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Week of Wicked Weather Pummels Midwest, Southeast; American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund Threatened
Americans Encouraged to Help by Calling 1-800 HELP NOW or Visiting www.redcross.org
WASHINGTON, May 8, 2003 — After continued rounds of volatile storms and deadly tornadoes, the American Red Cross is urging the public to donate to its Disaster Relief Fund to support the relief efforts for the people affected by the tornadoes that recently ripped through the American heartland, killing more than 40 people and leaving behind a path of destruction. "The devastation that's been left behind from more than 200 tornadoes this week alone is shocking," said Terry J. Sicilia, executive vice president of Disaster Services for the American Red Cross. "The American Red Cross urgently needs funds to ensure that we can meet the immediate needs of people affected by these tornadoes and storms, and other disasters. We've spent more to assist people during disasters this year than what has been received in funding, and we're relying on the public to help us help others in this critical time." Nearly 1,000 Red Cross relief workers are on the scene in Missouri, Kansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, Arkansas, Illinois, Alabama, and Mississippi providing for the immediate needs of the tornado victims. More than two dozen Red Cross shelters have opened throughout the affected states to give displaced families a place where they can sleep, eat a hot meal, and receive vital information about available assistance. Because of the widespread devastation, Red Cross workers will be deployed for many weeks in communities across the nation to continue relief efforts, focusing efforts on victim support and recovery, especially mental health services for those suffering from emotional trauma caused by the deadly storms. Relief services are stretched and depleting the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. This fund is not a reserve; it is a working fund that needs continued replenishment when disaster strikes. As this tornado season continues and hurricane season approaches, one large storm could deplete the balance of the fund completely. A financial gift to the Disaster Relief Fund enables the Red Cross to provide food, shelter, mental health counseling and other assistance to those impacted by these tornadoes and severe storms, as well as thousands of other disasters across the country each year. Based on preliminary data, estimated costs for the tornado relief operations are expected to be as high as $5 million and could climb even higher as severe weather continues to plague America. It is vital to Red Cross relief efforts that the fund is healthy and viable to provide services for these large disasters and the hundreds of smaller disasters that the Red Cross responds to every year across the country. Since July 2002, the Red Cross has spent more than $85 million responding to 230 large-scale disasters, but raised only $26 million toward these efforts. "The Red Cross will remain in the tornado ravaged areas for the long term to meet the continuous needs of those affected," Sicilia said. "We are grateful for all those who can provide us with the financial resources, no matter how small, to carry out our lifesaving mission." He encourages the American public to reach out to help the thousands of disaster victims and make a financial contribution to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund by calling 1-800 HELP NOW or visiting www.redcross.org. For more information on tornado preparedness, contact your local Red Cross chapter, visit www.redcross.org or call 1-866-GET INFO. 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 tornadoes 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). 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 secure online credit card donations by visiting www.redcross.org.
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