Laughlin gears up Eagle Pass relief efforts Published April 25, 2007 By Technical Sgt. Joel Langton 47th FTW Public Affairs LAUGHLIN AFB, TEXAS -- Laughlin members are gearing up to help out nearby Eagle Pass. Tuesday night, the border town was smashed by a tornado that killed 10 people and left hundreds homeless. Wednesday morning, Laughlin members and agencies were preparing to reach out to the ravaged town 60 miles southwest of the base. Laughlin's Airman and Family Readiness Center prepared the Su Casa facility to begin collecting donated goods. "We reached out for a number of items," said Barbara King, Airman and Family Readiness Center director. The list of items included: pillows, blankets, sheets, socks, flip-flops, sandals and non-perishable food items purchased from a commercial source. Others were informally getting into the act. The 47th Communications Squadron stood up a collection point first thing Wednesday morning, less than 10 hours after the tornado had blown through Eagle Pass. Mr. Hal Elkins, 47th Communications Squadron deputy director, a retired chief master sergeant and an active Red Cross volunteer, was collecting items first thing Wednesday morning. "I went into a training meeting and told people what we were doing," said Mr. Elkins. "As soon as the training was over, people went home, went to the store and did whatever they could to get whatever items they could to donate. "I'm talking to the Red Cross down there, and they're telling me people got out of there homes with the clothes on there back," said Mr. Elkins. Ms. King and Mr. Elkins said they expect many of the Laughlin members to be making the trek to Eagle Pass to volunteer as well. Ms. King encouraged people outside the region to donate financially to organizations that are supporting the relief effort. "Agencies need the financial support to buy the needed resources," said Ms. King.