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. 

Tweet

Safety First during Holiday Travel

Millions of travelers will take to the skies, rails and highways during the Thanksgiving holiday and the American Red Cross offers some tips to help travelers arrive safely at their destination.

Airports, bus and train stations are crowded with Thanksgiving travelers, but most holiday travelers use highways and biways. Many people even make same-day trips to visit friends and family just for the day.

To arrive safely, the Red Cross recommends these steps for those driving to visit loved ones:

• Make sure your vehicle is in good working order. 
• Start out with a full tank of gas, check the air pressure in your tires and make sure you have windshield fluid. 
• Buckle up, slow down, don’t drive impaired.
• Be well rested and alert.
• Use caution in work zones.
• Give your full attention to the road. Avoid distractions such as cell phones.
• Observe speed limits – driving too fast or too slow can increase your chance of being in a collision.
• Make frequent stops. During long trips, rotate drivers. If you’re too tired to drive, stop and get some rest.
• Be respectful of other motorists and follow the rules of the road.
• Don’t follow another vehicle too closely.
• If you plan on drinking, designate a driver who won’t drink.
• Clean your headlights, taillights, signal lights and windows to help you see, especially at night.
• Turn your headlights on as dusk approaches, or if you are using your windshield wipers due to inclement weather.
• Don’t overdrive your headlights.
• If you have car trouble, pull off the road as far as possible.

It’s also recommended that you keep an emergency preparedness kit in the vehicle. Useful items include water, snacks, a flashlight, first aid kit, extra cash and blankets. The Red Cross Deluxe Auto Safety Kit is a great solution to help people prepare for emergencies on the road and is available in the Red Cross Store at http://www.redcrossstore.org./

 

For people traveling by air, bus or train, the Red Cross reminds them that the seasonal flu can occur as early as October. If you have come in contact with someone who is sick, perhaps the trip should be postponed as you may be contagious for a week before symptoms appear.

 

Other safety tips to avoid the flu while you travel include the following:

• Remember that everything you touch has to be touched by someone else – luggage handlers, etc. Handle your own belongings as much as possible. Wash your hands often with soap and water.
• Carry hand sanitizer and anti-bacterial wipes with you. You can use them to wash your hands or wipe down surfaces such as armrests.
• Bring your own pillows and blankets – they can act as a shield against the seat itself.
• If you have to cough or sneeze, do so into a tissue or your sleeve.
• Avoid touching your face or eyes.

For more information on how to remain safe while traveling this Thanksgiving, visit http://www.redcross.org/.

Tweet

Photos: Veterans Day Parade 11/11/11

Tweet

Back-to-Back Disasters Keep Red Cross Busy in 2011

A Red Cross emergency response vehicle loads up with food (provided by the Southern Baptist Convention) at the First Baptist Church in Bastrop and then proceeds to the wildfire damaged Tahitian Village Neighborhood to hand out hot meals. Southern Baptist volunteers load a Red Cross emergency response vehicle with food. They are Rob Walters (left) and Ted Bosworth. (Photo by Dennis Drenner/American Red Cross)

The American Red Cross was on the scene during what has been an extremely busy year for natural disasters in the United States. Across the country, thousands of people have been uprooted and lives forever changed.

Back in January, snowstorms closed roads, stranded travelers and knocked out power to large portions of the country. As the weeks and months went by, blizzards, wildfires, flooding, hurricanes, earthquakes and tornadoes took a toll on much of the country. The Red Cross helped provide relief, with food and shelter, clean-up supplies and emotional support.

