Alabama: One Year Later

Written by Anita Foster, chief communications officer, American Red Cross North Texas Region


One year ago today, I was enjoying a lovely dinner at Dallas' famed "Celebration Restaurant" with my colleague, Vicki Eichstaedt, from the Red Cross in Kalamazoo, Michigan. We had spent the previous two weeks working on the Texas Wildfires out near Possum Kingdom Lake and having finished that operation, we made our way back to Dallas for a good meal before Vicki caught a flight back to Michigan. But then the phone rang and we knew that the lives of thousands of people, and ours, would never be the same.


On the other end of that phone call was our team from national headquarters reporting that a massive tornado outbreak was underway across the south. All we knew at the time was that the tornadoes were huge, they were on the ground in multiple locations and the University of Alabama was directly in the path. We did not know if our colleagues in Alabama were safe. 


Moving the bread basket to the side, we made a work station at our table and took copious notes about what was known and then we made our travel plans to get to Alabama first thing in the morning. 


When we arrived, we were surrounded by the costliest outbreak that the Unites States has seen. And one of the costliest natural disasters in the country’s history.


One year later, I still think about the people of Alabama. Their losses were impossible to comprehend.
But it's important to take a look at this outbreak as a looming warning of what Mother Nature can unleash. 


We shot this video from Phil Campbell and Hackleburg, Alabama last year. I said in the beginning that I just didn't have words to describe what we were seeing then. I would say the same today. There simply aren't words that can explain what these precious people experienced on this terrible day one year ago. Let's take a look back:



In the aftermath of the storms, the Red Cross provided nearly 8,000 overnight shelter stays, served more than 1.4 million meals and snacks, and distributed nearly 27,000 cleanup kits and approximately 40,000 comfort kits. More than 10,000 homes sustained damage. 


Having just gone through a widespread outbreak right here in the DFW area, I think I can speak for all of us when I say that we count our blessings. While property was lost in the April 3, 2012 Metroplex outbreak, lives were not. That was not the case in Alabama so in memory of this significant day in history, I ask you to do two things today. 


1.) Keep the people of Alabama in your heart. Hundreds of families are experiencing the first anniversary of the deaths of their loved ones. 


2.) Prepare yourself and your family for the next round of storms by building your disaster kit. It can save your life.


When our phones ring at the Red Cross, we simply never know what we'll face on the other side. In the case of Alabama, it was truly one of the most chilling phone calls, followed by one of the most heartbreaking disaster scenes I've ever witnessed. But in true American spirit, the love and compassion from the people of Alabama and beyond created hope for everyone else. 


Blessings to the people of Alabama. 

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Help for Alabama

(AP Photo/The Birmingham News, Jeff Roberts)

Following the catastrophic tornado outbreak that has claimed nearly 200 lives, the American Red Cross is asking the community to help the Red Cross by making financial contributions. Click on www.redcross.org, text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to give $10 or call 1-800-RED-CROSS.

Last night, more than 2,700 people stayed in Red Cross shelters in 12 states affected by disasters and that number is only expected to rise in the days ahead.

Trained Red Cross volunteers here in North Texas are standing by in the event that they're needed to head to the deep south to help.

Locally, the Red Cross helped six families affected by the tornado outbreak that stuck our community earlier in the week. It is believed that all families have been assisted.

For updates on the tornado outbreak in the south, follow @RedCross @Mid_AL_RedCross or @RedCrossDallas on Twitter.

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Haiti Earthquake: Relief Update #1

The American Red Cross has seen an outpouring of support and concern from the public.

People who want to help those affected by the Haitian earthquake can make a donation to the American Red Cross International Response Fund at redcross.org or by calling 1-800-RED-CROSS. Donors can designate their gifts to Haiti relief.

The Red Cross is also receiving money through a third party mobile fundraising effort in which mobile donors can text “Haiti” to 90999 to send a $10 donation to the Red Cross. The funds will go to support the Red Cross relief efforts.

Currently, we are deploying only Red Cross volunteers specially trained to manage international emergency operations. Please consider supporting your community’s local needs by volunteering with your local Red Cross.

At this time, what we need the most are financial contributions – whether by check, online or by phone. The Red Cross and other organizations leading the efforts in Haiti most need financial gifts in order to best serve the people affected. Things like clothes are not helpful right now because there is nowhere to store them, no one to sort them, and it would be difficult to transport the items to Haiti. One good way to turn clothes into cash is to have a garage sale and then donate the money to the relief efforts.

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