Virtual Preparedness Presentations – Tennessee Region

The American Red Cross Tennessee Region offers FREE virtual programs to help adults and children better prepare for emergencies.

Be Red Cross Ready is a free preparedness education curriculum for communities designed to help people understand, prepare for, and respond appropriately to disasters. Join us in our new virtual format to learn about disaster preparedness.

Be Red Cross Ready webinars:

To be determined

To register, visit bit.ly/VirtualRedCrossReady.

The Pillowcase Project is a free interactive preparedness program designed for children in grades 3 through 5. The program aims to increase awareness and understanding of natural hazards, teach safety and emotional coping skills, as well as the importance of personal preparedness. Through the presentation, students learn the best ways to stay safe and how to create their own emergency supply kits by packing essential items in a pillowcase for easy transport during a disaster. Students will receive a digital workbook and will be encouraged to decorate and personalize their pillowcases and share what they’ve learned with friends and family.

The Pillowcase Project webinars:

• Special group sessions are scheduled upon request. For more information or to schedule a free presentation, please email Joely Cifre at joely.cifre@redcross.org.
  
  

Prepare with Pedro is a 30-minute preparedness education program presented in a storybook format for grades K-2 that teaches students how to be prepared and take action.

Prepare With Pedro webinars:

Special group sessions are scheduled upon request. For more information or to schedule a free presentation, please email 

Joely Cifre at joely.cifre@redcross.org.

For more preparedness resources visit: 

COVID-19 Safety Tips 

Steps to help cope with COVID-19 

Seven ways to prepare for a Home Fire

Test your home fire preparedness knowledge (quiz)

NEW! Psychological First Aid: Supporting yourself and others during Covid-19 (Online Course)

NEW! Become a Preparedness Champion!

A Terrifying Night Leaves Lasting Impression on Volunteer

The American Red Cross responds to disasters nationwide. There really hasn’t been a busier disaster season than 2020 with wildfires, hurricanes, tornadoes and floods. However, the leading cause of disaster response for the Red Cross are home fires. Nationally, our volunteers are responding to a home fire or other disasters every eight minutes. The fire can be devastating to families.

Jessica Fisher, a native of Knoxville, knows what a home fire can do to a family. In 1997, when Fisher was just 16 years old, her family lost everything in a fire. Her little brothers were playing with matches in bed and started a fire. Everyone escaped the fire, but that night has stayed with her.

“It was an awful experience and we were trapped when the fire went down the hallway,” she said. “We had no escape plan. I had to run back into my bedroom and jump from my window. I was barefoot and in my pajamas. My brothers were just six then. It was so cold then because it was March. The enormity of that night was unreal.”

It wasn’t long after the fire department arrived that the Red Cross disaster volunteers came. “There were two ladies and one gentleman from Red Cross,” Fisher added. “I will never forget that one of the ladies was so kind. I was freezing so she sat next to me and wrapped me in a blanket.” The volunteer told Fisher and her family she would sit with them and make a plan of where they could go and stay for a few days while they worked on their case. “They were with us every step of the way, when we need it.” 

In March, Fisher decided it was time to give back. She decided to volunteer with the Red Cross as a Disaster Action Team member. “I remember how it felt,” she added. “I have taken my training and I am on call. I am there whenever they need me.” 

She has already been on several calls including a house fire that took her back to that fateful night with her family. “It was a man who lost everything in a duplex fire,” she remembered. “He lost his two dogs and was so very sad. I remember that feeling. It is like you are in deep water in your emotions. I want to be that person to help people overcome that fear.” 

While she volunteers her time in the East Tennessee Chapter, all chapters in the Tennessee Region need volunteers. Whether it is working as a disaster volunteer or as a medical screener in a donation facility, volunteers are desperately needed. Fisher said, “You can donate your time, blood, and money. Just be there. There are so many people who have these horrible things happen and they need someone in that moment and if you can be that person.”

“We are so honored by Jessica has come on board to volunteer with us and she is already an outstanding volunteer,” said Sharon Hudson, executive director for the East Tennessee Chapter. “She is recruiting others to volunteer and is always there when we need her. Her story is really a full circle mission moment.” 

For more information on how to prevent and prepare for a home fire, click on RedCross.org/Tennessee.

If you or someone you know is interested in volunteering with the Red Cross, please visit, RedCross.org/Volunteer. 

Tips Following Power Outages

NASHVILLE, Tenn., May 5, 2020 - Power outages can happen during any season, but it seems that this spring, Tennesseans have had their fair share of outages. High winds have plagued the state since early March with tornadoes, derechos and severe thunderstorms leaving power lines down and outages statewide.

“It is always important to be prepared before a storm hits and takes out power,” said Joel Sullivan, regional executive director for the American Red Cross of the Tennessee Region. “Beyond being inconvenient, an outage can lead to dangers, including home fires, as we have seen.”

