Neighbors Helping Neighbors

Written by Rusty Surette

The American Red Cross is working around the clock to bring relief, support and comfort to those affected by the tornado outbreak in North Texas this week. 

Not only are volunteers meeting with families who have lost their homes, but they are also taking care of first responders and other organizations and groups helping out.

One of those groups is Home Depot. On Wednesday, an estimated 180 store employees descended into communities impacted by the tornadoes in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

“It’s important for us to be in communities when times are good. It’s also important for us to be in communities when times are bad,” said Home Depot Store Manager Trina Booker.

The employees will be boarding up broken windows, replacing smashed fences and clearing tree limbs and other debris from yards over the next several days. As the crew worked non-stop under the warm Wednesday sun, the American Red Cross was there in Arlington to hand out bottles of water, snacks and lunches to exhausted employees.

“It was really needed and we were thrilled to see the Red Cross trucks coming around the corner,” said Booker. “It’s just great to know your Red Cross volunteers are here to help us as we are helping others.”

The Home Depot teams will be in affected neighborhoods for the rest of the week providing immediate clean-up assistance.  Next to them will be Red Cross workers offering hot meals, beverages, comfort kits and cleaning supplies.

When disaster strikes, no one agency can do it alone. That’s why we rely on our corporate citizens like Home Depot to step up, pitch it and make a difference for those who need help the most.

If you would like to help, please go online to www.redcrossdallas.org to give your time as a volunteer, your blood as a donor or your money as a financial gift to help continue our mission.

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Red Cross Relief Efforts Continue Across The South, An Update from Cheryl Sutterfield-Jones

American Red Cross Responds To
Deadly Tornado Outbreak Across The South

Dear Friends,

Watching the tragic images unfold in so many states including Alabama, Mississippi and Arkansas over the past week has been heartbreaking to say the least. Thousands of people are coping with tremendous loss of loved ones, their homes and irreplaceable memories.

While it may seem like we’re powerless to help when such a vast portion of the country has been devastated by the worst tornado outbreak in our nation’s history, help is likely easier than you think. In this update, I’ll share with you all of the ways that we can send your help to these countless communities from right here in Texas.

Please know that all of us at the American Red Cross - Dallas Area Chapter are committed to helping our neighbors move forward from these terrible storms. And you can be right there with us every step of the way. We can’t thank you enough for caring so much for others. Please accept our deepest gratitude and let me know if you have any questions that I don’t answer in this update.

Warmest Regards,
Cheryl Sutterfield-Jones, CEO
American Red Cross--Dallas Area Chapter

Current Operation Status

Red Cross disaster workers have been working tirelessly to help people in need, focusing on making sure people have a safe place to stay, food to eat, emotional support, basic health services and relief supplies. Early estimates show more than 13,000 homes across six states were destroyed or damaged by last week’s tornadoes. Now communities along the Mississippi River, that are only beginning to recover, are faced with the fear of widespread flooding.

Since March 31, the Red Cross has opened more than 130 shelters in 16 states providing more than 10,000 overnight stays to people in need. Tuesday night alone, more than 1,200 people spent the night in shelters in Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Missouri, Illinois, Mississippi, Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky, and North Carolina.

To date the American Red Cross has:

• Deployed more than 4,500 Red Cross workers from all 50 U.S. states to assist with recovery efforts. The Dallas Area Chapter has sent 7 volunteers to Alabama, 12 more to Mississippi so far with more local deployments anticipated.
  
  
• Worked with community partners like the Salvation Army and Southern Baptist Convention, to serve more than 560,000 meals and snacks.
  
  
• Sent 153 Red Cross emergency response vehicles to help distribute meals and supplies. The Dallas Area Chapter has sent one ERV (Emergency Response Vehicle) to Mississippi.
  
  
• Distributed more than 253,000 relief items like hygiene kits, mops, brooms, tarps, shovels, work gloves and coolers to affected neighborhoods.
  
  

Telethons Hosted by Local Television Stations

Less than 24 hours after the storms hit, local TV stations reached out to the Dallas Area Chapter to host fundraising telethons for the Spring Storm Disaster Response. On Friday, April 29th, the American Red Cross-Dallas Area Chapter hosted telethons at WFAA Channel 8, CBS 11, and TXA 21 to collect financial donations. It could be considered an understatement to call the night successful raising over $50,000 in the span of about five hours. We owe a heartfelt thanks to all of our generous donors that called in to support the efforts of the Red Cross as numerous storms raged across nearly half the country.

