American Red Cross Disaster Newsroom

Red Cross Service Center Locations
Red Cross Still Providing Relief

BIRMINGHAM, Ala., March 6, 2012 – In the coming days, American Red Cross Alabama Region caseworkers will be meeting one-one-one with disaster victims affected by last weekend’s tornadoes and severe weather to provide access to resources and tools to support the recovery process, and the means to help replace essential items like clothing and household goods. Red Cross mental health workers are helping people cope with the devastating things they have had to endure. Health workers are helping replace things like lost medications and eyeglasses.

Red Cross damage assessment volunteers have determined that more than 500 homes in Alabama were affected in some way. More than 90 volunteers continue to provide Red Cross services. So far, the following items have been distributed to families recovering from the aftermath of the tornados:

• 300 meals
• 500 snacks
• 30 clean up kits
• 60 comfort kits
• 400 bulk items such as rakes, shovels, etc.

Red Cross Service Center Locations
Red Cross Still Providing Relief

CINCINNATI, OHIO, March 5, 2012 – Red Cross workers continue to offer shelter, food, emotional support and relief supplies to the thousands of people affected by last week’s tornadoes. As immediate relief needs wind down in the Greater Cincinnati-Dayton Region, the American Red Cross has opened several distribution centers, in place of shelters, to assist affected residents with clean up efforts.

Service Center Locations:

• SERVICE CENTER: River of Life Church – 1793 US Highway 52 Moscow, Ohio 45153
• NEW SERVICE CENTER: River of Life Assembly 1793 US – 52 Moscow, OH
• NEW SERVICE CENTER: Crittenden Baptist Church Russell St., Crittenden, Kentucky
• NEW SERVICE CENTER: Northern Pendleton Fire Department Junction of KY – I54 & K9-10 Peach Grove, KY
• NEW SERVICE CENTER: Holton Community Center, 7056 Versailles St., Holton, IN

Additionally, Emergency Response Vehicles (ERV) will be traveling throughout affected communities providing clean up kits, rakes, shovels and work gloves. Please see the following service center locations.

The Red Cross has more than 100 volunteers staffing the operation including individuals from Dayton, Columbus, and Troy, Ohio. There are currently eight emergency relief vehicles (ERV) out in the field, and so far the Red Cross has provided approximately 6,000 meals/snacks and over 215 comfort kits.

Red Cross mental health workers are helping people cope with the devastating things they have had to endure. Health service workers are helping replace things like lost medications, eyeglasses and providing outreach and condolence visits.

The Red Cross has received generous in-kind support from partners including Cincinnati Hilton Hotel, Center Bank, Coca Cola, Convergys, Fifth Third Bank, George Fern Company, Hil-Rom, Home Depot, Ikea, Kroger, LaRosa’s Pizza, and Walmart.

American Red Cross Expands Outreach in Harrisburg, IL, Neighborhoods
Caseworkers go door-to-door to offer assistance to families devastated by tornadoes

St. Louis, Monday, March 5, 2012 – The American Red Cross Greater St. Louis Region has expanded outreach efforts in Harrisburg, Illinois, the town hit hardest by the Leap Day tornado that ripped through Southern Illinois last week. Today casework teams are going door-to-door to ensure families have access to food, shelter, health and mental health services. Some 100 homes in Harrisburg were destroyed and another 400 sustained severe or significant damage in the Feb. 29 tornado.

“The people of Harrisburg are working very hard to put their lives back together, and we are here to help,” said American Red Cross Disaster Director Mary Anderson. “We are not asking families to come to us; we are going into the neighborhoods to see what assistance we can provide.”

Again today, with products provided by Home Depot, the Red Cross is distributing essential clean-up supplies. Distributed items include rakes, tarps, trash bags and gloves.

In addition to Harrisburg, the St. Louis Region is sending volunteers to help coordinate disaster relief in Kentucky. Tornadoes tore through the state on Friday. Dorothy Staples will leave tomorrow to help set up shelters, and Barbara Gill, a registered nurse, left Sunday to help coordinate health services. Both are trained area disaster volunteers.

Red Cross Assists Hundreds in Alabama after Tornadoes

BIRMINGHAM, Ala., March 5, 2012 — More than 500 homes in Chilton, Limestone, Madison, and Tallapoosa Counties in Alabama were affected in some way by the tornadoes and severe weather that came through on Friday. Two Red Cross shelters were opened immediately following the storms on Friday with more than 200 people seeking a place to ride out the second wave of storms and approximately 16 overnight stays were provided. Red Cross volunteers are using Emergency Response Vehicles to distribute food, water, and bulk items, such as comfort kits and clean-up kits, to the people affected. So far, more than 1,600 meals and snacks have been distributed.

People have had their lives turned upside down and Red Cross mental health support is an important part of the relief effort. Red Cross mental health workers will be helping people cope with the devastating things they have had to endure. Health workers will help them replace things like lost medications and eyeglasses.

Affected families should call their local Red Cross office for more information about Red Cross assistance. 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 on a case by case basis.

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