Riegelwood, N.C., Tornado and
Other Weather Disasters Severe Weather including Thunderstorms
and Tornadoes Impact Gulf and East Coast States
Overview
A line of devastating thunderstorms that swept across the Gulf Coast states of Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana moved north and east towards the East Coast, spawning a tornado in Riegelwood, N.C. The twister ripped through a cluster of mobile homes and an adjacent neighborhood of brick homes in Columbus County in the early morning hours of Thursday, Nov. 16, 2006.
Fatalities and several injuries have been reported. A number of homes were destroyed or seriously damaged in Riegelwood, and damage also was reported in Wayne, Duplin, Lincoln, Iredell and Rowan counties. Area power outages were reported.
The severe weather front began early in the week of Nov. 13, with thunderstorms and tornadoes as well. Many of the impacted areas in these southern states were still recovering for a surge of severe weather in the later part of October 2006 that caused some significant flooding. The weather front moved north and east overnight Wednesday, bringing rain to East Coast states including Maryland and Pennsylvania.
American Red Cross Response
The American Red Cross mobilized personnel immediately, deploying emergency response vehicles (ERVs) and opening sheltering where needed. Personnel using ERVs began mobile feeding operations to those affected as well as emergency crews working in the area.
Local Red Cross disaster mental health workers are on the scene and are available in shelters offering their services and a bit of comfort to shelter residents. As soon as areas become safe to enter, the Red Cross begins conducting disaster assessments.
How to Get Help
If are in need of emergency shelter, water or food, please contact your local American Red Cross chapter for assistance.
Finding Missing Loved Ones
Before disaster strikes, take time to create a family communications plan and complete an emergency contact card for all family members. Planning ahead is the best way to stay connected when disaster strikes. However, if you are separated from or cannot locate loved ones in the aftermath of a disaster, the Safe and Well List Web site also can be used as a resource when normal communications are disrupted.
How to Support the Relief Efforts
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Donate to the Disaster Relief Fund |
All American 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 thousands of 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 victims of disaster.
Making a financial contribution is the best way to help. To make a donation: |
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Call 1-800-RED CROSS or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish) |
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Make at secure, online donation at www.redcross.org. |
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Contact your local Red Cross chapter |
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Mail a Donation to:
American Red Cross
P.O. Box 37243
Washington, D.C. 20013
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The American Red Cross honors donor intent. If you wish to designate a donation for a specific disaster, please do so at the time of donation.
NOTE: The Red Cross has a four-star rating from Charity Navigator for its effective use of donations. |
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Become A Volunteer |
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Contact your local Red Cross chapter or visit Volunteer Match to become a Red Cross volunteer. Well-meaning individuals are urged not to report directly to the affected areas. |
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Find your local Red Cross chapter |
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Visit VolunteerMatch.org |
Promote the Red Cross |
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Support the American Red Cross by hosting an online advertisement/public service banner on your Web site encouraging others to make a financial donation. |
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Sign up to host an online advertisement/public service banner |
About Donations of Goods or Collected Items
Unsolicited, spontaneous donations of goods and services from individuals and community groups, though well intentioned, have hidden costs and pose a number of complications for relief efforts. For these reasons, the Red Cross is not able to accept any large collections of items, such as used clothing, hygiene items, furniture, toys, and canned goods. Nor are we able to accept small, individual donations of these items.
If you represent a company wishing to offer supplies in bulk, please contact your local Red Cross chapter.
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Read more About Collections of Goods and Individual Items |
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Find your Local Red Cross Chapter |
Inquiries Media or Public
Please visit the American Red Cross Press Room on Redcross.org for the latest press releases, media advisories or statements, links to available news photos, video and public service announcements. |
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Visit the Press Room on Redcross.org |
Medial Requests ONLY |
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NATIONAL Requests: Call Disaster Public Affairs at 202-303-5551 |
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LOCAL Requests: Find and contact the closest Red Cross Chapter |
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Public requests, including private citizen, business, or student: |
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Visit the Contact Us page. |
Additional Resources
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