BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (Jan. 22, 2017) American Red Cross workers are on the ground across Alabama providing recovery support for residents impacted by severe weekend storms. Several homes across the state in Blount, Choctaw, Dallas, and Marengo counties have been damaged or destroyed and significant injuries have been reported.  In Mid-Alabama, fallen trees and power lines have also caused damage. Red Cross will continue to work closely with the EMA in each area, assess damages, and provide assistance over the next 24 hours and prepare to respond in local communities statewide.

What to Do After a Tornado or Severe Weather.

• Continue listening to local news or a NOAA Weather Radio for updated information and instructions.
• If you are away from home, return only when authorities say it is safe to do so.
• Wear long pants, a long-sleeved shirt and sturdy shoes when examining your walls, doors, staircases and windows for damage.
• Watch out for fallen power lines or broken gas lines and report them to the utility company immediately.
• Stay out of damaged buildings.
• Use battery-powered flashlights when examining buildings – do NOT use candles.
• If you smell gas or hear a blowing or hissing noise, open a window and get everyone out of the building quickly and call the gas company or fire department.
• Take pictures of damage, both of the building and its contents, for insurance claims.
• Use the telephone only for emergency calls.
• Keep all of your animals under your direct control.
• Clean up spilled medications, bleaches, gasoline or other flammable liquids that could become a fire hazard.
• Check for injuries. If you are trained, provide first aid to persons in need until emergency responders arrive.

Red Cross urges everyone to pay attention to local weather advisories. Information on what to do before, during and after a disaster, along with weather alerts and shelter information are available at your fingertips when you download the free Red Cross Emergency! App (visit www.redcross.org/apps ). Additional preparedness tips are available at www.redcross.org/prepare.

HOW YOU CAN HELP The Red Cross depends on the generous support of the American public to assist people affected by disasters. If you would like to help, please consider donating today by visiting www.redcross.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or texting the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.Donations enable the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from this disaster.

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About the American Red Cross: The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.