There are steps the American Red Cross suggests citizens take to ensure safety following an outage:

Staying Safe Indoors

· Use flash lights in the dark, not candles.

· Eliminate unnecessary travel, especially by car. Traffic lights will be out, and roads will be congested.

· If you are using a generator be sure you understand the risks of carbon monoxide poisoning and how to use generators safely. You can find out more about generator safety at RedCross.org.  

Food Safety

· Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible. An unopened refrigerator will keep foods cold for about 4 hours. A full freezer will keep the temperature for about 48 hours (24 hours if it is half full) if the door remains closed.

· First use perishable food from the refrigerator. Perishables should have a temperature of 40 degrees Fahrenheit (4 degrees Celsius) or below to be safe to eat. Then use food from the freezer.

· Use your non-perishable foods and staples after using food from the refrigerator and freezer.

· If it looks like the power outage will continue beyond a day, prepare a cooler with ice for your freezer items.

· Keep food in a dry, cool spot and always keep it covered. 

Electrical Equipment

· Turn off and unplug all unnecessary electrical equipment, including sensitive electronics.

· Turn off or disconnect any appliances (like stoves), equipment or electronics you were using when the power went out. When power comes back on, surges or spikes can damage equipment.

· Leave one light turned on so you’ll know when the power comes back on.

Tennesseans have experienced a very active spring storm season in 2020. The American Red Cross has been responding to statewide emergencies that have left hundreds of thousands without power and thousands homeless since March 3. In the first five months of 2020, the Red Cross has responded to several tornadoes in middle Tennessee, tornadoes in April in both Hamilton and Bradley counties, and in May a derecho and high wind storms throughout Tennessee.

Stay safe and be prepared with the free Red Cross Emergency App. Receive weather alerts and information about what to do before, during and after severe weather. You can easily toggle between English and Spanish. Search "American Red Cross" in your app store or visit redcross.org/apps to download today.

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.

Coping with Sheltering at Home during COVID-19

Local and state officials are using shelter-at-home (sometimes called shelter-in-place) orders to slow the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). By staying home, people can help minimize how many people are getting sick at the same time, protect those at higher risk of severe illness and prevent our health care system from getting overwhelmed.

Unfortunately, sheltering at home can disrupt your routines and make everyday activities, such as work and caring for loved ones, challenging. These changes, on top of the general uncertainty around this pandemic, can create feelings of stress, fear and nervousness. These feelings are normal, and people typically bounce back after difficult times.

The following information can help you cope with stress and support others during this emergency.

What is Sheltering at Home?

·       Sheltering at home means that you remain at home, and only go out to purchase essential supplies, visit medical professionals or leave during an emergency.

·       Following the instructions of local officials will help keep you and your loved ones safe.

It’s normal for people to have these types of feelings right now:

·       Fear about running out of essential supplies.

·       Anxiety, particularly about being separated from loved ones.

·       Uncertainty about how long you will need to shelter at home.

·       Concerns for your physical safety and that of others.

·       Fear of getting sick.

·       Guilt about not being able to fulfill responsibilities, such as work, parenting or caring for dependents.

·       Boredom or isolation.

·       Thoughts of blame, worry or fear.

·       Worry about loss of income.

·       Fear of being stigmatized or labeled if you become sick.

Coping Tips:

·       Stay connected with loved ones through video calls, phone calls, texts or social media. 

·       Remain informed with accurate, reliable information. Avoid social media accounts and news outlets that promote fear or rumors.

·       Monitor your physical health needs and those of your loved ones. Eat healthy foods, and drink plenty of water.

·       Unless you are showing signs of illness or have tested positive for COVID-19, going outside to exercise and walk pets is okay. But don’t forget to practice social distancing by keeping at least six feet away from others.

·       Hold an image in your mind of the best possible outcome. Make a list of your personal strengths and use these to help both yourself and others stay emotionally strong.

·       If you are religious or spiritual, follow practices at home that provide you with comfort and emotional strength.

Helping Others:

·        Reach out to older adults or people with chronic health conditions and offer to help. For example, offer to pick up groceries, medications and other essential supplies. Check in with them regularly but practice social distancing by keeping at least six feet away when you deliver essential items.

·        Talk to your children and explain why this is happening and how long it might last. Use language that is normal and consistent with how you usually communicate. Be creative and think of fun activities that will occupy their time. Keep a schedule, set appropriate limits and maintain usual rules when possible.

·        Take care of your pets, which can be an essential part of your support system. Like people, pets react to changes in their environment and routine, so their behaviors may change, as well. Keep track of their well-being and take care of their needs as best you can.

·        Show kindness to people who may not have a support system or are isolated. There may be limits to what you can do in reaching out, but a little kindness may be just what someone needs.

