More Than 5,000 Homes Damaged by Tornadoes

Written by Mason Booth, Staff Writer, RedCross.org

May 7, 2003 — Just days after a deadly tornado outbreak razed more than 5,000 homes from Kansas to Tennessee, another bout of severe weather struck Tuesday in Alabama, Georgia, Illinois, and Texas. As dozens of local Red Cross chapters work round-the-clock to distribute emergency relief, more than 600 volunteers have mobilized from across the country and are pouring into affected regions to support the massive recovery operation.

In Pierce City, Mo, the entire downtown area was damaged by a powerful tornado and many of the town's historic buildings will have to be razed. Photo Courtesy of Gene Dailey.

One of latest areas hit hard by the rash of storms was southern Illinois, where two tornadoes touched down in Massac, Pulaski and Pope Counties, killing two people and damaging scores of homes.

In Texas, a twister ripped through the rural town of Pine Hill, while in northeastern Georgia another tore across Franklin, Madison and Elbert Counties.

The three states were also inundated by heavy downpours, which triggered flash floods across several counties. The torrential rains also inundated Alabama, causing extensive deluges that swept into at least 80 homes, affecting Madison County most severely.

Meanwhile, more severe weather struck Missouri, still reeling from Sunday’s deadly twisters. In the eastern region, a suspected twister hit Crawford County and then De Soto, a town about 40 miles north of St. Louis, damaging several homes.

As the disaster continues to develop, the American Red Cross has established relief operations in eight states: Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Illinois, Missouri, and Tennessee.

“The damage from the tornadoes is massive and widespread,” said Ray Steen, spokesperson for the American Red Cross. “Fortunately, we already have more than 620 Red Cross volunteers from across the country heading to or already in the affected areas, providing vital services to those in need.”

Red Cross damage assessment crews are continuing to survey affected areas to determine the extent of the damages, but efforts have been difficult because of the widespread impact of the disaster.

Preliminary damage assessment figures show that as many as 5,245 homes have been affected: 2,500 in Missouri, 700 in Kansas, 1,500 in Tennessee, 400 in Arkansas and 145 in Kentucky.

The Red Cross has mobilized 62 Emergency Response Vehicles (ERVs) into the affected states: 33 in Missouri, 11 in Kansas, 10 in Tennessee, 4 in Kentucky and 4 in Arkansas. Each ERV is capable of distributing 5,000 meals a day or be used for giving out clean-up, comfort and salvage supplies.

Meanwhile, nearly 1,000 individuals have sought refuge in 14 Red Cross shelters throughout the states.

With weather officials warning that the band of storms could last several days, the Red Cross is urging all residents to ready themselves now. Click here for information on how to prepare your families and homes for tornadoes and flash floods.

Your Help is Needed

You can help the Red Cross assist victims of this and 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 those in need. You can make a secure online credit card donation or call 1-800-HELP NOW (1-800-435-7669) or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Or you may send your donation to your local Red Cross or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, D.C. 20013.

Related Stories:

• Missouri Residents Relying on the Red Cross as Recovery Begins
• Tornado Survivors Survey Damage
• Mass Clean-Up Underway as Tornado-Ripe Weather Continues
• Red Cross Responds to Deadly Weekend Tornadoes

Related Links:

• American Red Cross Rushes Relief to Tornado-Ravaged Midwest
• Disaster Safety - Tornado
• Disaster Safety - Floods
• Family Disaster Planning
• Disaster Supplies Kit
• Children & Disasters

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