Red Cross Temporary Emergency Lodging for Hamilton and Bradley Counties, Tennessee

Decreased need for emergency lodging as residents begin to return to their communities

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn., Wednesday, April 22, 2020 – American Red Cross workers continue to serve around the clock to provide comfort and support to people whose homes were damaged or destroyed by the tornadoes that struck Southeast Tennessee on Easter Sunday, April 12. The Red Cross has provided more than 600 individuals with temporary emergency lodging in local area motels and hotels, provided more than 9,900 meals and snacks, and distributed more than 17,400 disaster emergency supplies to people cleaning up and repairing their tornado-damaged homes. Volunteer health services and mental health professionals have provided 870 individual care contacts. 

As people begin to clean up their homes, power is being restored and closed roads are cleared, there is less need for Red Cross temporary emergency lodging. When Red Cross temporary emergency lodging locations begin to close it is a sign that parts of the community are starting to recover. Residents are making plans for their next steps by either returning home or moving to a more comfortable and long-term housing situations. Emergency lodging is not intended to stay open for long periods of time. That’s why organizations involved in relief efforts are striving to help people whose homes are unlivable.

Red Cross workers are now connecting with remaining temporary emergency lodging residents to help them plan for the future and make housing arrangements in partnership with other community organizations. The Red Cross is committed to assisting all emergency lodging residents in finding a place to return to their communities. 

It is important to note that the Red Cross was in Southeast Tennessee communities before this disaster, and we will remain here, responding to home fires and future storms, and helping residents build more resilient communities. 

All Red Cross services, including financial assistance, are free and available to eligible households, regardless of citizenship or residency status, nationality, race, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, class or political opinions.
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Alojamiento de emergencia temporal de la Cruz Roja para
Condados de Hamilton y Bradley, Tennessee

Disminución de la necesidad de alojamiento de emergencia a medida que los residentes comienzan a regresar a sus comunidades

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn., Miercoles 22 de abril de 2020 - Los trabajadores de la Cruz Roja Americana continúan sirviendo las 24 horas para brindar consuelo y apoyo a las personas cuyas casas fueron dañadas o destruidas por los tornados que azotaron el sureste de Tennessee el domingo de Pascua, 12 de abril. La Cruz Roja ha brindado alojamiento temporal de emergencia a más de 600 personas en moteles y hoteles locales, ha provisto más de 9,900 comidas y refrigerios, y ha distribuido más de 17,400 suministros de emergencia por desastre a las personas que limpian y reparan sus hogares dañados por el tornado. Los servicios voluntarios de salud y los profesionales de salud mental han brindado 870 contactos de atención individual.

A medida que las personas comienzan a limpiar sus hogares, se restablece la electricidad y se despejan las carreteras cerradas, hay menos necesidad de alojamiento temporal de emergencia de la Cruz Roja. Cuando los lugares de alojamiento temporal de emergencia de la Cruz Roja comienzan a cerrarse, es una señal de que partes de la comunidad están comenzando a recuperarse. Los residentes están haciendo planes para sus próximos pasos al regresar a su hogar o al mudarse a una situación de vivienda más cómoda y a largo plazo. El alojamiento de emergencia no está destinado a permanecer abierto durante largos períodos de tiempo. Es por eso que las organizaciones involucradas en los esfuerzos de ayuda se esfuerzan por ayudar a las personas cuyos hogares no son habitables.

Los trabajadores de la Cruz Roja ahora se están conectando con los residentes de alojamiento temporal de emergencia restantes para ayudarlos a planificar el futuro y hacer arreglos de vivienda en asociación con otras organizaciones comunitarias. La Cruz Roja se compromete a ayudar a todos los residentes de alojamiento de emergencia a encontrar un lugar para regresar a sus comunidades.
Es importante tener en cuenta que la Cruz Roja estuvo en las comunidades del sudeste de Tennessee antes de este desastre, y nos quedaremos aquí, respondiendo a incendios en el hogar y tormentas futuras, y ayudando a los residentes a construir comunidades más resistentes.

Todos los servicios de la Cruz Roja, incluida la asistencia financiera, son gratuitos y están disponibles para los hogares elegibles, independientemente de su ciudadanía o residencia, nacionalidad, raza, orientación sexual, creencias religiosas, opiniones de clase o políticas.

Tornado Victim Grateful for American Red Cross Assistance

Kristin Manuel

“I just can’t believe this,” a tornado victim in southeast Tennessee recently said to Kristin Manuel, when Kristin called to make sure she had access to everything to meet her immediate needs.

Kristin asked if she was okay. In tears, the lady said, “No, you don’t understand. I lost everything, but the Red Cross has put me up somewhere where I am safe. The Red Cross is feeding me. And now, you’re just calling to check on me. You know we may have lost everything, but it is so nice to know that we’re actually not alone.”

