Groups swarm Selma to help those in need. Here's how you can help.

For residents in Selma, where an EF-2 tornado tore through town on Jan. 12, the worst of the storm lasted about 15 minutes, arriving at their doorsteps after hard gusts of wind up to 130 miles per hour and a loud sound like a train engine.

Hundreds of homes were torn apart, before the same storm cell unleashed an EF-3 tornado in Autauga County, killing seven people.

There were no deaths in Selma — but lots of damage. Some businesses had no other option but to close for now, and a community was left to pick up the pieces of itself.

In the past week, nonprofits, companies and individuals from across the state have rushed into the area offering physical resources, manpower and funding to set Selma back upright. Among the groups that are helping and the progress they’ve made so far:

American Red Cross operating shelter

The American Red Cross has set up a shelter at Selma High School on Broad Street to provide those affected with necessities like food, water, clothing and beds to sleep in. Volunteers have been there since the night after the tornado hit, but more volunteers are needed.

American Red Cross spokeswoman Selena Hardy said the shelter does not have the capacity to take in physical donations of resources — like water bottles, food or clothes — so the best way to help is by calling 1-800-REDCROSS and donating money.

Hardy also said the group plans to keep the shelter up and running for as long as it’s needed. The group has no plans to relocate.

If you would like to drop off supplies and resources, the American Red Cross will take them in the high school cafeteria, entering on the left side of the building. People may also apply to volunteer at the shelter through the American Red Cross website or offer monetary donations online.

Salute Selma accepting donated items

Salute Selma is another organization that is basing their recovery efforts out of Selma High School. Unlike the American Red Cross, Salute Selma is collecting donated items.

The organization was created to apply lessons from the civil rights movement to everyday practices. Lists of needed items are posted to Salute Selma’s Facebook page.

They include: tarps, heavy-duty trash bags, chainsaws, work gloves, PVC pipes, hand sanitizer, aspirin, socks, underwear, towels, toiletries, non-perishable food, bottled water, toilet paper and infant formula.

State Sen. Rob Stewart, who represents Selma in the state Legislature, said in a statement through grassroots nonprofit Alabama Values that he is grateful for the outpouring of support the community has received.

“We will need support long after the camera crews are gone,” Stewart said.

He said he is aware of “a huge need” for baby formula, adult and baby diapers, as well as laptops and hotspots for locals to use to fill out FEMA relief applications.

Laptops and hotspots are needed for the weekend and weeknights since many residents have gone back to work.

Donations can also be taken to the City of Selma Command Center at the George Evans Reception Center.

The Knights & Orchids Society helps residents access generators

The Knights & Orchids Society, an organization dedicated to LGBTQ visibility in the South, sustained damage to its Selma office in the storm, but the team has organized volunteers and supplies to help wider recovery efforts.

Since the start of last week, TKO Society has been distributing diapers, wipes, sanitizer, water and hot meals from the office at 17 Broad Street.

“We are providing diapers, formula, toiletries, cases of water and cleaning supplies,” finance and operations director for TKO Society Jennine Bell said in a statement through Alabama Values. “We are also helping people without power get access to generators or hotels if their home was destroyed. The city also needs volunteers cleaning up and cutting down trees.”

The organization is also bringing supplies to the Beloit and Orrville area outside of Selma.

To donate, visit TKO Society’s Donor Box fundraiser online. The group has raised over $7,000 thus far. To reach out to TKO Society for assistance, call 334-603-1716.

The Black Belt Community Foundation helping cleanup efforts

The Black Belt Community Foundation is working with the city of Selma on disaster relief, partnering directly with Mayor James Perkins and his office.

The Black Belt Community Foundation will help displaced residents find shelter, food, water, clothing and medical and mental health attention with the money raised through its online fundraiser. The foundation is also offering residents help securing broken windows or damaged roofs, and additional funds will help with rebuilding Selma once the cleanup is complete.

Donations are being collected through the Black Belt Community Foundation’s Network for Good page online.

GoFundMe launching hub for verified fundraisers

Six days following the tornado, popular fundraising platform GoFundMe saw fundraisers to help those hurt by the storm damage across central Alabama trending on the platform and launched “a centralized hub for all verified fundraisers related to the crisis.”

In a press release, GoFundMe communications associate Brian Hill said the platform’s Trust & Safety team is monitoring the site “around the clock for any fundraisers related to tornadoes and storms.”

The page includes over 30 fundraising pages for individuals and communities affected in Alabama. The hub shows more than $143,000 has been raised across the fundraisers for Alabama through last week.

Regions Bank and Regions Foundation offering $75K in grants

A week after the tornado, Regions Bank and its nonprofit initiative announced a plan to help Dallas and Autauga counties with tornado recovery by providing at least $75,000 in grants to organizations with efforts in those areas.

A $50,000 grant will go toward Edmundite Missions, an organization in Selma that provides food, clothing and shelter for people in need. Edmundite Missions is also currently providing hot showers to people currently without access to clean running water.

A $25,000 grant will go to the Central Alabama Community Foundation, which is serving individuals and families recovering from the tornado in Autauga County, especially in the Old Kingston area.

“Over the last several days, we have seen a tremendous spirit of determination and unity as neighbors help neighbors and lean on each other during a very difficult time,” executive director of the Regions Foundation Marta Self said in a statement. “This is an extension of our long-term work to serve Selma, Central Alabama, and surrounding areas, and we will look for meaningful ways to build on this work as recovery moves forward.”

Hadley Hitson covers the rural South for the Montgomery Advertiser and Report for America. She can be reached at hhitson@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Who's helping Selma recover from the tornado and how you can help