American Red Cross Disaster Newsroom

Continuing Efforts as the American Red Cross, Washtenaw-Lenawee Chapter Responds to Dexter Tornadoes

ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN, SATURDAY, MARCH 17, 2012 — The tornado outbreak in Dexter Thursday left a trail of destroyed homes and wreckage in its path. Two days later, residents are beginning the clean-up process and trying to move on. As the recovery efforts begin the Red Cross is responding to the needs of the community by bringing our services to the affected neighborhood.

Red Cross volunteers will be out on the streets offering water, snacks, health services and clean-up kits to the residents as they clean, recover and heal. A shelter will be open to the residents at the Mill Creek Middle School also providing water, snacks, health services and basic needs.

Shelter Information
Mill Creek Middle School
7305 Dexter-Ann Arbor Rd
Dexter, Michigan 48130

In Ann Arbor, the shelter at the Salvation Army on Arbana Street on Pauline Boulevard will close at noon today as there is no longer a need for the shelter in that area.

If you would like to let your loved ones know you are OK, or if you are looking for someone who lives in the Dexter area, visit the Red Cross Safe and Well site, www.safeandwell.communityos.org.

• Register yourself as Safe and Well so your friends and family know you are OK
• Look for friends and family members who have registered with safe and well

American Red Cross, Washtenaw-Lenawee Chapter Responds to Dexter Tornadoes

ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN, THURSDAY, MARCH 15, 2012 — The city of Dexter was hit hard Thursday afternoon by an outbreak of tornadoes that left approximately 13 homes destroyed and over 100 dwellings affected.

The Red Cross is responding to the needs of the community. A Red Cross shelter has been set up at Mill Creek Middle School in Dexter for residents and will provide health services, mental health services, food, water and basic needs. At daybreak our Emergency Services Department will conduct a full assessment of the neighborhoods affected and will respond accordingly.

Shelter Information
Mill Creek Middle School
7305 Dexter-Ann Arbor Rd
Dexter, Michigan 48130

Due to extensive flooding at the Park Place Apartments in Ann Arbor, the Red Cross, in conjunction with the Salvation Arm, opened a second shelter in Ann Arbor. This shelter will also provide health services, mental health services, food, water and basic needs.

Shelter Information
Salvation Army
100 Arbana Drive
Ann Arbor, MI

Red Cross Volunteers Offer Emotional Support
Residents Affected by Tornadoes Receive Counseling to Cope with Stress

CHATTANOOGA, TN, March 7, 2012 — For many people across East Tennessee the emotional stress of dealing with two catastrophic tornadoes within the last ten months can be almost too much to bear. An essential part of the Red Cross disaster response effort is providing emotional support to those who have been affected by the storm. Trained health care professionals make condolence visits to the bereaved, provide emotional support, determine health needs and replace essentials such as critical medications and eye glasses.

“Many times after a disaster, those who have been affected really just want someone to listen to them and to hear their story,” said Boyd Romines, CEO East Tennessee American Red Cross. “Our volunteers are trained to help clients cope with their feelings of shock, fear and uncertainty and to aid them in the recovery process.”

Red Cross caseworkers are also meeting one-one-one with disaster victims 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.

Mobilizing the resources to respond to a disaster of this size is possible because of the Red Cross’s year-round preparedness. Day in, day out, volunteers are working to update and assess shelter agreements, attend community and state wide preparedness meetings, maintain vehicles, organize and restock warehouse supplies as well as update training and recruit new volunteers. That is why ongoing donations to support the Red Cross — in addition to helping with disaster response — are so very important.

As of March 7th more than 140 trained Red Cross disaster workers across East Tennessee have:

• Opened 4 Emergency Shelters to provide storm victims with a safe haven
• Served more than 10,170 meals and snacks
• Handed out nearly 2,739 recovery items
• Delivered 118 Personal Care Kits and household cleaning items.

Red Cross volunteers and staff members across East Tennessee are currently helping with the widespread storm relief effort in all areas that experienced damage including Bradley, Claiborne, Hamilton, McMinn, Monroe & Polk Counties.

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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South Mississippi Red Cross Responds to Devastation in Lamar County

March 4, 2012 —Volunteers and staff from the American Red Cross South Mississippi Chapter responded to the call for service this weekend following tornadoes and severe weather in several southern counties. Damage assessment teams are helping to determine the full scope of the damage.

Red Cross representatives have met with multiple affected families in Lamar County, Miss., to determine their immediate needs for lodging, clothing and food. To-date, only two of those families required client casework and assistance. Red Cross will also offer emotional support. People have had their lives turned upside down, and Red Cross mental health support is an important part of the relief effort.

“Red Cross staff and volunteers were poised and ready to respond to the serve weather this weekend pending EMA requests for assistance,” said Jay Huffstatler, South Mississippi Chapter executive. “I’d like to commend our dedicated team for their tireless efforts of service and quick response to the storm affected areas.”

American Red Cross Begins Mobile Meal Distribution in Southern Illinois
Emergency response vehicles patrol tornado torn neighborhoods with meals

St. Louis, Sunday, March 4, 2012 – The American Red Cross Greater St. Louis Region has begun mobile meal distribution in Harrisburg, Illinois, the town hit hardest by the Leap Day tornado that ripped through Southern Illinois last week. From emergency response vehicles (ERV’s), the Red Cross is distributing lunch and dinner in disaster-hit neighborhoods. The Red Cross will continue to host a meal site in the Red Cross shelter at the First Baptist Church on Main Street in Harrisburg.

Also today, with products supplied by Home Depot, the Red Cross is distributing rakes, tarps, trash bags and gloves. These essential cleanup tools will be provided free by Home Depot and distributed in neighborhoods by the Red Cross.

Entering the next phase of disaster response, tomorrow Red Cross caseworks will begin surveying impacted neighborhoods to reach those who need temporary housing, food, health and/or mental health services.

“We want to make sure we reach the people in the neighborhoods who need us,” said Mary Anderson, disaster director for the American Red Cross Greater St. Louis Region. “The residents here are working hard to put their lives back together, and we are here to help. We will be here for as long as it takes.”

According to the Red Cross disaster assessment, 100 Harrisburg homes were destroyed by the Leap Day tornado that sliced through Southern Illinois. Another 400 homes sustained major or significant damage. Harrisburg is a town of 9,000 located 110 miles southeast of St. Louis.