Kristin Manuel serves as the disaster program manager for the East Tennessee Red Cross, but after the powerful tornadoes that struck southeast Tennessee, she has served as the call center coordinator. She and her call center team respond to incoming calls to the Red Cross and make sure people who called in are followed up with. She estimates since the call center opened the day after the tornadoes, her team has responded to nearly 500 calls.

The Red Cross’s response to disasters looks different during the COVID-19 pandemic, but even those working virtually make a powerful impact on those who were affected by the recent tornadoes.

American Red Cross disaster workers have been responding with boots on the ground and virtually to provide comfort and support, including temporary emergency lodging, food, emergency relief supplies, emotional support, health services and recovery assistance to people impacted by the Sunday, April 12 tornadoes.

Red Cross Responds to Tornadoes in Tennessee

Disasters don’t stop amid COVID-19 outbreak 

The American Red Cross is responding across several states from Texas to Georgia after catastrophic tornadoes touched down in the south over the weekend. Officials said as many as 56 tornadoes were reported this weekend. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the Red Cross has new measures in place to deliver help to people in need while also following social distancing guidelines.

In Tennessee, the impact of the severe storms and flooding was experienced across the state with the greatest damage occurring in Hamilton and Bradley counties in Southeast Tennessee. Disaster responders mobilized quickly both on the ground and virtually to provide safe respite, meals, and comfort to displaced families. Health services and mental health support are also available virtually to the families as they cope with the realization of this disaster and begin their recovery.

Joel Sullivan, Regional Executive for the Red Cross of Tennessee, explained,

“The safety of both those displaced and of our disaster workforce while providing critical services is our highest priority,” he said. “We are providing non-congregate sheltering to displaced people to support social distancing in the face of COVID-19. In the coming days we will begin supporting those impacted through virtual casework to identify additional needs.”

The Red Cross is working closely with partners and local emergency management officials to determine what other help is needed. 

You Can Help 

Help the American Red Cross continue to deliver its lifesaving mission nationwide amid this public health emergency. Your donation enables the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from these disasters like the recent southern tornadoes and storms.Visit redcross.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS, or text 'REDCROSS' to 90999 to make a $10 donation.

Red Cross Volunteers Providing Casework to Communities in Southeast Tennessee Following Severe Easter Sunday Storms

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn., April 13, 2020 — American Red Cross volunteers and staff are working with local officials to provide help for those affected by severe storms that tore through Hamilton and Bradley counties on Easter Sunday.

If you or someone you know is need of assistance due to the storms, please call 1-800-RED CROSS.

We are working with local first responders and community officials to support what is needed by our citizens.

AFTER A SEVERE STORM OR TORNADO:
-Let friends and family know you’re safe.
-If evacuated, return only when authorities say it is safe to do so.
-Continue listening to local news or a NOAA Weather Radio for updated information and instructions.
-Stay out of damaged buildings.
-Watch out for fallen power lines or broken gas lines and report them to the utility company immediately.

More safety tips: redcross.org/tornado

HOW TO HELP The Red Cross depends on financial donations to be able to provide disaster relief immediately. Help people affected by storms and countless other crises by visiting redcross.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS or texting the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Donations enable the Red Cross to help people prepare for, respond to and recover from these disasters.

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.

Stay Safe After a Tornado

1. Let friends and family know you’re safe.
2. If evacuated, return only when authorities say it is safe to do so.
3. Continue listening to local news or a NOAA Weather Radio for updated information and instructions.
4. Check for injuries. If you are trained, provide first aid to persons in need until emergency responders arrive.

Caring for yourself & loved ones
• Pay attention to how you and your loved ones are experiencing and handling stress. Promote emotional recovery by following these tips.
• Watch animals closely and keep them under your direct control.
• Help people who require additional assistance—infants, elderly people, those without transportation, large families who may need additional help in an emergency situation, people with disabilities, and the people who care for them.

Returning home safely
• Stay out of damaged buildings.
• Watch out for fallen power lines or broken gas lines and report them to the utility company immediately.
• Follow these tips for inspecting your home’s structure and utilities & systems after a tornado.
• Take pictures of home damage, both of the buildings and its contents, for insurance purposes.

Cleaning and repairing your home
• Wear protective clothing, including long pants, a long-sleeved shirt and sturdy shoes, and be cautious.
• Learn more about how to clean up after a tornado, including the supplies you’ll need and how to handle fire hazards such as gas, electricity and chemicals.
• Don’t just repair your home, build in tornado-resistant features to help protect against future damage.
• Strengthen existing garage doors to improve the wind resistance, particularly double-wide garage doors.
• If your home has been significantly damaged and will require rebuilding parts or all of it, consider building a safe room.

Ask a professional to:
• Look at common connections in wood frame buildings and add anchors, clips and straps to strengthen your home.
• Reinforce masonry walls that provide structural support to your home.
• Secure your chimney. Masonry chimneys that extend more than six feet above the roof or have a width of 40 inches or more should have continuous vertical reinforcing steel placed in the corners to provide greater resistance to wind loads.
• Permanently connect your manufactured home to its foundation.