Helpful Resources:

·        For the latest information, please visit the CDC website at cdc.gov/covid19.

·        For information on staying safe, see redcross.org/coronavirus.

·        Download the free Red Cross Emergency App and First Aid App by searching for American Red Cross in your phone’s app store or by going to redcross.org/mobileapps.

·        Locate your state and local health departments at naccho.org/membership/lhd-directory

·        Call 2 1 1 or visit auntbertha.com for other local resources.

·        The United Way has established a National COVID-19 Community Response and Recovery Fund. This assistance may be accessed by dialing 2 1 1 or visiting unitedway.org/recovery/covid19.

Board Member Urges Donations of Time as Well as Money

Jennifer Wolcott said she was inspired by Shelia Gibbs of Lebanon, Tennessee, who told Red Cross volunteers that the loss of her home and possessions was "just stuff" and what mattered was the safety of her family. Photo: American Red Cross/Barbara Wood

Jennifer Wolcott normally supports the American Red Cross Tennessee Region by serving on its board of directors and as a major cheerleader and fundraiser for the organization. 

Recently, however, she donned a Red Cross disaster vest, a hat and gloves and helped crew a Red Cross emergency response vehicle to bring hot meals, snacks, water and supplies to Lebanon, Tennessee neighborhoods devastated by the March 3 tornadoes.

Jennifer joined three fellow Red Cross volunteers: drivers Carol Stafford and Marty Anderson, both of Alabama and Amanda Fisher of Franklin, Tennessee.

After disinfecting the vehicle, which is designed to serve and carry hot food and supplies, Jennifer and the other volunteers loaded up water, snacks and hygiene kits. They stopped at Second Harvest in Nashville to pick up insulated containers of hot food and then hit the road. 

Residents of a mobile home park off Lebanon's Tater Peeler Road that had been devastated by the tornado gathered around the vehicle after the crew announced through a loudspeaker that they had hot meals to offer. 

Another Red Cross vehicle with kits of cleaning supplies -- including rakes, shovels, buckets, bleach and gloves -- pulled up nearby, and the park residents left with armloads of supplies as well as food, many smiling with gratitude. 

Jennifer, who is also Red Cross trained to work in a disaster shelter, said providing help and speaking with those who had been affected by the disaster, gave her "joy." She was especially touched, she said, by a woman who was positive and upbeat despite losing her family home and most of her possessions to the tornado. 

The woman told the Red Cross that the huge pile of debris that was all that remained of the family home was "just stuff" and that what really mattered was that she still had her family.

Jennifer Wolcott, a member of the Red Cross Nashville Area's board, joined an emergency response vehicle crew recently to help bring hot meals, snacks, water and supplies to Lebanon, Tennessee neighborhoods devastated by the March 3 tornadoes. Photo: American Red Cross/Barbara Wood 

"I've said before 'it's just stuff' when it's not everything," Jennifer said. "But when all your stuff is gone, I hope I can be that person. Gratitude can change your outlook.”

Jennifer joined the Red Cross board after serving as a PTA president at her sons' school in Brentwood.  At that time, Jennifer said, she had no idea of the range of activities the Red Cross is involved in, including helping anyone displaced by a home fire. 

Once Jennifer learned more, "I just became invested in the success of the chapter," she said. In addition to serving as a board member and fundraising, she's helped install smoke alarms and encouraged other Red Cross donors to be trained disaster workers. 

"I hope that I can inspire more people to not only give money but to give their time," Jennifer said. "It can be intimidating to take the first step, but once you do, you can realize how awesome it is."

To find out how you can get involved as a volunteer with Red Cross go to RedCross.org. 

Lebanon Family Upbeat After Losing Home

Red Cross volunteer Carol Stafford of Shorter, Alabama gives Lebanon resident Sheila Gibbs a hug after hearing the story of how the Gibbs family survived a direct hit by a March 3 tornado by hunkering down in their storm shelter. 

Bearing hot food, snacks, water and hygiene kits, a Red Cross team turned their emergency response vehicle into the driveway of a Lebanon, Tennessee home on March 9 after seeing a massive pile of debris piled in front of a home that had no roof and only half its walls. 

What they found was a relentlessly upbeat homeowner, Sheila Gibbs, and a large crew of her friends and relatives helping clean up.

Sheila said that while her family lost almost all their possessions, they emerged from their storm cellar with what is most important -- each other.

"It's just stuff," she said gesturing to the massive pile of debris in front of the destroyed family home. But she remains optimistic. "Today I can stand out here and I can dance a jig because I still have my family.”

Sheila said she was out late playing bingo on Monday night, March 2, so she was awake when her daughter called in a panic because she'd heard a huge tornado was headed their way. Sheila said she did her best to calm her daughter, and then hustled her husband and another daughter into their 12-foot by 12-foot storm shelter just before the tornado hit.

