Bend Red Cross responder heading to Tennessee
The local American Red Cross in Oregon and Southwest Washington has deployed four disaster responders to assist people affected by wildfires and severe storms in Tennessee.
Two responders from Beaverton, one from Monmouth and one from Bend, Theresa Grimes, are heading to Tennessee to provide disaster recovery assistance and health and mental health services. The volunteers are the first of many local responders expected to deploy to help with recovery efforts in Tennessee.
“Here at home and across the country, whenever and wherever there are people in need, the Red Cross is there to help,” said Amy Shlossman, CEO of the Red Cross Cascades Region. “In the true spirit of service during the holiday season, our local volunteers have stepped up to give help and hope to people in Tennessee.”
Tennessee Wildfires:
The death toll from the fires has tragically risen to 11, and a reported 400 homes and businesses have been destroyed. More than 4,500 customers are without power. On Thursday, the Red Cross operated two shelters outside of damaged areas, helping to provide 191 people with a safe place to stay overnight. In addition to overnight stays, area residents can stop by shelters for extra water and hot meals. To date, the Red Cross has served more than 31,300 meals and snacks to community members and first responders. Red Cross volunteers are also distributing safety information and comfort kits, which include toiletry items like toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap and washcloths for evacuated people.
As it is safe to do so, Red Cross disaster teams are entering impacted neighborhoods to distribute meals, water and relief supplies. Some of these items include cleanup kits, with rakes, shovels, buckets and work gloves as well as sifters for people clearing through the rubble to identify charred possessions. Red Cross disaster teams will continue to assess community needs to provide impacted residents with the resources they need on the road to recovery.
Tennessee Severe Storms:
Red Cross disaster teams are also helping people recover from severe storms, including tornado activity, that tore through the state earlier this week. Four counties in Southeast Tennessee were hit especially hard, with three confirmed fatalities. On Thursday, three Red Cross shelters were open, helping to provide a safe place to stay for impacted residents and act as resource centers for people in need of a hot meal, water or other recovery resources. Over the weekend Red Cross disaster teams will be circulating impacted areas to meet people at their homes to distribute meals and bulk items, like rakes, shovels and trash bags, as they clean up from the storms.
HOW TO HELP:
The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of local donors to fulfill its mission. To help people affected by Tennessee wildfires and severe storms visit redcross.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS. These donations enable the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from disasters big and small.
OTHER RED CROSS RESOURCES:
SAFE AND WELL: Register on the Red Cross Safe and Well website so loved ones can see if you are safe and well. Those who can’t access a computer can call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767 ) and a Red Cross operator can help them register. They can also update their Facebook and Twitter status through the Safe and Well website or visit https://safeandwell.communityos.org/cms/index.php on their smart phone and click on the “List Yourself as Safe and Well” or “Search for friends and family” link.
EMERGENCY APP: Download the free Red Cross Emergency App to receive emergency alerts and information about what to do in case of flooding, wildfires and other disasters, as well as locations of shelters. The app also includes emergency first aid information and a Family Safe feature which allows people to instantly see if loved ones are okay. The free Emergency App is available in app stores by searching for the American Red Cross or going to redcross.org/apps.