Over the last nine months, the Red Cross launched 119 disaster relief operations across 42 states and territories to help people affected by fires, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, and earthquakes. In response to these disasters, the Red Cross has deployed nearly 26,000 disaster workers who have helped victims by:

• Opening 948 shelters providing more than 124,000 overnight stays
• Providing nearly 70,000 health service contacts to replace medications and items like eyeglasses
• Providing 60,000 mental health contacts to help comfort people
• Handing out more than 2.6 million clean-up and comfort kits, along with other items like tarps, coolers, shovels
• Serving more than 6.6 million meals and snacks

In order to respond to disasters across the country and open shelters as needed within hours of a disaster, the Red Cross works year round to identify more than 56,000 potential shelter sites ahead of time. In addition, disaster warehouses are located all across the country stocking supplies like cots and blankets to support as many as 500,000 people in shelters.

Working with partners like the Southern Baptist Convention, Salvation Army and others, the Red Cross can prepare and serve meals in communities affected by disaster in any part of the country. Using kitchens operated by these partners, local vendors and caterers and a supply of shelf-stable meals, the Red Cross has the capacity to serve a million meals a day if needed.

In an average year, the Red Cross spends about $450 million on disaster relief throughout the United States and around the world. This includes sheltering, feeding and relief supplies for the disasters we respond to and the cost of being ready to respond by maintaining warehouses, response vehicles and computer systems. It also includes immediate relief and recovery planning to help people affected by large disasters in other countries. Major disasters that impact entire communities – like Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee – add to the total cost of our response efforts.

Just as the Red Cross works every day to be ready to respond to emergencies, we urge people to get prepared too. Every person, business, school and house of worship should be prepared to take care of themselves and their neighbors in an emergency.

The three keys to preparedness are to build a kit, make a plan, and be informed.

An emergency preparedness kit should include enough supplies for at least three days. Supplies should include water (one gallon, per person, per day), nonperishable food, a flashlight, battery-powered or hand-crank radio, extra batteries, a first aid kit, a 7-day supply of medications, a multi-purpose tool, sanitation and personal hygiene items and copies of important personal documents. The Red Cross also recommends having at least two weeks worth of supplies at home.

All members of the household should work together on an emergency plan. Each person should know how to reach other members of the household. The plan should also include an out-of-area emergency contact person, and where everyone should meet if they can't go home.

People should also be informed about what types of disasters are most likely to occur where they live. It is also important to take a first aid and CPR/AED course—a vital component of disaster preparedness in case emergency help is delayed.

Getting prepared today can save lives and livelihoods when disaster strikes. People contact their local Red Cross chapter to learn what steps they should take to be ready when emergencies strike.

Tweet

Photos: Central Texas Wildfires

Tweet

So Far, 2011 A Costly Disaster Year

Damaged homes in Tuscaloosa, Alabama after a devastating tornado.
Photo: Dennis Drenner/American Red Cross

Experts estimate disasters caused more than $35 billion in losses

It’s been a costly year for disasters in the United States and the American Red Cross has been responding all over the country to help the thousands of people affected by flooding, tornadoes, drought and extreme heat, wildfires and other emergencies.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) estimates the country’s economic loss attributable to disasters at more than $35 billion so far with several disasters each adding up to losses of $1 billion or more. The country is in the midst of hurricane season, which experts predict could be very active, so these numbers could grow.

The disasters in the NOAA report include:

• flooding in the upper Midwest (Montana, North and South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas and Missouri)
  
  
• flooding along the Mississippi River, especially in Arkansas, Tennessee, Missouri and Louisiana
  
  
• extreme drought and heat combined with wildfires in Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona, Kansas, Arkansas and Louisiana
  
  
• deadly tornadoes in the Midwest and southeast (Missouri, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Arkansas, Georgia, Tennessee, Virginia, Iowa, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Georgia, North and South Carolina, Tennessee)

Nearly 14,000 Red Cross disaster workers from across the country supported 46 relief operations spread over more than half of the country this spring. They opened 287 shelters, served 3.5 million meals and snacks, distributed 1.7 million relief items, and provided 81,000 mental health and health consultations.

Their work is not over. More than 100 people in North Dakota remain in shelters after the disastrous flooding in the Minot area. Every day chapters respond to smaller disasters such as home fires. One fire involving multiple families in Montgomery County, MD, resulted in 85 residents coming to a Red Cross shelter.