Sheila said that she heard nothing, but knew the tornado was gone when her ears stopped hurting.  When her husband emerged from the cellar, he shouted back that he could see to the highway. Most of their home was gone.

The family waited for the sun to rise and then asked the first rescuers who showed up if they could be driven out to safety, Sheila said. They've been staying with her brother nearby while working to clean up the mess left behind.

Red Cross volunteer Jen Wolcott of Brentwood, Tennessee, embraces Sheila Gibbs after sharing some of the emergency supplies and food a Red Cross emergency response vehicle brought to areas of Lebanon, Tennessee devastated by a March 3 tornado. While the Gibbs home was destroyed in the tornado, the family survived unscathed in their storm cellar. 

The family has received a lot of help from the community, Sheila said, with about 30 volunteers helping out on Saturday and up to 80 of them on Sunday.

Once their home is rebuilt, Sheila plans to try to find everyone who helped out and throw a party for them.

We're going to have a shindig," she said, "to repay all of the volunteers."

To find out how you can volunteer and make a difference in your community, go to RedCross.org.

Grateful Client Calls Red Cross 'Heroes'

Jaime Arthur, shown here with Red Cross volunteer Jan Dahlke of Nashville, says the Red Cross volunteers who have taken care of her family after their home was destroyed by a tornado are "heroes."  

"They're heroes, they really are, every one of them," Jaime Arthur says of the Red Cross volunteers who have helped her family since a tornado destroyed their home early in the morning of March 3.

Jaime was away from her husband Albert and their 4-year-old -- dealing with the aftermath of an earlier accident -- when the tornado hit. 

But when Jaime called early in the morning of March 3 to warn Albert and their daughter that she'd heard a tornado was on its way, it was already too late. Still on the phone with Jaime, Albert opened their second-story door and saw a semi-trailer lifted by the wind, and debris scattering everywhere. He put their daughter in the tub and sheltered her with his body. 

"I heard them scream," Jaime said. And then the line went dead. "For a good ten minutes I had no idea if they were alive or dead," she said. 

Then her phone rang. "He called me and let me know that it was over, and they were OK," Jaime said. Before they could breathe a sigh of relief, water started pouring in from the ceiling. “It was as if a bathtub had overflowed on the floor above,” Jaime said. “Except that they were on the top floor.”

"He picked her up and grabbed a few things and they got out," Jaime said. "He was just a hero for her."

The family was soon connected with the Red Cross by members of a local community group and they moved into the shelter that had been opened in Nashville's Centennial Sportsplex. 

Jaime says the Red Cross and its partners have taken care of her family's every need.

"If it wasn't for the Red Cross and what they're doing right, we don't know where we'd be," she said. Residents there have been provided with a clean, warm, dry place to sleep, laundry, showers and meals, as well as medical care. When the family has mentioned needs the Red Cross couldn't take care of directly, a volunteer guided the family to other local organizations that could help, she said.

Shelter workers worked "tirelessly" providing everything the family needed, Jaime said.

"Any time there's been an issue, they've been on it," she said.

Jaime says a volunteer even knew someone at her work and called them to let them know what had happened to her. Since then her co-workers have given the family generous assistance.

Once her family is back on its feet, Jaime says "I would like to give back, maybe to the Red Cross." A former nursing assistant and currently a cook she says she'd love to someday open a restaurant serving healthy food.

 "I don't want to just survive any more, I want to thrive, I want my family to thrive," she said. 

A Heart for Sheltering, A Kindergarten Teacher Gives Back

Following the aftermath of the March 3, 2020 tornado — like most Tennessee residents — Dawn Willis sought ways in which she could give back to the community and help those directly affected. The American Red Cross was in need for shelter managers, a perfect volunteer route for a kindergarten teacher to take on.

In the days immediately following the tornado, Willis went to work by volunteering for the American Red Cross at the Highlands Heights Church of Christ shelter in Lebanon. Her duties included everything from maintaining the shelter operations to ensuring the privacy of shelter residents. As a first-time shelter manager, Willis quickly came to realize the inexplicable amount of manpower needed for disaster relief.

“You have people who have lost everything coming in looking for clothes, food and a hug,” she said. “I jumped in, got busy, and knew I wanted everyone to come into a warm and compassionate shelter.” Willis puts forth a tremendous amount of effort to ensure that any resident who enters the shelter is well cared for. “I take pride in helping my community. This hit very close to home. Some of the people affected are people I have known for many years.” said Willis.

When school lets out for summer break, Willis plans to continue volunteering with the Red Cross. “This has been a humbling experience for me, hearing stories of survivors and helping those in shock, spending time with the kids, and catching up with some of my former students,” said Willis. “I love seeing my community come together and sharing the love. That’s what its all about.”