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HomeNewsThe Red Cross Responds to Tennessee Floods and Tornadoes

The Red Cross Responds to Tennessee Floods and Tornadoes

American Red CrossClarksville, TN – After days of storms, tornadoes, and floods, residents of Tennessee are left in the trail of destruction. With little notice, many residents of Tennessee were inundated with tornadoes as others were forced to evacuate, saving only as much as they could carry, and must wait anxiously to return until the water levels recede to a safe level. As hundreds of homes are affected by the tornadoes, the floods will affect additional homes. The storms left hundreds of thousands of people without power.

Red Cross volunteers deliver meals to emergency workers and volunteers helping with debris clean-up in between storms. (Beth Ferguson/American Red Cross)
Red Cross volunteers deliver meals to emergency workers and volunteers helping with debris clean-up in between storms. (Beth Ferguson/American Red Cross)

Around Montgomery County, the water is cresting only 5 feet lower that it did in the May 2010 floods. Nearly 1,200 residents have chosen to or have needed to seek refuge in Red Cross shelters across the state, where they are receiving necessities such as a hot meal and snacks, comfort kits, and a shoulder to lean on.

Tornadoes come and go with little warning, and a family can lose their home in an instant. Water levels are dangerously high, everyday life has been halted across communities and residents must patiently wait to find out if their homes have been destroyed. As the community bands together to rebuild and return to normalcy, individuals and families are turning to the American Red Cross for the shelter, food and emergency assistance.

Every step of the way, before the storms, to days after the flood, the Red Cross will be there to assist and provide relief. Even before the storm, the Red Cross was ready with cots, clean-up kits and blankets as well as opening up shelters in anticipation of the flooding. Our network of volunteers were mobilized and ready to deploy at a moments notice.

The Red Cross is ready to:

  • Distribute clean-up kits containing a mop, broom, squeegee, pail, scrub brushes, a sponge, disinfectant, bleach, trash bags, gloves and a dust mask. 
  • Distributed comfort kits containing deodorant, a toothbrush, toothpaste, facial tissues, a wash cloth, shampoo, liquid soap, lotion, comb, razor and shaving cream. 
  • Provide shelter and meals and snacks to thousands of affected residents.

Floods and tornadoes are some of the most costly natural disasters in terms of human hardship and economic loss, and most communities in the United States experience some kind of flooding annually. Local communities can be devastated for weeks or months after waters subside as utilities and infrastructure like roads and bridges suffer damage.  The Red Cross response continues after the media leaves and the flood waters dry up. 

Emergency Service Volunteer Branden Clifton preparing supplies for those who are affected by the flood.
Emergency Service Volunteer Branden Clifton preparing supplies for those who are affected by the flood.

Every year the Red Cross spends an average of $450 million on our Disaster Services program. Not only does it cover our direct services to our clients, it also includes costs to maintain those things that help us provide assistance to people in need. We have warehouses, disaster response vehicles, trained volunteers, call centers, computer systems and paid staff ready to respond year round. It is through the ongoing support of the public that we can continue to maintain these resources 24-7 and ready to respond when disaster strikes.

When homes are flooded, people need a place to stay and supplies for clean-up. Your Red Cross is there immediately to shelter, feed people and provide supplies. Help us today to provide a safe, warm and dry place to stay, food, emotional support and many other kinds of assistance- whenever and wherever disaster strikes. 

How You Can Help

You can help people affected by disasters like floods, as well as countless crises at home and around the world, by making a donation to support American Red Cross Disaster Relief. Your gift enables the Red Cross to prepare for and provide shelter, food, emotional support and other assistance in response to disasters. 

Visit http://www.cmc-redcross.org/ or call 931-545-6401 Contributions may also be sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross 1760 Madison Street Clarksville, TN 37043.

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