How You Can Help

Any donation, large or small, will help. For example, $3 can provide a comfort kit for someone in a disaster. $6 can cover the cost of a blanket, $10 the cost of a hot meal. For $150, someone’s donation can cover the cost of providing food and shelter to a family of four for a day they spend in a shelter.

Donating is easy and only takes a moment. Those that want to help can visit www.redcross.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.

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American Red Cross President & CEO visits Birmingham, Alabama

Gail McGovern, American Red Cross President and CEO, joined Federal, State and local officials on a tour of tornado damage in one neighborhood of Birmingham, Alabama. She describes what she saw, and the work of the Red Cross in the area. Watch the video

American Red Cross Responds to the unspeakable tornado destruction across Alabama

Words are not adequate to describe what the people of Alabama endured when Mother Nature unleashed her fury on April 27, 2011. The American Red Cross has fanned out across Alabama, and many others, doing everything possible to help. Watch the video

American Red Cross responds in 11 states to Spring Storms’ aftermath

From the Deep South to the Northeast, the American Red Cross is at work in 11 states to help people devastated by the recent deadly tornadoes and floods. Read more

American Red Cross ships desperately needed blood supplies to Alabama

The Red Cross is moving hundreds of blood products to Alabama to make sure hospital patients have the blood they need following the deadly tornadoes. Read more

You can get the latest developments by connecting with us!
Twitter | Facebook | Red Alert Blog | Red Cross Dallas Online

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April Storms Leave Communities Damaged, Inundated

April now looks to be the busiest month on record for tornadoes, having left more than 13,000 homes destroyed or damaged across six states, according to preliminary estimates.

The American Red Cross has spent most of this spring responding to the violent weather that has hit so many communities in the U.S. Since March 31, the Red Cross has:

• Served more than half a million meals and snacks with the help of community partners like the Salvation Army and Southern Baptist Convention; more than 165,000 have been served in Alabama.
• Opened more than 130 shelters.
• Provided more than 10,000 overnight stays, nearly half of which have been in Alabama.
• Made nearly 10, 000 health and mental health consultations.
• Distributed more than 253,000 relief items such as gloves, rakes, tarps and shovels.

In addition, nearly 4,500 Red Cross workers from all 50 states have assisted with relief and recovery efforts.

Due to the last few weeks’ tornadoes, flooding or in some states, a combination of the two, Red Cross shelters are currently open in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Tennessee and Vermont.

The Red Cross also has 153 emergency response vehicles traveling through seven states right now, providing hot meals and relief supplies to residents in need. Sixty-two of these vehicles are in Alabama, and an additional 17 are headed to the state.

In Pine Flat, Miss., a small community hit by an EF3 tornado last week, Red Cross workers stopped at the home of Charles and Marjorie Potts. The Potts’ home was damaged, and now his wallet is missing. Mr. Potts has numerous health issues, and since he has no way to pay for his medications right now, the Red Cross is helping to cover a portion of his prescription costs.

"The Red Cross has been a God's blessing,” Potts told Red Cross workers Carolyn Freeman and Rusty Surette. “Without your help I would likely be back in the hospital. I can't thank you enough," he said.

Meanwhile, the hits keep on coming for states just beginning their recovery from April’s storms. Heavy rain and swelling rivers are now creating flood concerns across Missouri, Kentucky, Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi and Louisiana as the Mississippi River continues to rise. The Red Cross is on alert to help these communities when needed.

How You Can Help

The Red Cross depends on financial donations to help in times of disaster. Those who want to help people affected by disasters like wildfires, floods and tornadoes, as well as countless crises at home and around the world, can make a donation to support American Red Cross Disaster Relief. This gift enables the Red Cross to prepare for and provide shelter, food, emotional support and other assistance in response to disasters. Visit www.redcross.org or call 1-800-RED-CROSS; you can also text the word “REDCROSS” to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Contributions may also be sent to local American Red Cross chapters or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013.

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Local Telethons Raise Money to Support Disaster Relief Efforts Across the South

On Friday, April 29th, the American Red Cross-Dallas Area Chapter hosted telethons at three local television stations to collect donations primarily benefiting the Spring Storms Disaster Response. It could be considered an understatement to call the night successful raising over $50,000 in the span of about five hours. We owe a heartfelt thanks to all of our generous donors that called in to support the efforts of the Red Cross as numerous storms raged across nearly half the country.

We would also like to extend our deepest gratitude to the stations that held these telethons for us making it all possible. In Dallas, we had the support of our exclusive media partner for the Dallas Area Chapter’s 100th Anniversary, WFAA Channel 8. In Fort Worth, we received a warm welcome from the CBS 11 and TXA 21 teams. These stations all reached out to the Red Cross less than 24 hours after deadly tornadoes ripped through several states including Alabama, Mississippi, and Arkansas.

