espositol posted on April 27, 2011 18:32
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEWS RELEASE
Contact: Jana Sweeny
Telephone: (919) 931-9014 Email:sweenyj@usa.redcross.org
SMITHFIELD, NC, April 27, 2011 - The American Red Cross is helping thousands of people as tornadoes, flooding and wildfires continue to wreak havoc across a large part of the United States and encourages the public to be prepared for upcoming severe weather.
Almost 1,100 people sought refuge Tuesday night in Red Cross shelters as new storms forced people from their homes in Arkansas, Missouri, Kentucky, Indiana and Illinois. These latest storms come on the heels of two weeks of deadly weather which has disrupted people's lives from North Dakota to the East Coast.
In North Carolina, Red Cross disaster teams continue to work around the clock in the affected areas, providing people with shelter, meals, emotional support, casework, and supplies to help with recovery efforts. Since the storms hit on April 16th, more than 400 people have stayed in Red Cross shelters, over 80,000 hot meals have been served, and 1,344 clean up kits have been distributed. In addition, Red Cross workers continue to provide services and casework through mobile outreach.
"In North Carolina, we are now focusing on long-term recovery by sending out mental health and health services workers to provide consultations to people coping with the aftermath of this disaster," said Rick Schou, Red Cross Relief Operation Director. "We are also making sure that people in North Carolina are prepared for the next batch of strong storms that will be coming through this week. We have response teams on standby if areas in North Carolina need additional assistance after the storms pass through the state."
The Red Cross is encouraging the public to read the "Tornado Safety Checklist," that can be found on www.redcross.org <http://www.redcross.org/> to ensure that they are fully prepared should another tornado outbreak occur.
People who were affected by the tornadoes last week that still need Red Cross assistance or have questions about tornado preparedness, please call 1-800-REDCROSS. In addition, the Red Cross is encouraging people who are seeking assistance to register with FEMA by calling 1-800-FEMA.
Those who want to help the people affected by these disasters can make a donation to support American Red Cross Disaster Relief. Their gift will enable the Red Cross to prepare for and provide shelter, food, emotional support and other disaster assistance. To make a donation, people can visit www.redcross.org or call 1-800-RED-CROSS. Contributions may also be sent to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013.
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies nearly half of the nation's blood; teaches lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization - not a government agency - and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit www.redcross.org <http://www.redcross.org/> or join our blog at http://blog.redcross.org <http://blog.redcross.org/> .