American Red Cross Tennessee Region Responds to Disasters in Florida, Puerto Rico and Alaska

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Sept. 27, 2022 – The Tennessee Region of the American Red Cross has sent 28 volunteers to Florida, Puerto Rico and Alaska to help with Hurricane Ian, Hurricane Fiona and Typhoon Merbok disaster relief efforts. More volunteers could be deployed to the areas in the coming days. 

HURRICANE IAN RESPONSE
In preparation for Hurricane Ian, the American Red Cross has moved hundreds of trained volunteers from across the country and tens of thousands of relief supplies to Florida and is opening dozens of shelters to make sure people have a safe place to ride out the storm. The Red Cross is working closely with partners and local officials to ensure help is available when and where people need it most. 

Now a Category 3 hurricane, Ian could grow to a Category 4 storm as it begins to impact millions of people in Florida. Tampa could suffer its first direct hit from a hurricane in over 100 years. 

As communities in Florida and throughout the Southeast prepare for the wrath of Hurricane Ian, it’s a reminder to take preparedness steps here in the Tennessee Region. 

5 steps you can take today to prepare your family and community –

• Create an evacuation plan. Plan what to do in case you are separated from your family during an emergency and if you have to evacuate. 
• Build an emergency kit with a gallon of water per person, per day, non-perishable food, a flashlight, battery-powered radio, first aid kit, medications, supplies for infants or pets, a multi-purpose tool, personal hygiene items, copies of important papers, cell phone chargers, extra cash, blankets, maps of the area and emergency contact information.  
• Include pets in your planning. Pets are part of the family. Have your animal crate, supplies, medications and food ready to go should a disaster hit.
• Give blood. The need for blood is constant. Blood can take up to three days to be tested, processed and made available for patients, so it’s the blood already on the shelves that helps save lives in an emergency. 
• Stay informed. Find out how local officials will contact you during a disaster and how you will get important information, such as evacuation orders.

HURRICANE FIONA RESPONSE
Nearly half a million people in Puerto Rico are still living without power and thousands more have no running water more than a week after Hurricane Fiona hit the island. More than 280 American Red Cross disaster workers, many with no power or water themselves, are working around the clock with our partners to provide comfort and support. Preliminary damage reports indicate that almost 400 homes were destroyed or suffered major damage.

TYPHOON MERBOK RESPONSE
The American Red Cross is deploying disaster teams by plane to rural areas of Alaska where Typhoon Merbok devastated a thousand-mile stretch of the western coast over a week ago, damaging homes, seawalls, roads and airport runways as well as water systems in as many as 40 towns and villages.

Red Cross disaster teams are working out of Nome and Bethel to help with damage assessment and provide casework for families in need along with other assistance. The Red Cross is also procuring and delivering emergency supplies such as tarps, coolers, vacuum sealers, window film, insulation, sealing foam, and heater meals to remote communities that were impacted by the storms. 

URGENT NEED FOR SHELTER VOLUNTEERS
The Tennessee Region of the American Red Cross is hosting fast track shelter trainings for people interested in volunteering. Each shelter training will take four hours to complete and will cover all the required courses needed to become a shelter worker. Everyone is welcome to attend the first hour to learn more about Red Cross available opportunities and if interested, stay for the remainder of the training.

Nashville Area Chapter - 2201 Charlotte Ave, Nashville, TN
Wednesday, Sept. 28: 9:00 a.m. CST
Saturday, Oct. 1: 2:00 p.m. CST 

Northeast Tennessee Chapter – 660 Eastern Star Rd., Kingsport, TN
Thursday, Sept. 29: 10:00 a.m. EST
Thursday, Sept. 29: 5:30 p.m. EST

Tennessee River Chapter – 1760 Madison St., Clarksville, TN
Wednesday, Sept. 28: 5:00 p.m. CST 

Heart of Tennessee Chapter – 501 Memorial Blvd., Murfreesboro, TN
Thursday, Sept. 29: 9:00 a.m. CST
Thursday, Sept. 29: 2:00 p.m. CST
Saturday, Oct. 1: 9:00 a.m. CST

Southeast Tennessee Chapter – 4115 S. Access Rd., Chattanooga, TN
Wednesday, Sept. 28: 12:30 p.m. EST
Saturday, Oct. 1: 10:00 a.m. EST

East Tennessee Chapter – 6921 Middlebrook Pike, Knoxville, TN
Wednesday, Sept. 28: 3:00 p.m. EST
Thursday, Sept. 29: 5:00 p.m. EST

Mid-West Tennessee Chapter – Jackson State Community College, 2046 N. Parkway, Jackson, TN
Thursday, Sept. 29: 5:00 p.m. CST 

Mid-West Tennessee Chapter – Oakland Community Center, 4435 State Hwy. 69S, Paris, TN
Thursday, Sept. 29, 3:00 p.m. CST 

Mid-South Chapter – 1399 Madison Ave. Memphis, TN 38104
Thursday, Sept. 29: 5:30 p.m.-7 p.m. CST **This Memphis meeting will share volunteer opportunities and deployment basics. 
Saturday, Oct. 1: 9:00 a.m. CST (shelter training)

You can also apply to volunteer online at redcross.org/volunteertoday.

HOW YOU CAN HELP
You can help people affected by disasters like storms and countless other crises by making a gift to Red Cross Disaster Relief. Your gift enables the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from disasters big and small. Visit redcross.org, call 800-RED-CROSS, or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. 

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members, and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org/Tennessee  or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCrossTN. The American Red Cross Tennessee Region serves all 95 counties in Tennessee, Crittenden County in Arkansas and Desoto and Tunica counties in Mississippi. The Tennessee Region – part of a nationwide network of locally supported chapters - is comprised of the following eight Red Cross chapters: East Tennessee, Heart of Tennessee, Mid-South, Mid-West Tennessee, Nashville Area, Southeast Tennessee, Northeast Tennessee, and Tennessee River.