Hundreds Across the South Still Seek Safety in Red Cross Shelters

WASHINGTON, May 7 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- More than 1,100 Red Cross workers are helping those whose lives were turned upside down after this week's flooding and tornadoes in Tennessee, Kentucky, Mississippi, Alabama and Arkansas.

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Clean-up efforts are underway and Red Cross teams from 37 different states are providing food, a safe place to stay, clean-up items, toiletries, blankets, shovels, rakes, gloves, trash bags and other necessities.  

Damage is widespread with people needing everything from immediate emergency assistance to help with the clean-up, according to Joe Becker, senior vice president of Disaster Services for the Red Cross.  "This is a tough response and people have been through a lot," Becker said.  "This operation is going to go on for weeks.  It's our job to make sure people's needs are met."

Hundreds are still in Red Cross shelters, seeking food and a safe place to stay.  If someone needs information about Red Cross shelters, they can visit redcross.org and click on the "Find a Shelter" link.

The Red Cross has already served more than 100,000 meals and snacks to people across the five states. Two Southern Baptist kitchens are in Tennessee, in Nashville and Jackson, with a combined capacity of serving 10,000 meals a day.  More than 45 Red Cross response vehicles are in the affected areas with more on the way, delivering food and clean-up items throughout the damaged neighborhoods.  

Thousands are still without power.  Roadways and bridges are destroyed.  People returning to their homes are finding they've lost everything.  Tennessee is the hardest hit.  In Nashville alone, officials estimate this week's flooding caused over $1 billion in damages.  Tennessee Governor Phil Gredesen has declared 52 of the state's 95 counties as disaster areas.

If someone would like to help, there are three ways that people can make a donation to the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund: Visit redcross.org to donate online, call 1-800-REDCROSS, or make a $10 donation by texting REDCROSS to 90999.

The Red Cross urges all who have been affected to use caution when returning to their homes:

• Avoid downed power lines and smell for gas when returning home.  Wear protective clothing like rubber gloves and boots when cleaning up. 
• Dispose of food, beverages and medicine exposed to floodwaters and mud, including canned goods, capped bottles and sealed containers.  Water may not be safe to drink, clean with, or bathe in after an emergency such as a flood.  Use only bottled, boiled, or treated water until the water supply is tested and found safe. 
• Mold can cause asthma attacks or irritate the eyes, nose and skin.  Remove all items that have been wet for more than 48 hours.  To clean hard surfaces, use commercial cleaning products or a bleach solution of 1 cup of bleach to 1 gallon of water. 

Additional safety information is available on www.redcross.org.

Help people affected by disasters like the recent floods and tornadoes by donating to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. On those rare occasions when donations exceed Red Cross expenses for a specific disaster, contributions are used to prepare for and serve victims of other disasters. Your gift enables the Red Cross to prepare for disasters and provide shelter, food, emotional support and other assistance to victims of all disasters. Call 1-800-REDCROSS (1-800-733-2767) or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Contributions to the Disaster Relief Fund may be sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. Internet users can make a secure online contribution by visiting redcross.org.

SOURCE American Red Cross