American Red Cross Disaster Newsroom

Red Cross Responds to Weekend Disasters in East Central Mississippi

LAUREL, MS, Monday, January 14, 2013—The American Red Cross is responding to damage reported on Jordan Sumrall Road in Wayne County near Buckatanna following severe weather last night. Red Cross disaster action team (DAT) members from the East Central Chapter are on the ground in the affected area and are ready to assist with lodging, food, clothing, health services and emotional support for those with immediate, disaster-related needs.

Red Cross also provided food and water to Wayne County emergency workers and electric company employees who were on-scene overnight and throughout the morning working to restore power to the affected area.

Over the weekend Red Cross also responded to house fires in the following counties: Jones, Jasper, Winston and Noxubee.

Red Cross Responding in Communities throughout the State

JACKSON, MS, Wednesday, December 26, 2012— JACKSON, MS, Thursday, December 27, 2012—The American Red Cross is responding today in communities throughout Central and South Mississippi hit by the Christmas Day storms.

Red Cross Disaster Action Teams (DAT) are responding in Amite, Clarke, Jones, Forest, Pearl River, Stone and Wilkinson counties. Red Cross is working with the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) and local Emergency Managers.

“Red Cross volunteers and staff are on the scene where damaged occurred and are assisting with immediate, disaster-caused needs,” said Sandra Hodge, Red Cross Mississippi Region CEO.

Red Cross is focused on people’s emergency needs and has moved volunteers, equipment and supplies into affected communities. Emergency response vehicles are on the move serving meals and distributing relief items. Red Cross is providing people with food, shelter and other emergency supplies such as clean-up kits, blankets, flashlights, batteries, rakes, tarps, trash bags, work gloves, shovels and dust masks.

The Pearl River Baptist Association shelter will be open again tonight for anyone affected by the storms and needing a warm place to stay and a hot meal. The shelter is located at 1376 McNeil Steephollow Road in Carriere and is supported by the Red Cross. For a list of items to bring with you to the shelter, visit www.mississippi-redcross.org.

Anyone seeking assistance with disaster-related needs, should contact their local Red Cross Office, search “Red Cross Mississippi” on Facebook or follow @RedCrossMiss on Twitter. For a list of Red Cross Offices and contact numbers, visit www.mississippi-redcross.org.

All Red Cross disaster assistance is free and made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the American people. You can help the victims of this severe weather event in Mississippi by making a financial gift to American Red Cross Disaster Relief in Mississippi which enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to those in need.

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Red Cross Responds to Storm Damage Across Mississippi

JACKSON, MS, Wednesday, December 26, 2012—The American Red Cross is responding to damage reported in 10 Mississippi counties following severe weather last night.

Red Cross is working with the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) and local Emergency Managers in the following counties: Lamar, Forrest, Stone, Pearl River, Wilkinson, Lawrence, Hinds, Jones, Clarke and Lauderdale. Red Cross Disaster Action Team (DAT) members are on the ground in the affected areas assisting with lodging, food, clothing, health services and emotional support for anyone with immediate, disaster-caused needs.

As people return home today to begin the clean-up, Red Cross has several safety steps that should be followed.

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Alabama Red Cross Responding to Severe Weather

BIRMINGHAM, Ala., December 26, 2012 — The American Red Cross Alabama Region is currently responding to assist residents affected by last night’s tornadoes and severe weather around the state of Alabama. The Red Cross is working with area emergency management agencies to determine where help may be needed. Initial reports indicate there is damage in the following counties: Butler, Pike, Lowndes, Autauga, Clarke, Escambia, Marengo, Tuscaloosa, Choctaw, Mobile, Crenshaw, Sumter, and Washington.

Over the holiday, more than 140 trained Red Cross volunteers were on standby to respond to the threat of severe weather that was unfortunately realized. Today, Red Cross volunteers are going to affected areas to assess the damage and determine the needs of those affected. Other Red Cross volunteers will be canvassing affected neighborhoods to hand out water, clean up kits, and other disaster relief items.

A Red Cross shelter is open at the City of Prichard (near Mobile, AL) Public Safety Building located at 743 Mt. Sinai Avenue, Prichard, AL 36612. This shelter is open for anyone displaced by yesterday’s severe weather.