Oklahoma native Kemp to contribute to relief

MILWAUKEE -- Matt Kemp knew he'd find a cellphone blown up with texts and voicemails when he got back to his locker after Monday night's game, and not because he finally homered.

Kemp is from Oklahoma City and he was shaken after reading firsthand accounts from family and friends of destruction and death in the wake of Monday's monster tornado back home.

"It's bad. Real bad," Kemp said.

After the game, the slugger tweeted that, starting with Monday's long ball, he'll donate $1,000 per home run through the All-Star break to tornado relief.

I'm giving $1000 for tonight's HR and every HR until the All-Star break for the victims of my hometown in OKC. #PrayforOklahoma

- Matt Kemp (@TheRealMattKemp) May 21, 2013

He said he was in junior high school when an E-5 tornado with 300-mph winds hit the same area in 1999 and killed 36 people. He remembered accompanying a cousin who was hit by a foul ball in a baseball game to the local hospital and not knowing the tornado hit until the mangled patients started to arrive.

He vividly described the carnage he saw 14 years ago.

"And this one hit a school," he said. "I know where the schools are. My mom lived in a house in Moore and we gave it to my aunt and uncle. They weren't home today, but they said two blocks away there's nothing left. I've never been through an earthquake, but I've seen what a tornado can do and you just can't even believe it."