Red Cross providing service to Alabama Counties affected by March 1, 2007 tornadoes
Local, national Red Cross workers provide immediate services to citizens
ENTERPRISE, Ala., March 9, 2007 – A week may have passed since deadly tornadoes swept through central and south Alabama killing 10 and injuring hundreds, but the American Red Cross continues its efforts to provide immediate relief to the citizens of Coffee, Dale, Henry, Montgomery, and Wilcox counties.
“We are continuously working with local chapters and with our national volunteers to provide for the immediate needs of the citizens in all affected counties in Alabama,” said Ron Speakes, disaster operations director for the American Red Cross’ national relief operation. “The American Red Cross has been on scene and working with affected residents since Thursday and will continue to work with residents in the affected areas until needs have been met.” Since the relief operation began on March 1, volunteers from the Red Cross of Central Alabama in Montgomery, the Black Belt Chapter of the American Red Cross, Wiregrass Chapter of the American Red Cross, and the Coffee County Chapter of the American Red Cross; have been providing much needed food, water, counseling, and financial assistance to clients.
“As soon as the tornadoes struck the local chapters of the American Red Cross initiated their disaster operations plans,” Speakes added. “In fact, chapters across Alabama and the southeast were very closely monitoring the weather, ready to mobilize at a moment’s notice.” Since the disaster operations began, more than 5,000 meals, nearly 12,000 snacks, and more than 6,000 bottles of water have been distributed across the affected disaster areas by American Red Cross workers and volunteers.
Affected citizens have also been receiving Red Cross financial assistance. “Part of the Red Cross mission to provide immediate assistance to citizens affected by these storms is to provide financial assistance for citizens’ immediate food, shelter, and clothing needs,” Speakes said. “Since relief operations began, more than 142 clients have sought assistance from the Red Cross to help with their immediate needs.”
Funding for the financial assistance provided to clients comes from the generosity of the American people, and is an outright gift. “To cover the costs of providing assistance for the clients affected by these tornadoes, the American Red Cross has implemented a fund-raising plan to ensure that funds received by the Red Cross for disaster relief operations in Alabama will return to the citizens in Alabama affected by the storms,” Speakes added. Individuals wishing to make a contribution to the relief efforts in Alabama are encouraged to contact their local chapter of the American Red Cross, call 1-800-RED-CROSS (733-2767), or make an on-line donation via the secure web site http://www.redcross.org.
