Updated Nov. 6: Revised with amount raised at the event and additional sponsors.

Dallas’ hospitality industry rallied to raise $70,000 to help those affected by the tornadoes of Oct. 20, whose $2 billion in insured damages alone made it the priciest weather event in North Texas history.

On Sunday, Oct. 27, bartenders throughout the area – including some local pioneers rarely spotted behind the bar anymore – gathered at The Standard Pour in Uptown for a benefit event dubbed the “NTX Tornado Relief Bar-Raiser.”

The event was organized by former bartender Stephen Halpin, now manager of trade education for Patrón Tequila, whose home was directly affected by the storm. The tornadoes, wielding winds of up to 140 mph, left a 16-mile trail of damage from northwest Dallas to Richardson.

“Luckily, I have insurance,” Halpin wrote on Facebook, “and it’s just stuff. But thousands weren’t so fortunate, and I knew that I had to do something to help.”

He called together a few others, including Naomi Ayala, president of the U.S. Bartenders Guild’s Dallas chapter and Susie Oszustowicz of SusieDrinks, to organize Sunday’s “Bar-Raiser.” The name is a play on American barn-raisings of the 1700 and 1800s, in which communities constructed (or reconstructed) barns for a resident in need of help.

Along with Halpin, those shaking up drinks at the event included brand ambassadors Charlie Moore of Woodford Reserve and Jesse Powell of Greenhouse Gin, as well as Gabe Sanchez, owner of Black Swan Saloon. Standard Pour owner Eddie “Lucky” Campbell even made an appearance behind the bar in a giant T-Rex costume.

In short, there was no shortage of entertainment: Specialty cocktails were offered for $10 apiece, and Patrón matched every dollar raised at the event. Other event sponsors included National Republic Distributing, Aberfeldy Whisky, Beam Suntory, Bushmills Whiskey, Elijah Craig Bourbon, Grey Goose Vodka, Hendrick’s Gin, Jack Daniels Whiskey, Noble Oak Bourbon, Plantation Rum, Remy Cointreau, St. Germain and Tito’s Vodka and Teeling Whiskey.

Even if you didn’t make it to the event, you can still support the effort at the campaign’s GoFundMe page: https://www.gofundme.com/f/ntx-tornado-relief-barraiser

Alternately, checks can be sent to the Altrusa International of Downtown Dallas Foundation, P.O. Box 600218, Dallas, TX 75360.

Altrusa will oversee the funds’ distribution to those in need.

NTX Tornado Relief Bar-Raiser, 6 to 9 p.m. Oct. 27 at The Standard Pour, 2900 McKinney Ave., Dallas.