Red Cross Helps Southern States Recover from Severe Weather

The American Red Cross is providing food, shelter and help with recovery in the southern states after severe storms and at least 60 tornadoes hit many areas. Red Cross workers will support those affected for as long as help is needed.

Reports indicate more than 1,100 homes have been affected across Mississippi, Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana and Florida. This number is likely to increase once all inaccessible areas are accessed. Approximately 247 people in Georgia and Mississippi stayed in 2 Red Cross and community shelters. Red Cross response vehicles are circulating through the hardest-hit areas, delivering food and relief supplies as people clean up their homes. In Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi, Red Cross and community partners have served over 74,000 meals and snacks, distributed over 22,000 relief items, and provided 3,300 Health Services and Disaster Mental Health contacts. Red Cross has mobilized over 500 workers to help.

Our current best estimate (as of January 24) is that the Red Cross will spend more than $1 million helping the people affected by the tornadoes and storms in Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi. We need the public’s support to help the hundreds of people still suffering. This cost range represents our best estimate at this time and may change upwards or downwards as the situation continues to evolve and more information becomes available. It includes the costs of providing food, shelter, blankets, cots, emotional support, health services, relief supplies and initial casework support. It also includes some of the costs that make relief possible including logistics, staff and technology expenses to support such a significant disaster.

MAKE A DONATION The Red Cross depends on donations to provide immediate relief. Help people affected by Southern Tornadoes and Storms by visiting redcross.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS or texting the word TORNADO to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Donations enable the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from this disaster.

DOWNLOAD EMERGENCY APP More than 2.5 million weather alerts were sent from the Red Cross Emergency and Tornado Apps over the weekend. These alerts help save lives by notifying people so they can gather household members and go to their safe place during severe weather. People can also learn what to do before, during and after severe weather events by downloading Red Cross apps in their app store or at redcross.org/apps.