American Red Cross Disaster Newsroom

Red Cross Teams Reaching Out to Help

FINDLAY, OH, NOVEMBER 30, 2011 – Members of the American Red Cross Hancock County Chapter’s Disaster Action Team will be visiting area affected by this week’s flooding today, to offer assistance where needed. The teams will be carrying clean up kits to help families whose homes have been affected by flood waters and will also do assessments of flooded homes to see if further assistance can be provided.

“We are fortunate the river crested at a level that didn’t require a shelter to be opened” says Executive Director Todd James. “But we know from previous floods that there are many homes that will have flooded basements, garages and other areas. We want to give help where we can, by providing clean up kits to help families restore their homes as quick as possible.”

James says the clean up kits, which contain mops, brooms, gloves, brushes, cleaning solution and other supplies, can also be picked up at the Hancock County Red Cross, 125 Fair Street in Findlay. There is no charge for the cleanup kits. Anyone who has questions about getting a cleanup kit or other disaster relief should call Ron Rooker, Emergency Services Director, at 419-422-9322 ext 1503.

Tornado response in North Carolina:

Meals and snacks served: 489

Volunteers: 45

Clean-up and comfort kits distributed: 20

Shelter overnight stays: 3

The storms Wednesday night swept through AL, NC and SC, affecting nearly 300 homes – almost half of which were destroyed or suffered major damage.

·         NC: 40 homes affected, 11 destroyed

·         SC: 15 affected, 10 destroyed or with major damage

·         AL: 230 affected, more than 100 with major damage or destroyed

Red Cross volunteers are on the ground in all three states distributing clean-up kits. We are also distributing snacks and water in these hard-hit areas.

One shelter was opened in Lexington, NC, where three people stayed the night.

We are continuing damage assessment – which will likely wrap up today in NC and SC.

Posted on November 17, 2011 by Columbia Region Red Cross

Red Cross workers assess tornado damage with a resident of the Ogden community in Rock Hill

On Wednesday, November 16, 2011, when most families were sitting down to eat their dinner, a storm roared through York and Chester Counties leaving a path of destruction in its wake. Unconfirmed reports of at least three possible tornadoes and numerous straight-line winds hit the York County area directly impacting the quiet Ogden community located at Williamson Road and Highway 324 in York County.

The initial assessment indicates three to eight homes have been completely destroyed and numerous others damaged. There have been three confirmed deaths and five on-scene evacuations to local hospitals as a result of this severe storm. The condition of those transported to the hospital is at present unknown.

York County Emergency Management Division (EMD) manager, Cotton Howell, confirmed that they have the area sealed off and that detailed assessment is currently being conducted by members of the EMD and the American Red Cross.

Disaster workers deliver meals to first responders and residents affected in the Ogden community in Rock Hill, SC.

The Red Cross has been on the scene since the initial reports were received feeding the first responders and residents affected by this disaster. Your American Red Cross will continue to work with the families and first responders until the situation is resolved.

A resident of the Ogden community thanks Red Cross workers for being there for her and her neighbors. 

Please help us provide relief by making a financial donation to American Red Cross Disaster Relief. We can’t do this without your help. American Red Cross Disaster Relief not only supports the costs associated with a disaster response, like food and volunteers deployment, but also supports year-round readiness and maintenance costs. It pays for the vehicle fleet, warehouses, IT systems and volunteer training that must be maintained 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to keep us ready to respond.

As the Red Cross offers comfort and relief to residents, we are grateful to individuals like you who guarantee that we will be there, every step of the way. Together, we can face the challenges today, and those that lie ahead.

With our mission in mind,
Scott R. Salemme
Regional CEO
American Red Cross, Columbia Region

P.S. The Red Cross is able to be a comfort in times of need for thousands of people every year. But we need your help to ensure we will continue to be there for our neighbors in the future. Please consider a donation today.

You can help people affected by disasters like tornadoes, as well as countless crises at home and around the world, by making a donation to support American Red Cross Disaster Relief. Your gift enables the Red Cross to prepare for and provide shelter, food, emotional support and other assistance in response to disasters. Visit www.redcross.org or call 1-800-RED-CROSS. Contributions may also be sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P. O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013.

Red Cross Assisting Those Affected by Severe Weather

BIRMINGHAM, Ala., November 17, 2011 – Volunteers with the American Red Cross Alabama Region are assessing the damage to homes throughout the state. So far they have found that over 230 homes throughout Alabama were affected in some way by the severe weather.

A Red Cross Emergency Response Vehicle is on the ground in Macon County. Volunteers are using it to distribute comfort kits, clean up kits, and snacks to families whose homes were affected by the weather. A shelter was on standby but was not opened, although a few people were provided shelter at a local hotel last night. The Red Cross is working in conjunction with the Salvation Army to provide feeding.

Here are the initial damage assessment numbers for the affected areas:

• Homes Destroyed 16
• Homes with Major Damage 95
• Homes with Minor Damage 86
• Affected Homes 34

In the coming days we will be meeting with the families affected and will assist them with their immediate emergency needs based on the extent of the damage to their homes. Affected families should call their local Red Cross office for more information about Red Cross assistance.

Red Cross emergency assistance can include food, clothing, shelter, emotional support, and referrals; the level of assistance given is determined by caseworkers who meet with each family to assess their immediate emergency needs and provides assistance according to the extent of the damage to their home.

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About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies nearly half of the nation’s blood; teaches lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization — not a government agency — and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit www.redcross.org or join our blog at http://blog.redcross.org.