News
Red Cross Delivers Help After Southern Storms
May 5, 2008
A line of thunderstorms and tornadoes swept across the midsection of the United States late Tuesday, killing more than 50 people, injuring scores of others, and destroying hundreds of homes and buildings. Red Cross chapters responded immediately during the night, opening shelters and providing comfort to those forced from their homes. Two local volunteers, Will Esteve and Hank DeSandre, have been deployed to assist with the response, along with the MS Gulf Coast Chapter's emergency response vehicle; possibly more will be deployed in the coming days.
A large majority of damage occurred in Gallatin and Jackson, Tenn. which also had the highest concentration of fatalities. The destruction stretched across five states with media reporting four people killed in Alabama, 13 in Arkansas, seven in Kentucky and 28 in Tennessee.
National Red Cross operations are active in Mississippi, Arkansas, Alabama, Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana and Tennessee. Red Cross shelters are still open in Kentucky and Tennessee where volunteers continue to serve meals and welcomed more than 350 overnight guests on Wednesday night.
If you know anyone who has been affected by these storms and is in need of assistance, or if you would like to offer support for the victims of this disaster, please contact the MS Gulf Coast Chapter of the American Red Cross, call 228-896-4511.
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross provides relief to victims of disasters at home and abroad, collects and distributes nearly half of the nation's blood supply, teaches lifesaving skills, and supports military members and families. The American Red Cross, a charity and not a government agency, depends on voluntary contributions of time, money and blood to perform its humanitarian mission.
