Devastation left behind by the weekend tornadoes in Tennessee. Photo by Debra Alexander Fisher/American Red Cross.
MIAMI, Fla. (December 12, 2021) – Roughly 24 hours after devastating tornadoes ripped through four states, the American Red Cross is beginning its work to support large relief efforts to help those most affected.
The Red Cross South Florida Region has five (5) volunteers that have been deployed to support this disaster relief operation, with more preparing to leave in the coming days.
“These devastating tornadoes may not have directly impacted South Florida, but the need is great and our Red Cross volunteers stand ready to support,” said Siara Campbell, Regional Communications Director for the Red Cross South Florida Region. “People have lost their homes and loved ones and we must come together when disaster strikes.”
RED CROSS RESPONSE With more volunteers and supplies moving into the affected areas in the coming days, the Red Cross is working around the clock with partners to make sure everyone has a safe place to stay, emotional support and comfort in the face of one of the most devastating tornado outbreaks in years. Saturday night, there were at least eight emergency shelters open in Kentucky, where about 190 people sought safe refuge. Shelters are also open in Tennessee.
Red Cross volunteers are also helping to assess the damage in affected communities as areas become accessible to help determine how many families were affected and what types of help they may need in the coming days and weeks.
YOU CAN HELP people affected by disasters like tornadoes and countless other crises by making a gift to Red Cross Disaster Relief. To make a financial donation visit redcross.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS. You can also text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 gift today. Every single contribution matters. Your donation is a commitment to helping people in need and enables the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from disasters big and small.
For those interested in helping people specifically affected by the recent tornadoes, we ask that they write “Southern and Midwest Tornadoes” in the memo line of a check and mail it with a completed donation form to the address on the form or their local Red Cross chapter.
HOW TO FIND A SHELTER The Red Cross helps anyone in need after a disaster, and everyone is welcome in our shelters. Anyone in the affected areas that needs a safe place to stay should visit redcross.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767) or download the free Red Cross Emergency app here for shelter locations. You can also find the Emergency app by searching “American Red Cross” in your app store.
COVID-19 has not changed the Red Cross mission. We are providing the same type of support we always have, and ensuring people have a safe place to stay during disasters is a critical part of that support. To help keep everyone safe, we’re using safety precautions including masks, health screenings, enhanced cleaning procedures and encouraging social distancing regardless of vaccine status.
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/southflorida or visit us on Facebook or Twitter at @SFLRedCross.