American Red Cross Responds to Floods and Tornadoes in Central United States

WASHINGTON, June 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Storms and heavy rainfall have caused serious flash flooding in already saturated areas of the centralUnited States. In response, the American Red Cross has mobilized relief workers to six states in the devastated areas. Floods are among the most frequent and costly natural disasters in terms of human hardship and economic loss.

Relief efforts are already underway inIndiana,Nebraska,Iowa, andWisconsin where the Red Cross is providing for the immediate needs of the tornado and flood victims, including food and shelter; with workers poised and ready to respond inIllinois andMichigan as the situation develops.West Virginia is also seeing substantial flooding and Red Cross workers are responding there, as well. Nearly 1100 Red Cross workers, including more than 900 volunteers, are deployed throughout the widespread area.

Red Cross shelters are open throughout the affected states to give displaced families a place where they can sleep, get vital information about available assistance, have a hot meal, talk with a mental health worker or meet with a health services worker about any of their healthcare needs. Meanwhile, Red Cross disaster assessment workers are preparing to scour the areas, once they are safely accessible, to determine the extent of the widespread devastation. Thirty Emergency Response Vehicles are also outfitted to deliver food, water, comfort and hygiene supplies and will be mobilized within the communities where needs are apparent.

"It is with the help of the American public that we are able to respond to the disasters in the Midwest, as well as the disasters that occur every day in local communities across the country that you may not hear about," said Joe Becker, senior vice president, Disaster Services for the American Red Cross. "Donations to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund can help aid in the recovery for victims of these and other disasters."

Tornadoes, nature's most violent storms, can occur any time throughout the year and according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, an average of about 1,200 tornadoes and 60 tornado-related deaths are reported inthe United States every year. The tornado season is in full swing and the likelihood of continued storms, tornadoes and flooding remains high. The recent offspring of floods and tornadoes has uprooted the lives of many, and the Red Cross continues to urge families and communities to prepare:

    --  Create and Practice a Home Disaster Plan: Develop flood-specific
        planning. Learn about your area's flood risk and elevation above
        flood stage. Contact your local Red Cross chapter, emergency management
        office, local National Weather Service office, or planning and zoning
        department about your area's flood risk.

    --  Assemble a Disaster Supplies Kit: Kits should contain a first aid kit
        and essential medications, canned food and manual can opener, bottled
        water, flashlights and a battery-powered radio with extra batteries and
        other emergency items for the whole family.

    --  Heed Storm Warnings: Listen to your local radio and TV stations for
        updated storm information. A storm WATCH is a message indicating that
        conditions favor the occurrence of a certain type of hazardous weather. 
        A storm WARNING indicates that a hazardous event is occurring or is
        imminent in about 30 minutes to an hour.

    --  Understand flood hazards. Floods can roll boulders, tear out trees,
        destroy buildings and bridges, and scour out new channels. Even a
        shallow depth of fast-moving flood water produces more force than most
        people imagine. The most dangerous thing you can do is to try walking,
        swimming, or driving through flood waters. Two feet of water will carry
        away most automobiles.

    --  Prepare for High Winds: Move or secure lawn furniture, outdoor
        decorations or ornaments, trash cans, hanging plants and anything else
        that can be picked up by wind and become a projectile. Make trees more
        wind resistant by removing diseased and damaged limbs, then
        strategically removing branches so that wind can blow through.

For more information on tornado or flood preparedness, contact your local Red Cross chapter or visit www.redcross.org.

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and counsels victims of disasters; provides nearly half of the nation's blood supply; teaches lifesaving skills; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization -- not a government agency -- and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its humanitarian mission. For more information, please visit www.redcross.org or join our blog at www.redcrosschat.org.

SOURCE American Red Cross

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