Storm season arrives early

Storm season arrives early

Mother nature unleashed her fury early this year, with a string of tornadoes spawned by a front that stretched from the Gulf Coast to the Great Lakes.

Three people were reported dead in Southwest Ohio and at least 35 others died in Alabama, Georgia, Indiana and Kentucky.

The first storms of the season inevitably stir memories in places like the Mahoning Valley, which was hard hit May 31, 1985, and Joplin, Mo., where 160 died last May .

Among the good memories are those of the people who helped, the people who flood into an area to lend a hand and the tens of thousands of others who contribute to relief agencies.

Many people have their own favorite charities that they trust to respond in times such as these. For those who are unsure of how to help, the American Red Cross can always be trusted.