Sometimes we have to face the loss of tragedies and this was clearly a beautiful person and spirit, This makes me sad to the core. Tribute on Facebook spoke volumes about the person they lost in that plant Amazon needed a place for them to go when sirens went off you can not build a shelter so your employees can survive the storm we have to do better now, a child does not have a mother. I pray for this family I hope they set funds for the child.
Corece Smith tribute
My cousin Etheria Malik was killed in a tragic natural disaster last night in Edwardsville, IL. A tornado out of all things. She was a younger cousin of our generation so I always felt the big cuz/lil cuz bond, she was a new and dedicated mother, a naturally beautiful person from the heart all the way to her radiant outer beauty. She was one of those beauties where so many egghead teenaged boys had a crush on her us protective “boy cousins” would side-eye and stiff-arm when need be. Obviously, she was so much more than that. If I feel such a tremendous loss, like from the pits of my stomach, I know her mom (my aunt), father, baby boy, and siblings (my cousins) feel it to their core; soul-shaking. She was an anchoring love in my life. A free dose of home that always worked. I know I meant something to her too. When we talked we understood each other no guessing or catching up was necessary. I have countless texts and messages from her pushing me and encouraging me and being my cheerleader. So much love from both ends so her unbelievable death feels tangible in a heartbreaking way. She has one of the coolest names, and although I will speak it for the rest of my time on earth, I already miss saying it directly to you. What a loss for so many, least of all myself.
Etheria Malik sister my God my blood sister to have to post this is breaking my heart. You had so much life and love in you. You wore it like a halo you were definitely one of Gods angels. I love you love you love. Thank you for always keeping up with me and staying in my life even tho I wasn’t around the family❤️🩹til we meet again 
John Jackson is with Cressie Mzjacksonifunasty.
Everyone please send
Imagine being with yo cousin everyday at work y’all taking turns buying each other lunch making sure we was both done and getting off at the same time…then on the phone with her like cuz come on we gotta get back it’s a tornado warning…then within 10 minutes of us making it back she’s gone right there next to you 
I’m STILL at a lost for words.. Etheria Malik beautiful you will be missed.
My cousin Etheria Malik didn’t make it out of the Amazon building in Illinois. Please keep my family in your prayers. Tiara Hebb I love you cousin and I’m here for you baby girl. I’m so so sorry. I know you’re hurting right now.
Abbie Sharp is with Kiara Hebb and Tiara Hebb.
Can’t believe I’m saying this… RIP Etheria Malik , you were such a beautiful person inside and out and I’m thankful I have such great memories to look back on with you.
Absolutely beautiful rest easy angel of ours Etheria Malik
I’m still in disbelief, I love you so much! You were such a sweet soul kindest woman I’ve ever seen
Officials said Saturday at least six people were killed when a tornado hit an Amazon warehouse Friday night in Edwardsville. They don’t know how many people might be unaccounted for but said they don’t expect to find additional survivors. Local authorities have not released the identities of the people who died. A seventh person was airlifted to a St. Louis area hospital with injuries. Edwardsville Fire Chief James Whiteford said a total of 45 workers survived. He gave additional details about the damage, rescue effort and death toll during a news conference in Edwardsville with other officials, including Gov. J.B. Pritzker. About 150 yards of the large warehouse on Gateway Commerce Drive collapsed, according to Whiteford, who’s leading the recovery effort for the city. Steel support pillars stand exposed after the walls and roof caved in. The St. Louis office of the National Weather Service said Saturday that they found “at least EF-3 damage” at the Amazon facility, noting their investigation was ongoing. EF-5 is the most severe rating for a tornado based on the damage it causes, according to the federal agency.
Search efforts continued at the site Saturday and were expected to take roughly three more days, according to Whiteford. On Saturday morning, bystanders and reporters were kept back on Gateway Commerce Drive outside the warehouse’s large parking lot. Tow trucks were removing cars from the lot, some of them badly damaged. People sat in parked cars along the road throughout the morning. One family said they were looking for their missing relative’s car among those still in the parking lot to know if he made it out. Others said they drove to the site because they wanted to see the damage for themselves.
Search efforts continued at the site Saturday and were expected to take roughly three more days, according to Whiteford. On Saturday morning, bystanders and reporters were kept back on Gateway Commerce Drive outside the warehouse’s large parking lot. Tow trucks were removing cars from the lot, some of them badly damaged. People sat in parked cars along the road throughout the morning. One family said they were looking for their missing relative’s car among those still in the parking lot to know if he made it out. Others said they drove to the site because they wanted to see the damage for themselves.
Whiteford said authorities don’t know how many people might be unaccounted for because Amazon doesn’t know how many people were in the warehouse at the time it collapsed. The tornado hit during a shift change, he said. It happened about 8:30 p.m. Friday, around the time the National Weather Service issued a tornado warning for the area. Amazon issued the following statement about the devastating tornado: “We’re deeply saddened by the news that members of our Amazon family passed away as a result of the storm in Edwardsville, IL,” the company stated. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their loved ones, and everyone impacted by the storm. We also want to thank all the first responders for their ongoing efforts on the scene. We’re continuing to provide support to our employees and partners in the area.”
Whiteford said the first Edwardsville fire unit was on scene within six minutes of getting reports that people were trapped and injured. “We started to search and recovery immediately,” he said. “We had some police officers that helped pull people from the rubble along with some of the workers from Amazon that got the initial people out.” He said the walls on both sides of the warehouse had collapsed inward and the roof caved in. “Most of the weight of the building landed centrally into the building,” Whiteford said. “These walls are made out of 11-inch thick concrete, and they’re about 40 feet tall, so a lot of weight from that came down.” Play VideoDuration 1:17
Edwardsville Police Chief Michael Fillback initially told reporters at a Saturday morning news conference that at least two people had died. Officials later announced the death toll was at least six people. Anyone who is missing a loved one can call the Edwardsville Police Department at 618-656-2131. “Everyone assumes that they’ll be safe at work,” Pritzker said during Saturday’s news conference. “Families say goodbye in a routine fashion when their loved ones go off to their jobs. We don’t think that they’ll never come home. It’s devastating, and I cannot imagine the pain that you are feeling at this moment. “… This is a difficult end to a difficult year.”
