Our thoughts and sympathies are with those who have lost loved ones or suffered through these deadly storms. The Red Cross is helping people now and will still be helping them in the weeks ahead as they try to get back on their feet.

• The severe spring weather isn’t over yet and heavy thunderstorms are expected throughout the Mississippi and Ohio river basins, bringing the potential for flash flooding to the region.
• Possible flooding has lead to the evacuation of more than 2,800 people from Cairo, Illinois.

Red Cross President and CEO Gail McGovern visited tornado-ravaged Alabama and Mississippi over the weekend.

• She described the incredible destruction and pledged that the Red Cross will do whatever is possible to ease the suffering of those affected by the tornadoes. She also thanked the American public for their support.

Our top priority is to provide food, shelter and relief supplies to the thousands of people affected by these storms.

• More than 980 people spent Sunday night in Red Cross shelters in Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Missouri, Mississippi, Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina and Virginia.
• More than 120 Red Cross emergency response vehicles are distributing meals across seven states. Toiletries and clean-up supplies are also being given out.
• Kitchens are being set up with organizations like the Salvation Army and Southern Baptist Convention to prepare meals to hand out in the affected neighborhoods. More than 513,000 meals and snacks have been distributed since March 31.
• The Red Cross has sent in more than 130,000 ready-to-eat meals and thousands of supplies like blankets, toiletries, gloves, rakes, tarps and shovels. We are also moving items for persons with access and functional needs, such as universal cots, shower chairs and commode risers.
• Since the beginning of April, more than 3,700 Red Cross workers have assisted with relief and recovery efforts in 16 states on 20 separate relief operations.

Red Cross nurses and mental health workers are helping people cope with this tragedy.

• Our staff has provided more than 6,200 health and mental health consultations.
• Emergency aid stations are being set up in major damage areas.
• Our health services workers are assisting people who have lost medications or items like eyeglasses.
• Red Cross Blood Services is moving hundreds of blood products to the area to make sure hospital patients have the blood they need. The blood supply is stable, but tragic events like these are a reminder of the importance of a sufficient blood supply each and every day.

The Red Cross depends on financial donations to help in times of disaster. Please consider making a donation today to help the thousands of people who have been affected by these disasters.

• Visit http://www.redcross.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.
• Contributions may also be sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013.
• Any donation, large or small, will help. For example, $3 can provide a comfort kit for someone in a disaster. $6 can cover the cost of a blanket, $10 the cost of a hot meal. For $150, someone’s donation can cover the cost of providing food and shelter to a family of four for a day they spend in a shelter.

The Red Cross Safe and Well secure Web site is a way to let your loved ones know you are safe and to find information about people in the affected areas. To register, visit http://www.redcross.org and click on the “List Yourself or Search Registrants” link under “How to Get Help”.

• People in the affected areas can list themselves as “safe and well” on the site. Friends and family outside the disaster area can then search for messages from their loved ones by using a pre-disaster phone number or complete address.
• Disaster victims can also update their Facebook and Twitter status through the Safe and Well Web site.
• From a smart phone, visit http://www.redcross.org/safeandwell and click on the “List Yourself as Safe and Well” or “Search for friends and family” link.
• From any phone call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) and one of our operators can help you register.

STATISTICS

Since March 31, more than 3,700 Red Cross workers have assisted with relief and recovery efforts in 20 separate relief operations in 16 states.

Since that time, the Red Cross has:

• Served more than 513,000 meals and snacks; nearly 170,000 in Alabama alone.
• Opened more than 120 shelters; 23 have been in Alabama.
• Provided more than 8,300 overnight stays; almost 4,000 have been in Alabama.
• Made more than 6,200 health and mental health contacts.
• Distributed more than 97,000 bulk items.
• Deployed 128 of our 322 Emergency Response Vehicles to assist with mobile feeding in seven states; with 62 in Alabama with an additional 17 being deployed.
• Deployed nine emergency communications response vehicles to six states to assist with Red Cross communications assistance; four vehicles are in Alabama.

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