Red Cross Partners with Community Organizations for Long-Term Flood Recovery

Disaster services still available in local communities    

[NASHVILLE, Tenn., April 15, 2021] — The American Red Cross is partnering with community organizations to help families plan their next steps for long-term recovery from the flood.  

“The Red Cross is proud to continue our commitment to support affected families through our casework process as we move on to this phase of recovery,” said Joel Sullivan, Executive Director of the Tennessee Region. “As an immediate relief organization, the Red Cross couldn’t be prouder to work with the many community organizations and civic groups stepping up to help their neighbors connect with community services and agency resources available to them.”   

Anyone with disaster-caused, emergency needs can still speak with the Red Cross at  1-800-Red Cross (1-800-733-2767). In addition, resources are available to anyone online at www.redcross.org, including  Red Cross Tips for Recovering Emotionally from a Disaster and Disasters and Financial Planning, A Guide for Preparedness and Recovery.  

During the past three weeks, more than 150 Red Cross disaster workers from Tennessee and from around the country have helped with relief efforts in-person and virtually. 

Red Cross Disaster Relief Highlights:  

·        Damage Assessment: Volunteer Teams assessed damage to more than 920 homes and helped identify emergency needs in 19 counties. Their collective efforts showed more than 480 homes destroyed or with major damage in middle Tennessee. Damage assessment helps open doors for Red Cross and partner assistance. 

·        Food and Shelter: Since March 25, the Red Cross provided more than 3,480 overnight stays for dozens of displaced families, utilizing hotel partnerships to lodge clients. Nearly 13,000 restaurant meals were packaged and delivered there daily. Water and snacks were also available at the hotels, through mobile distribution in hard-hit areas and at community supply sites.   

·        Casework and Direct Services: So far, caseworkers have connected with more than 230 families – more than 620 people – to discuss their emergency needs and provide resources, referrals, and assistance with recovery plans. Follow-up with these families will continue while others in need of help may still reach out.  Health, Mental Health and Spiritual Care volunteers made more than 1,540 contacts to help with replacement glasses and prescriptions, emotional support, coping skills and other essentials. 

·        Emergency Supplies: More than 610 households received emergency supplies such as rakes, tarps, work gloves, trash bags and other items to help with clean-up and repairs. Emergency supplies were also shared with volunteers at community distribution sites.  

·       Emergency Partners: The Red Cross aligned closely with government partners, providing liaisons for state and affected county Emergency Operation Centers. We also worked side-by-side with numerous volunteer organizations active in disaster, faith-based and non-profit groups, foundations, and the private sector to match people in need with partner resources.   

 How People Can Help:  

Help people affected by spring tornadoes and floods by visiting redcross.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS or texting the words STORMS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Donations enable the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from these disasters.