The American Red Cross is working around the clock to help people recover after a three-day outbreak of severe weather across much of the south.
· Tornado damage is widespread across Alabama, Mississippi, North Carolina and Virginia. And more than 700,000 acres have been scorched by wildfires in Texas prompting evacuations and destroying homes. Oklahoma has been hit doubly hard by both tornadoes and wildfires in just the last week.
· In North Carolina alone, preliminary disaster assessments show almost 500 homes destroyed and more than 1,000 damaged.
· More than 500 people sought refuge in Red Cross shelters in four states this weekend. To find an open shelter visit www.redcross.org.
· Across the south, Red Cross workers are serving meals and providing essential supplies as clean-up efforts begin. More than 25 response vehicles are on the ground in North Carolina and another eight are supporting Alabama. In Mississippi alone, an estimated 4,000 meals and snacks have been served.
· With government officials reporting more than 40 deaths from this weekend’s severe weather, Red Cross disaster mental health workers are available to help people cope with the aftermath.
· The Red Cross will be on the ground in all of these affected areas for weeks to help people get back on their feet and make sure disaster caused needs are met.
Photo from website: http://gso.redcross.org/
Since the end of March, the Red Cross has helped people affected by 35 large disasters like floods, tornadoes and wildfires in 20 states, making this an extremely busy spring.
· Prior to this weekend’s severe weather, Red Cross workers have supported residents in Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Wisconsin recover from floods, tornadoes and wildfires.
· Each year the Red Cross spends an average of about $450 million on providing disaster relief to people in need and maintaining the resources needed to get help to people 24/7.
· There is no other non-governmental organization that can respond to disasters on the size and scale of the Red Cross – but we rely on donations from the American public to be ready to respond every day across the country.
The Red Cross depends on financial donations to get help to people affected by disasters. Please consider making a donation today; every single donation brings hope to those in need.
· You can help people affected by disasters like floods, fires, tornadoes and hurricanes, as well as countless crises at home and around the world, by making a donation to support American Red Cross Disaster Relief.
· Your 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, call 1-800-RED CROSS or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.
· Contributions may also be sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013.
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