Red Cross Helping in 8 Midwest States In Wake of 135 Possible Tornadoes

Providing Shelter, Food, Relief Supplies

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May 12, 2015, 02:10 ET

WASHINGTON, May 12, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Red Cross is helping people in eight Midwest states after as many as 135 possible tornadoes moved through the region over the last several days.

Red Cross workers comfort woman in Van, Texas after a tornado ripped through her home.

The American Red Cross is helping people in eight Midwest states after as many as 135 possible tornadoes moved through the region over the last several days.

Red Cross workers have shelters open and are providing meals, relief supplies and helping people begin to recover after the severe weather which struck communities from Texas through South Dakota. More than 60 people spent Monday night in shelters in Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas and Iowa. Red Cross response vehicles are moving through the affected communities to hand out meals and relief supplies. Trained volunteers are also beginning to meet one-on-one with families to help people plan their next steps.

"The last week has brought unrelenting rounds of severe weather and our volunteers are working around the clock to comfort and support people," said Richard Reed, senior vice president for Disaster Cycle Services of the American Red Cross. "Our work is made possible by generous donors, and we need your help now."

HOW TO HELP To help people affected by disasters big and small, donate at Redcross.org or contact your local American Red Cross chapter.

OKLAHOMA– The Red Cross has shelters open and response vehicles are traveling through the affected areas, handing out meals and relief supplies. Feeding sites, comfort stations and first aid stations are open in the hardest hit areas. Resource Centers are also open where people can come to be helped by multiple organizations.

SOUTH DAKOTA– The entire town of Delmont was evacuated after a tornado caused severe damage over the weekend. The Red Cross has a shelter open in nearby Tripp for those affected. Trained volunteers are also providing food, emotional support and are meeting with those affected to help them recover from the storm.

TEXAS – Texas was hit with multiple tornadoes, including one that caused heavy damage in the community of Van. Heavy rain has also caused flooding and forced people to leave their homes. Red Cross workers have shelters open and are distributing food and relief supplies as well as providing health services.

IOWA – Hardest hit was Lake City, where residents had to evacuate after a tornado tore through the community. The Red Cross opened a shelter and is providing meals, health and mental health services, as well as distributing food and relief supplies.

Volunteers in Arkansas, Colorado, Nebraska and Kansas are also helping people after flooding and severe weather in those areas.

"The Red Cross will continue to support people affected by these storms as they begin to clean up their homes and figure out what to do next," Reed said. "The threat of severe weather isn't over yet and we are prepared to respond in other communities if necessary."

SUPPORT HELPS RED CROSS BE PREPARED The generous donations from Annual Disaster Giving Program (ADGP) members enable the American Red Cross to prepare communities for disasters big and small, respond whenever and wherever disasters occur and help families during the recovery process.

The ADGP members are: Wells Fargo; Wawa; Walmart; VSP℠Vision care for life; UPS; United Technologies Corporation; United Airlines; The TJX Companies, Inc.; The Home Depot; Target; Sunoco; State Farm; Sprint; Southwest Airlines; San Manuel Band of Mission Indians; Samsung; Prudential Foundation; PepsiCo Foundation; Nationwide Insurance Foundation; National Grid; Mondelēz International Foundation; Merck & Co., Inc.; Meijer; Medtronic; Mazda North American Operations; Lowe's Companies, Inc.; LDS Charities; Kraft Foods Group Foundation; Kimberly-Clark Corporation; Johnson Controls; John Deere Foundation; Humble Bundle; Grainger; Ford Motor Company; FedEx Corporation; Edison International; Dr Pepper Snapple Group; Disney; Discover; Darden Restaurants Foundation; Costco Wholesale; ConAgra Foods Foundation; Citi Foundation; Cisco Foundation; Caterpillar Foundation; Capital One; BNY Mellon; Bank of America; Aon; Anthem Foundation; Anheuser Busch Foundation; American Express; American Airlines; Altria Group; 3M

About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.

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SOURCE American Red Cross