The National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) has partnered with Samaritan's Purse to assist with first-response efforts in recent tornado-stricken areas.

The National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) has partnered with Samaritan's Purse to assist with first-response efforts in recent tornado-stricken areas.

Based out of North Carolina, Samaritan's Purse is a nonprofit, nondenominational, evangelical organization that responds in times of war and famine and to any type of natural disaster - tornadoes, fires, hurricanes, floods, etc. Because of the volume of tornadoes recently experienced throughout the Midwest, getting volunteers quickly to areas in need of assistance has proved to be difficult.

NRCA officials said members should know whenever a natural disaster strikes in the U.S., Samaritan's Purse will need roofing industry volunteers to help by traveling to the area affected and applying blue tarps. The first-response effort's goal is to clean up and get homes and buildings secured (as best they can) to protect them from the elements and any further damage until it is time to rebuild. The first-response work involves anything that needs to be done to attain a safe, protected area - such as applying blue tarps. Any time a disaster occurs and Samaritan's Purse responds, it will post details and instructions on its website,www.samaritanspurse.org, about how to volunteer.

If you are able to help apply blue tarps, you can sign up with a volunteer coordinator on the website or contact a Samaritan's Purse volunteer coordinator at (828) 262-1980. Either way, a volunteer coordinator will get back in touch with you within 24 hours. If you would like to make a donation of money, materials or labor to NRCA's Disaster Relief Fund,click hereand complete and submit thedonation pledge form. The disaster relief funds are managed by NRCA's Community Service and Disaster Relief Committee, which will decide how the funds will be disbursed. Your contributions are tax-deductible and will be formally acknowledged following receipt of your donation.

All contributions must be made payable to The Roofing Industry Alliance for Progress. Many NRCA members have asked about TAMKO Building Products Inc., which is located in Joplin, Mo. TAMKO's Joplin-area plants are located north of the area that was in the path of the recent tornadoes. TAMKO continues to remain open and in production. All its employees (approximately 500 in the area) have been accounted for, and all but 25 are all right; these 25 employees have completely lost their homes. Many TAMKO employees are not in the office or plants because they are out helping other family members and friends or volunteering in the search-and-rescue efforts. Because TAMKO was so fortunate to have not suffered any loss or damage, it donated $1 million to the area's Red Cross. If you have any questions, contact Bennett Judson, executive director, The Roofing Industry Alliance for Progress, at (800) 323-9545, ext. 7513 or e-mail her atbjudson@nrca.net.