As always, we were very dependent on our volunteers to staff the phone banks and getting so many people placed in multiple areas on short notice took some work but we made it happen. In all, we had about 36 volunteers step up to help take your calls. A definite hats-off to all of them for so thoughtfully giving their time!

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Frequently Asked Questions: Spring Storms and Tornadoes

How can I donate food and/or clothing, toys, etc. to victims of the disaster?
On larger relief operations we serve thousands of meals to victims of disaster and first responders every day. In order to ensure we meet health codes and are as efficient as possible, we are not able to accept donations of food from individuals. If you would like to donate food items, we recommend contacting your local food bank for information. If you’re interested in starting a food drive, it’s best to contact the food bank before you start collecting, so that you’re collecting exactly what is needed so that your donation can make the biggest impact in your community.

Donations like clothing and shoes require a lot of resources to sort, clean and distribute. Since our focus is on meeting the immediate needs of disaster victims, we work with agencies in the community, such as the Salvation Army and Goodwill Industries who are set up to process these types of donations. You can also call 211 for information on where you can take material items you have collected.

Why doesn’t the Red Cross accept donations of clothing and other small items?
Our primary focus after a disaster is getting help to large numbers of people in a short amount of time. We try to focus our workers on that goal and often don’t have the resources that it takes to sort, process, store and transport small donations.

In addition, we want to be consistent in the help we give to disaster victims and cash donations allow us to purchase large quantities of goods that help us do that. Financial donations also help us meet any specific needs a disaster client might have.

Will the Red Cross replace groceries or food lost because of a power outage?
Red Cross feeding services at shelters and through mobile feeding efforts are meant to ensure that no one goes hungry after a disaster. Power outages are often widespread and sometimes affect hundreds of thousands of people. It would be nearly impossible—both logistically and financially—for the Red Cross to replace groceries for that many people.

How can the American people help during this difficult time?
People can help by making a donation to help the thousands of people affected by this disaster. They can donate by visiting www.redcross.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS or texting the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.

Does my donation really help? What will it be used for?
The donations we receive for Red Cross Disaster Relief are put to good use. 91 cents of every dollar is used to support disaster victims. Any donation, large or small, will help. For example, $3 can provide a comfort kit containing personal hygiene items for someone in a disaster. $6 can cover the cost of a blanket, $10 the cost of a hot meal. A $50 donation can cover the cost of food and shelter for a day, including three meals, blankets, comfort kits and the Red Cross expense of mobilizing them to the disaster area. For $150, someone’s donation can cover the cost of providing food and shelter to a family of four for a day they spend in a shelter.

What is the Red Cross doing to help people affected by these deadly Spring storms?
Red Cross workers are deploying from all over the country, and we are helping people today – and we will be helping them in the weeks ahead as they try to get back on their feet.

Our first priority is to provide food and shelter to the thousands of people whose lives were turned upside down by these storms. We are focused on providing safe shelter, feeding victims and emergency workers, providing mental health and emotional support services, providing basic first aid and health services, and distributing clean-up supplies and comfort items.

This is a severe and widespread disaster affecting a number of states, and many people are depending on the Red Cross and our government partners for assistance. Some areas are taking time to get to because of the destruction and impassible roads.

How does the Red Cross pay for the services it provides?
We rely on the donations of the American people to support our work. Financial contributions to American Red Cross Disaster Relief allow us to serve victims of more than 70,000 disasters a year. Every day, the American Red Cross responds to nearly 200 disasters ranging from house fires to tornadoes and massive hurricanes – each one devastating to the people involved.

I have friends and family in the affected area. Is there any way to find out if they are okay?
The Red Cross Safe and Well secure Web site is a way to find out how loved ones are in a disaster. The people in the affected area can let their loved ones know they are safe by registering as “safe and well” with a telephone number or address. Friends and family outside the disaster area can then search the site for messages from their loved ones.

• To register, people should visit www.redcross.org/safeandwell and click on the “List Yourself or Search Registrants” link under “How to Get Help”.
• People in the affected areas can list themselves as “safe and well” on the site by using a pre-disaster phone number or complete address.
• Disaster victims can also update their Facebook and Twitter status through the Safe and Well Web site.
• From a smart phone, visit www.redcross.org/safeandwell and click on the “List Yourself as Safe and Well” or “Search for friends and family” link.
• From any phone call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) and one of our operators can help you register.

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