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Alabama News Release: Walker County

BIRMINGHAM, February 8, 2008 –American Red Cross volunteers and staff continue to support clean-up and recovery efforts in the Walker County area following this week’s deadly storms. The Emergency Response Vehicle (ERV) is providing food and snacks in the affected areas throughout the day on Friday and Saturday morning.

The service delivery site for individuals and families needing assistance will be open until 6pm Friday. It is stationed at the Oakman Senior Center located at 8250-Market Street Oakman, AL.

We need your help to inform people affected by the disaster that the Oakman Senior Center is the central location to receive Red Cross assistance.

Red Cross caseworkers are working to assist the remaining families affected by the tornadoes. Anyone needing assistance as a result of the storms is asked to meet with a caseworker at the Oakman Senior Center through today or call (205) 458-8282 over the weekend to set up an appointment with the Walker County Red Cross Service Center located at 1902 Corona Avenue, Jasper, Alabama.

Members of the Alabama media who would like to cover volunteers in the ERV assisting the affected area can contact Chris Osborne, Public Affairs Officer at (205) 966-8795.

Fundraising update from Tennessee

Fundraising
Channel 10, WBIR-TV and the American Red Cross partnered together on Thursday, February 7th for a promotion to help provide relief to people affected by the tornadoes.

Last night’s phone bank, promoted by Channel 10 during their Style, Live at Five, and 10 News segments, raised over $7,200.

Thanks go out to Channel 10, Meteorologist Julya Johnson, and the volunteers who helped answer phones.

Volunteer Update from Tennessee

Volunteers from Knoxville
One more volunteer is leaving Knoxville today to travel to middle Tennessee, bringing the total of local Red Cross volunteers in the area to seven.

Five of the volunteers are Knox County residents, one is from Union County, and one is from Roane County.

• Three of the volunteers are serving in Mass feeding and sheltering
• Two are serving in Disaster Assessment
• One is a nurse in Health Services
• One is a Mental Health counselor

What to do after a tornado

Madisonville, KY., February 8, 2008 – In light of the deadly tornadoes that swept through Western Kentucky this week, the American Red reminds the public of the following tips on what to do after a tornado.

Continue listening to local radio or television stations or a NOAA Weather Radio for updated information and instructions. Access may be limited to some parts of the community, or roads may be blocked.

Help a neighbor who may require special assistance–infants, elderly people, and people with disabilities. Elderly people and people with disabilities may require additional assistance. People who care for them or who have large families may need additional assistance in emergency situations.

Help injured or trapped persons. Give first aid where appropriate. Do not move seriously injured persons unless they are in immediate danger of further injury. Call for help.

Watch out for fallen power lines or broken gas lines and report them to the utility company immediately. Reporting potential hazards will get the utilities turned off as quickly as possible, preventing further hazard and injury.

Avoid disaster areas. Your presence might hamper rescue and other emergency operations, and put you at further risk from the residual effects of tornadoes.

Stay out of damaged buildings. Tornadoes can cause great damage, creating further hazards. If you are away from home, return only when authorities say it is safe.

When entering damaged buildings, use extreme caution. Moving through debris presents further hazards. Carefully watch every step you take.

Wear sturdy shoes. The most common injury following a disaster is cut feet.

Use battery-powered lanterns or flashlights when examining buildings. Battery-powered lighting is the safest and easiest, preventing fire hazard for the user, occupants, and building. Do not use candles at any time.

Examine walls, floors, doors, staircases, and windows to make sure that the building is not in danger of collapsing.

Look for fire hazards. There may be broken or leaking gas lines, or damage to electrical systems. Clean up spilled medicines, bleaches, gasoline, or other flammable liquids immediately. Fire is the most frequent hazard following other disasters.

Check for gas leaks. If you smell gas or hear a blowing or hissing noise, open a window and quickly leave the building. Turn off the gas using the outside main valve if you can, and call the gas company from a neighbor’s home. If you turn off the gas for any reason, it must be turned back on by a professional.

Look for electrical system damage. If you see sparks or broken or frayed wires, or if you smell burning insulation, turn off the electricity at the main fuse box or circuit breaker. If you have to step in water to get to the fuse box or circuit breaker, call an electrician first for advice. Electrical equipment should be checked and dried before being returned to service.

Watch for loose plaster, drywall, and ceilings that could fall.

Take pictures of the damage, both of the building and its contents, for insurance claims.

Use the telephone only for emergency calls. Telephone lines are frequently overwhelmed in disaster situations. They need to be clear for emergency calls to get through.

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 thousands of disasters across the country each year, disasters like the California wildfires, 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.

PSA

Northwest Indiana PSA 

This is a short radio PSA recorded by Northwest Indiana Chairperson Georgiann Pangere

American Red Cross Shares Video with the Media

Footage available of Red Cross response to Southern Tornadoes

WASHINGTON, February 8, 2008 – Members of the media seeking video of the aftermath of the tornadoes that swept through the South can obtain Red Cross footage using the instructions below.

Local Red Cross chapters responded immediately following the tornadoes on February 5, 2008, opening shelters and offering much needed assistance. The Red Cross will remain in these impacted communities as they begin to rebuild from the devastation.

Instructions
Video is available from www.redcross.org. From the site, do the following:

1. Click ‘Press’ located on the top toolbar.
2. From the left-hand toolbar, click ‘Media/Video Library’
3. Under “For Media/Press,” click Disaster Relief Operations
4. Select the video you wish to use.

No courtesy required. Material comes pre-bugged.

Red Cross on-site Media Contacts and statistical information, such as shelter populations, can be found at our blog site.

For American Red Cross print and radio PSAs or Online Banners, go to www.redcross.org and click on ‘Press’ on the top toolbar, then click on ‘Available Advertisements’ on the left-hand toolbar.

For questions, contact Red Cross Public Affairs at 202-303-5551.

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 thousands of disasters across the country each year, disasters like the February tornadoes, 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.

Arkansas Update

The Northwest Arkansas Chapter reports:

• Disaster assessment is 99% complete
• The Cotter High School chapter is set to close today, February 8.
• Feeding continues in Atkins by the Southern Baptist Convention
• Bulk distribution is ongoing.

Report from Northeast Arkansas:

• Disaster assessment is 99% complete.
• Chapter continues to support feeding.
• Southern Baptist convention continues to provide meals from the Church of Christ.

ARC of Greater Arkansas reports:

• Disaster assessment is 99% complete.
• Chapter is forming integrated care teams to respond to Clinton for outreach.

Shelters and Damage Assessment

As of 7:30 pm EST, damage assessment is nearly complete in Alabama but continues in other affected states.

Please note that Shelter information has been updated on Sites and Shelters.

Update from Alabama: Morgan, Lawrence, Tuscaloosa, and Fayette Counties

MORGAN / LAWRENCE COUNTIES
Volunteers have also begun casework for the Morgan – Lawrence County chapter at the Moulton Church of Christ, 597-Main Street, Moulton. Volunteers are also providing water and snacks. Early reports show at least 15 homes damaged or destroyed in Morgan County, compared to 49 in Lawrence County. The Alabama EMA is reporting four deaths in Lawrence County.

TUSCALOOSA and FAYETTE COUNTIES
Additionally, about seven homes have been damaged or destroyed across both Tuscaloosa and Fayette County.

*As disaster assessment continues, these numbers may change