Wiregrass residents roll up their sleeves for disaster relief

By Jeffery L. Biggs

American Red Cross

Residents from throughout the Wiregrass region of Alabama have provided 286 units of blood to the tornado relief efforts in Enterprise, Ala., following a devastating tornado that roared through this south Alabama town on March 1, 2007.

 

“The response has been overwhelming,” said W.B. Stewart, account manager for Gulf Coast Blood Services Region of the American Red Cross. “We’ve had 286 productive units presented, and many more that wanted to donate blood, but were unable to.”

The blood drive lasted four days and was held in the Wal-Mart SuperCenter parking lot in
Enterprise. It was the debut of the region’s brand new self-contained collection trailer.

“The self-contained unit got initiated in a big way,” Stewart said.

 

The blood drive officially concluded on Monday, March 5; but potential donors don’t need to worry.

“We are re-opening the Dothan, Ala. Donor Center with its regular hours, (Thursday’s 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.); and we are adding a Friday operating time from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.,” Stewart added.Potential donors are reminded that all blood types are needed.

American Red Cross Fast Facts

This information includes statistics from March 1-March 7, 2007 

Shelter Population: 75

Meals Served: 6,039

Snacks Served: 11,113

Fixed Feeding Sites: 1

Mobile Feeding Units: 9

Disaster Client Cases Opened: 142

Clean Up Kits Distributed (mops, brooms, other cleaning supplies): 261

Comfort Kits (hygiene items): 144

Mental Health Contacts: 472

American Red Cross Workers/Volunteers: 814

 

Latest Disaster Assessment

Latest statewide Disaster Assessment figures for Alabama, well over 90% complete:

• Alabama
  • 211 Destroyed
  • 223 Major damage
  • 281 Minor damage
• Coffee
  • 170 Destroyed
  • 202 Major damage
  • 214 Minor damage
• Dale
  • 0 Destroyed
  • 3 Major damage
  • 7 Minor damage
• Dallas
  • 0 Destroyed
  • 1 Major damage
  • 0 Minor damage
• Henry
  • 0 Destroyed
  • 3 Major damage
  • 7 Minor damage
• Jefferson
  • 2 Destroyed
  • 5 Major damage
  • 26 Minor damage
• Lowndes
  • 1 Destroyed
  • 0 Major damage
  • 6 Minor damage
• Montgomery
  • 0 Destroyed
  • 4 Major damage
  • 10 Minor damage
• Wilcox
  • 38 Destroyed
  • 5 Major damage
  • 11 Minor damage

Destroyed: A rating of destroyed indicates the dwelling is currently uninhabitable and cannot be made habitable without extensive repairs that would prove to be too costly; (e.g. total loss of structure, or complete failure to major structural components)

Major: A rating of major indicates that a dwelling is not currently habitable but can be made habitable with repairs; (e.g., substantial failure to structural elements such as floors, walls or foundation).

Minor: A rating of minor damage indicates the dwelling has sustained damage and will require repairs, but is currently habitable whether or not the occupants have chosen to remain in the dwelling following the disaster event.

Red Cross Feeding Enterprise

• On Saturday, the American Red Cross served 1,575 meals and more than 1,000 snacks to those affected by the tornado in Enterprise, Alabama.

Statewide Damage

With disaster assessment almost complete for Alabama, here are the totals so far:

• 211 homes destroyed
• 223 homes with major damage
• 281 homes with minor damage
• 63 homes affected

Destroyed: A rating of destroyed indicates the dwelling is currently uninhabitable and cannot be made habitable without extensive repairs that would prove to be too costly; (e.g. total loss of structure, or complete failure to major structural components)

Major: A rating of major indicates that a dwelling is not currently habitable but can be made habitable with repairs; (e.g., substantial failure to structural elements such as floors, walls or foundation).

Minor: A rating of minor damage indicates the dwelling has sustained damage and will require repairs, but is currently habitable whether or not the occupants have chosen to remain in the dwelling following the disaster event.

Affected: A rating of affected indicates the dwelling has sustained “extremely minor” damage. In this category, most of this damage would be considered nuisance damage such as a few shingles blown off, a couple of broken windows, debris in the yard or on or near the dwelling and minor contents damage.

Fast Facts - Friday 3/2

Red Cross Disaster Relief Operation at a Glance Numbers as of End of Day 3/2/2007
Statewide	Last 24 Hours	To Date
Meals Served	1,070	1,070
Snacks Served	3,380	3,380
Shelters Open	1	1
Number in Shelter	12	12