon Park YMCA location, visit:
Some of the hardest-hit places were the child care centers that serve our youngest learners. St. Louis Early Childhood Tornado Response Team is organizing a volunteer-led cleanup and restoration effort to support centers and families impacted by the recent storm. There is a significant need for volunteers and donors. This is a combined effort of Ready Readers, STAR Inc. SouthSide Early Childhood Center, Turn The Page STL, United 4 Children, WEPOWER, Baden Christian Child Care Center, Gateway Early Childhood Alliance, and more.
For more information on helping, go to this link.
For the most up-to-date info on tornado recovery and relief, visit: City of St. Louis Tornado 2025 Recovery Page
We love you, St. Louis. The road to recovery won’t be easy, but we believe in this city and the people who call it home. We’ll get better—together.
Stay up to date on the latest real estate trends.
September 2026 housing numbers and what home buyers and sellers need to know.
Many local butcher shops are longtime neighborhood institutions that still offer something increasingly difficult to find at a supermarket: personal service, specialty… Read more
Recognition
The Dawn Griffin Group is named St. Louis Magazine's Best Real Estate Agent for the third year in a row.
Halfway into the first full season, here are some things I've learned about pool ownership.
Save Big By Finding Dates, Eligible Items and Shopping Limits
New shops and restaurants in downtown Kirkwood and beyond
3329 Vista Avenue sits in a neighborhood that has been rewritten, quite literally, more times than almost any other pocket of the city.
We regularly use these same resources to help our clients before, during, and long after closing.
Here are seven of the most popular St. Louis first-time homebuyer programs available.
Partner with a team that values honest advice, strategic guidance, and exceptional service. With decades of experience and over 1,000 successful transactions, we're committed to helping you achieve your real estate goals with confidence.
Planning a move? Thinking about selling? Want to talk real estate?
Dawn Griffin Group
3636 S Geyer Rd Ste #100 St. Louis, MO 63127
