Several disaster workers from the Palmetto SC Region of the American Red Cross deployed to Tennessee as the community works to recover after severe storms and at least one tornado touched down earlier this week.
The number of volunteers deployed may change over the coming days but Marsha Staples and Terry Barcelona of the Upstate SC Chapter along with Meliza Ford from the Lowcountry Chapter and Lucimar Escudero from the Central Chapter, arrived in Tennessee this week.
Tragically, more than 20 people have lost their lives and approximately 150 others are in various hospitals with storm-caused injuries. Search and rescue is still active and given the nature of the storm, we expect these numbers to change. The Red Cross is currently coordinating closely with local partners and right now, there are five shelters open with a current population of over 200 shelter residents.
Marsha Staples and Meliza Ford will be working with the Disaster Health and Mental Health Services team. They will provide disaster health and mental health care by meeting the disaster related health needs of those impacted as well as provide support to other Red Cross volunteers that are responding.
Terry Barcelona and Lucimar will work in logisitcs.
“Our hearts are with the Tennessee community and all those families that have been impacted by this tragedy,” said Louise Welch-Williams, the Regional CEO. “We are so lucky to have wonderful volunteers, like Marsha, Meliza and Terry that are willing to deploy at any time to help those in need.”
The Palmetto SC Region of the Red Cross stands ready to send additional disaster-workers, as requested.
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies nearly half of the nation’s blood; teaches lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization – not a government agency – and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit www.redcross.org/SC or @RedCrossSC