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Carolinas Clean Up After Frances, Get Ready for Ivan
Written by
Lesly C. Hallman
, Staff Writer, RedCross.org
Wednesday, September 15, 2004 — Cleanup after Hurricane Frances continues in the Carolinas, where the massive storm’s heavy rains left behind major floods last week. Residents are scrambling to get back to normal as well as get ready for yet another major storm in the face of Hurricane Ivan’s arrival.
Nearly 300 residents in North Carolina are still in Red Cross shelters because of flood damage to their homes. Last week’s floods also contaminated many water systems and caused breaks in some water lines in Asheville and surrounding communities. Clean water remains an issue throughout the region, as local health departments test well water that many have been contaminated during the floods.
The Red Cross continues to provide support to area residents as the situation drags on.
The remnants of Hurricane Frances brought heavy rains and flooding to western North Carolina,. (Photo Credit: News 14 Carolina) |
“We are still in full relief mode for Frances, continuing to hand out food and water from our emergency response vehicles,” said Joyce Brooks, spokeswoman for the Asheville-Mountain Area Red Cross Chapter. “We did four days of almost around-the-clock water distribution, and more than 200,000 gallons of water were distributed by about 600 volunteers.”
Brooks said her chapter is now working with area officials to prepare for Ivan’s impending arrival.
“The good news is that we are prepositioned and ready to open shelters at a moment’s notice,” she said. Supplies have been stationed at local shelters considered to be safe from possible flooding, and 12 tractor-trailers full of water are waiting in storage until needed.
In South Carolina, Red Cross teams began canvassing flooded areas last week to assess the damage. Local chapters opened shelters to support residents dealing with floods and the record number of tornadoes that also touched down last week—according to the National Weather Service, Frances spawned a record 37 tornadoes in the state on Sept. 6 and 7.
Good weather is helping the area dry out, but powerful Hurricane Ivan is forecast to come through the Carolinas and Virginia later this week after its projected landfall somewhere along the Gulf Coast.
Preliminary estimates place the cost of the Red Cross response to the hurricanes at $67.8 million, not including the anticipated costs associated with Hurricane Ivan. Red Cross relief workers continue to provide relief and assistance to the people affected by the previous storms as they continue preparation for the next one.
All Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the American people. You can help the victims of these floods, hurricanes and thousands of other disasters across the country each year by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, which enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to those in need. Call 1-800-HELP NOW or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Internet users can make a secure online contribution by visiting our Online Donation Page.
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