Media Contact: Sherry Nicholson 

(ATLANTA, APRIL 8, 2021) — In the two-week aftermath of severe weather that drastically altered the lives of hundreds of families in our state, Georgia’s Red Cross continues to help residents take important next steps in their recovery, particularly in hard-hit Coweta County.

To date, the Red Cross has provided more than 1,600 overnight stays in a dozen hotel “shelters” and delivered some 3,500 meals to displaced families seeking safe lodging. Volunteers with expertise in health services, mental health and spiritual care made more than 850 connections with those struggling, while other disaster workers helped to assess damage to nearly 1,200 homes, and comb through devastated neighborhoods offering emergency supplies. 

With signs of recovery, such as restored power and debris pick-up happening all around, many Red Cross clients will begin transitioning out of emergency shelters into more stable lodging today through early next week.

“The atmosphere at the shelter today is one of hope and gratitude,” said Red Cross disaster volunteer Pamela Harris, who is serving as a liaison to clients at the LaQuinta Inn & Suites in Newnan.  “As one mother said, ‘Where would we be without the help we are receiving?’”

“Recovering from a disaster can be a scary, confusing and complicated process –we understand this,” said Danella Hughes, who heads up the Red Cross Disaster Program in Georgia and is overseeing relief operations for people in 10 impacted counties.  “Our caseworkers are diligently helping families put recovery plans in place so they can take that important next step of moving out of temporary lodging into a longer-term
housing solution.”

As part of this process, the Red Cross is also sharing critical information on additional community resources available through partner agencies and groups. In cases where families have lost their homes or are displaced by major damage to them, Red Cross financial assistance can help with the deposit on a new apartment, transportation expenses, childcare or other urgent needs.

“Red Cross assistance is a bridge to help people meet immediate emergency needs until they can access resources like insurance, government assistance or other community services,” added Hughes. “It takes a large network of people and systems to ensure that communities and individuals get the help they need after a disaster and the Red Cross will remain present to provide hope and support.”

How People Can Help:

Help people affected by spring tornadoes and floods by visiting redcross.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS or texting the words STORMS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Donations enable the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from these disasters. 

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% 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.