As damaging storms continue to sweep across the country, the American Red Cross is helping people in multiple states who are impacted by this severe weather.
More than 400 people spent Monday night in Red Cross and community shelters in Texas, Indiana, New Mexico, Illinois, Oregon, Georgia, Alabama and Missouri after these deadly storms caused tornadoes, flooding and winter storms. The Red Cross is also supporting families in Arkansas, Tennessee and Mississippi due to severe weather and flooding.
“We have been out helping people affected by these massive storms since before Christmas and will continue to support them as long as we are needed,” said Brad Kieserman, vice president, Disaster Services Operations and Logistics for the Red Cross. “We depend on generous financial donations to provide comfort and hope to people in need. This is especially true right now when so many have lost everything and holiday celebrations for so many families have been tragically interrupted.”
RED CROSS RESPONSE: More than 1,100 homes have been damaged by storms across the affected areas and this number could increase. More than 300 trained Red Cross disaster workers left their loved ones and homes over the holiday and opened shelters for those affected, providing meals, distributing comfort kits and clean-up supplies, offering health and mental health services and meeting with those affected to help them plan their next steps.
DANGER NOT OVER: Most of the eastern half of the country could see more rain. Flash flooding is possible for the Gulf Coast and southeast over the next several days and freezing rain and ice will continue in the northeast.
“The danger continues as the storm moves eastward and we urge people in the path of severe storms to get ready now,” Kieserman said. Information about what people should do to prepare their household for possible flooding, tornadoes, winter storms and other weather emergencies is available at redcross.org.
You can donate to the Red Cross by visiting redcross.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS or texting the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.
