Following a tornado that destroyed lives and landscapes across St. Louis, hometown, hero, and hip-hop star Sexyy Red is stepping in using her words and heart. On Friday, May 16, 2019, an EF-3 twisted and tore through the St. Louis metro, its wind screams reaching speeds of 165 mph and a path of tragedy behind it. The storm killed at least five people, injured dozens, and damaged or destroyed more than 5,000 buildings. Blocks were leveled, power lines were snapped like twigs, and streets that used to be home were reduced to rubble and shattered dreams.
Sexyy Red, a St. Louis native, didn't waste time responding. She's made the above decision for the reasons she explained to her followers when she wrote:
"ST. LOUIS, MY HEART IS WITH YOU," she began. "The city that made me who I am, so this is personal!! I have major plans to help us out. I got us, period. Just be patient, and please stay strong. Let me know what you need so I can help out for now. #PrayForStLouis #STLStrong."
And yet, it was only a few words long, so it carried a profound current of emotional resonance because this wasn't just another news headline for her, but this was personal.
Local officials are scrambling to manage the chaos with FEMA and Missouri's State Emergency Management Agency already activated as thousands are left without power. As of Tuesday, more than 17,000 residents were without power. Emergency personnel work double time to clear roads, restore utilities, and comfort mourning families.
But there is a sliver of unity in the wreckage, and people like Sexyy Red help keep that fire burning. But her promise to support her city when it needs it the most is a reminder that stars can, under the right circumstances, still manage to walk the earth.
While the full scope of that aid hasn't been explained yet, fans and fellow St. Louis residents are already rallying behind her for stepping in in a time of need. It's a message that even the most violent storms can storm our neighborhoods but still can't root out the community.
The tornado's path had started in Clayton, carved its way through Forest Park, and crossed the Mississippi into Illinois, making clear its power. One victim was killed in a church as the roof was blown off during service; the randomness and cruelty of nature's wrath underscored as the disaster unfolded.
For many, the recovery will be slow and painful. Mourning families, destroyed homes, and formerly familiar neighborhoods amounting to war zones. But out of the debris, communities are slowly recovering together.
And yet, as St. Louis begins to heal, it's comforting to know that someone who has walked the same sidewalks, driven the same streets, and called the city home is watching, caring, and vowing to assist.
The voice of Sexyy Red may fill arenas now, but it's evident that her heart is still in St. Louis. And that kind of love is louder than any storm during moments like this.
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