Every year, the Red Cross spends an average of approximately $450 million preparing for and responding to nearly 70,000 disasters across the country and around the world. This includes both large disasters such as hurricanes and earthquakes and smaller disasters such as house fires.

If you would like to help, please consider making a donation today by visiting www.redcross.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or texting the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Contributions may also be sent to your local Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013.

Resources on RedCross.org

• Heat Wave Safety
• Wild Fire Safety
• Preparing for Drought

Tweet

Corporate Partners Help American Red Cross Get Ready for 2011 Hurricane Season

As floods, wildfires and tornadoes continue to ravage the U.S., and with forecasters predicting an above-average hurricane season, the American Red Cross is getting prepared with the help of the corporations and foundations that support the Red Cross through the Annual Disaster Giving Program (ADGP) and Disaster Responder (DR) program.

Members of these programs pledge donations on an ongoing basis in advance of major disasters, such as the deadly tornadoes, major flooding and wildfires that have devastated the country this spring. These companies understand that proper supplies and systems have to be in place to respond effectively. With pre-positioned supplies ready, the Red Cross can immediately take action when hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, wildfires and other disasters strike.

According to the Colorado State University Tropical Meteorology Project, the 2011 hurricane season may see above-average activity in the Atlantic. The report estimates approximately 16 named storms, 9 hurricanes and 5 major hurricanes will occur during the 2011 Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to November 30.

“We want to thank our Annual Disaster Giving Program and Disaster Responder members for helping us to be ready for any disasters that occur this year,” said Gail McGovern, president and CEO of the American Red Cross. “Their generous contributions over the past decade allow us to get immediate relief to victims before the first donations come in.”

Since March 31, the American Red Cross has launched 41 large disaster responses across 28 states after this spring’s devastating wildfires, flooding and tornadoes. The Red Cross has—

• Served more than 2.7 million meals and snacks;
• Opened more than 260 shelters and provided more than 28,000 overnight stays;
• Provided more than 60,000 mental health and health consultations;
• Distributed more than 1.2 million relief items like toothbrushes and shampoo, tarps, coolers, rakes and other cleanup supplies; and
• Deployed more than 11,000 trained disaster relief workers from all 50 states.

Working with partners around the globe, the American Red Cross also helps to build the local capacities of sister Red Cross and Red Crescent societies, by collaborating to train and organize volunteers and educate communities, and establish partnerships with other public and private organizations to strengthen and complement core international services and initiatives.

During a domestic disaster, the Red Cross sends volunteers and supplies into affected areas to shelter, feed and provide emotional support to disaster victims and emergency personnel. Generous gifts from ADGP and DR members offset a range of expenses, including warehousing supplies, shelter and feeding costs, deploying the fleet of disaster response vehicles and reconnecting individuals separated during disasters.

Members of the American Red Cross Annual Disaster Giving Program are 3M, Altria Group, Aon, Cisco Foundation, ConAgra Foods, Costco Wholesale Corporation, Darden Restaurants, Inc., Dr Pepper Snapple Group, FedEx Corporation, GE Foundation, The Home Depot Foundation, John Deere Foundation, Kimberly-Clark Corporation, Kraft Foods, Lowe’s Companies, Inc., Merck, Morgan Stanley, Nationwide Insurance Foundation, Northrop Grumman, Ryder Charitable Foundation, Southwest Airlines, State Farm, State Street Foundation, Target, The TJX Companies, Inc., UnitedHealthcare, UPS and Walmart.

Members of the Disaster Responder program are American Express, Archer Daniels Midland Company, AXA Foundation, General Motors Foundation, Starbucks Coffee Company and Starbucks Foundation.

People can join Annual Disaster Giving Program and Disaster Responder members in supporting the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund and help provide food, shelter, emotional support and other assistance to the victims of thousands of disasters across the country each year. Visit www.redcross.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) to make a donation.

Tweet