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.

Red Cross continues fund-raising efforts

Tornado Relief Operation Seeks Funds to Assist Citizens

ENTERPRISE, Ala., March 9, 2007 – Citizens, businesses, and organization seeking a way to immediately help individuals affected by the tragic March 1, 2007 tornadoes that swept through Coffee, Dale, Henry, Montgomery, and Wilcox counties in Alabama are encouraged to make a contribution to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund.  “All Red Cross assistance is an outright gift of the American people,” said Ron Speakes, disaster operations manager for the Red Cross. “All donations are voluntary, and the Red Cross does not charge for any assistance it provides to clients.” In order to provide the much needed assistance, however, funds must be raised to help supplement the relief operations. 

“If someone is looking for a way they can help the residents affected by the tornadoes, a tax-eligible donation to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund is always a good option,” Speakes said. “Contributions to the Disaster Relief Fund are used to provide immediate assistance to clients needing food, shelter, clothing, and other immediate necessities.” In addition to individuals wishing to make a contribution to disaster relief efforts, businesses may also make donations to the fund either on a national level, or through the local relief efforts.  “Businesses and organizations seeking to make a corporate or civic contribution to the relief operations can contact their local Red Cross chapter, or contact a representative with the national relief operation at (571) 226-8226,” Speakes added. “Many individuals, businesses, and organizations have already come forward to make contributions; and we and the citizens in the affected areas, are very thankful. However, more assistance is needed, because the American Red Cross will continue relief efforts long after the initial shock of this tragedy has worn off.” Speakes added that relief operations are underway in all parts of
Alabama, and that assistance is provided in every county affected by the storms. “The Red Cross is working in every county touched by these tornadoes,” he said. “We will continue our efforts to help these people as long as the need is there.” Contributions to the American Red Cross disaster relief efforts in
Alabama can be made by contacting a local chapter of the American Red Cross, by calling 1-800-RED-CROSS (733-2767), or by making an on-line donation via the secure web site http://www.redcross.org.

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.

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.

Preliminary Disaster Assessment

Red Cross Disaster Relief Operation at a Glance Disaster Assessment Numbers as of 3/2/2007
County	Destroyed/Major	Minor/Affected
Coffee	372	325
Dale	3	7
Dallas	1	0
Henry	3	7
Jefferson	9	15
Wilcox	45	30
Total	433	384

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.

Southern Storms Overview

Red Cross Workers Serve Survivors of Thursday’s Southern Storms
Operations spread among 29 counties in two states

Editorial note: You can get up-to-the-minute updates on the relief operations in Alabama at www.redcrossal.wordpress.com – and in Georgia at www.redcrossga.wordpress.com – and feel free to push the information to the public on your schedule. For national media, the best contact is the Disaster Operations Center , available 24 hours a day at 202-303-5551.

BIRMINGHAM, Al., March 2, 2007 – The American Red Cross has opened up two disaster relief operations in response to Thursday’s severe weather outbreak in Alabama and Georgia. Twelve counties in Alabama were affected by the storms. Coffee County was the hardest hit with 90% of the damage. Preliminary reports show that 250 houses were either destroyed or suffered Major damage and 500 houses suffered minor damage. In Georgia the storms affected 19 counties with the Americus and Albany suffering the most damage. There are preliminary reports that 250 homes were either destroyed or suffered major damage and 450 homes received minor damages.

In Alabama, three shelters housed a total population of 65 overnight. The Blood Region in Birmingham shipped blood products to hospitals in the affected areas and is prepared to assist in other ways. The Coffee County Chapter is providing meals and snacks to the impacted area around Enterprise, with the help of six mobile feeding vans from across the Southeast. So far, the Red Cross has served approximately 1500 meals in the area. Emergency Communication Vehicles with satellite phone technology have also been sent to the Enterprise area to assist in the recovery and disaster assessment.

In Georgia, Red Cross Chapters in affected areas opened three chapters last night and more are expected to open today to accommodate residents as needed. Those shelters are expected to serve a population of between 50 and 60 people. The Central Georgia chapter will take its shelter trailer to Americus to assist in recovery efforts. Eleven feeding vans are deployed to the area with more potentially headed that way as needed. The Middle Flint Chapter in Americus fed more than 1,000 people just for lunch alone on Friday.

Additional volunteers will be dispatched soon, to begin the task of individual family casework as needed.

American Red Cross has yet to estimate how much Thursday’s storms will cost the organization. Every Red Cross dollar used is a donated dollar. Anyone who would like to give to the National Disaster Relief Fund should call 800-RED-CROSS or contact your local chapter.

All American Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the American people. You can help the victims of these tornadoes and thousands of disasters across the country each year by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, which enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to victims of disaster. The American Red Cross honors donor intent. If you wish to designate your donation to a specific disaster, please do so at the time of your donation. Call 1-800-REDCROSS or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Contributions to the Disaster Relief Fund may be sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P. O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. Internet users can make a secure online contribution by visiting www.redcross.org.

Damage Assessment - Wilcox and Lowndes

The Central Alabama Chapter of the American Red Cross (based in Montgomery) has sent a Disaster Assessment team to Wilcox County, to measure the breadth and extent of the storm damage there.

Another Disaster Assessment crew is en route to Lowndes County, Alabama.

Wilcox County operation

The Red Cross location in Wilcox County will not be operating as a shelter, but is instead operating as a staging center.

All those who needed a place to stay in Wilcox County had already made arrangements to stay with family or friends in the area.

Please visit our Current Shelter page for a list of open facilities.