American Red Cross – Online Disaster News Portal

Red Cross Urges Victims to Register as Safe and Well

Volunteers Distribute Thousands of Meals, Snacks, Comfort and Clean Up Kits

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (April 11, 2009) — The American Red Cross continues to provide assistance to more than 1,000 victims of Friday’s massive tornado disaster that has become a national disaster for the American Red Cross. With continuing inquiries from friends and family members from outside of the Murfreesboro area worried about those affected, the Red Cross is urging everyone who was affected by these storms to visit www.redcross.org and register themselves as being safe and well. Then, family members and friends can visit the same site and see that their family members are okay. If victims cannot access the Internet, they can call 1-800-RED CROSS (1800-733-2767) and have a Red Cross volunteer register their name on the safe and well website.

Since the tornado relief operation began, your American Red Cross has provided more than 1,000 meals, bottles of water and snacks and provided emotional support for victims by visiting communities affected by these storms and passing out these materials.

The Red Cross has also opened a shelter where those affected can get a hot meal, a place to stay and pick up clean-up kits to help with the recovery efforts. The shelter is located at:

New Vision Baptist Church
1750 North Thompson Lane
Murfreesboro, TN 37129

(Please note that shelter location information is subject to change at any time. Please call 1-800-RED CROSS (1800-733-2767) to verify this information)

Only four tornado victims stayed in the shelter overnight, which means most victims are residing with friends or family during this time. However, the shelter WILL continue to be open as long as it is needed. The Red Cross is also providing mental health counseling to those affected by the storms and their families. During this emotional time, the mental health is just as important as providing for the physical needs of those families affected. The Red Cross has trained mental health providers on site to give emotional support.

HOW TO HELP

You can help people affected by this disaster, by donating to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. On those rare occasions when donations exceed Red Cross expenses for a specific disaster, contributions are used to prepare for and serve victims of other disasters. Your gift enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to victims of all disasters. You can visit www.redcross.org or call 1-800-REDCROSS or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish) or mail your donation, to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013.

You can also donate to help the victims of the Murfreesboro tornadoes at any Middle Tennessee Kroger store at the register as you check out. Just tell the cashier you would like to make a donation to the Red Cross for the Central Tennessee tornadoes.

The Red Cross is NOT accepting any donations of clothing, furniture or any other material items.

If you would like to volunteer, the CITY OF MURFREESBORO is asking you to call (615) 890-1934.

For ALL Red Cross media inquiries, please contact Beth Ferguson at (615) 653-2309 or Jill Gorin at (615) 456-2250.