Red Cross responds to Overnight Tornado Outbreak

(Evansville) — The American Red Cross has been working around the clock to provide relief to people affected by the line of severe storms that rolled through the Tri-State last night into this morning – prompting Tornado Warnings, reported touch downs, damage and power outages in Southern Illinois and Western Kentucky.

Currently, volunteers are scouring the area to ensure anyone affected by the passing storms is aware of how the Red Cross can assist them. Heavy concentration is being focused on the Poole, KY area where a Temporary Shelter remains open at the Poole Fire Department and Damage Assessment Teams have been deployed to try and survey the damage.

Individuals and families seeking shelter, a hot meal, snacks or even just a place to seek respite or information are advised to visit the Poole Fire Department or call your local American Red Cross chapter to alert our team of volunteers to your emergency needs.  .

“We’ll continue to help our community in the hours and days ahead as needed – because whether your roof blew off in the storm or your living without power, we’re all affected by this storm and we want to ensure no one has to question where they can go to seek shelter, needs others forms of assistance or even where to get a hot meal in the meantime – help is available for you,” said Matt Bertram, Regional CEO, American Red Cross.

The Red Cross depends on financial donations to help people affected by disasters. You can help by making a donation to support American Red Cross Disaster Relief. Visit www.tristateredcross.org or by contacting or visiting your local Red Cross Chapter.

About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies nearly half of the nation's blood; teaches lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization — not a government agency — and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit www.redcross.org or join our blog at http://blog.redcross.org.

Red Cross Urges Residents to Prepare for Flooding due to Rain in the Forecast

(Evansville) — The American Red Cross is urging the public and especially those who live in flood prone areas or along area rivers or creeks to prepare for flooding. The Tri-State area has many areas in Illinois, Kentucky and Indiana that are prone to seasonal flooding, and the Red Cross wants to ensure you take steps now to stay safer when floods threaten.

“By preparing together for floods, we can make our families safer and our communities stronger,” Matt Bertram, Regional CEO, American Red Cross said. “We can help you and your family create a flood preparedness plan now, before our community is threatened by excessive rainfall.”  

Take a few minutes to BE RED CROSS Ready for flooding, by visiting www.tristateredcross.org to download two important documents:

·         Be Red Cross Ready Brochure http://www.redcross.org/www-files/Documents/pdf/Preparedness/checklists/Be_Red_Cross_Ready.pdf

·          Flooding Preparedness http://www.redcross.org/www-files/Documents/pdf/Preparedness/checklists/Flood.pdf

As with any disaster, preparation can be the difference between life and death. The Red Cross recommends that individuals and families prepare for floods by:

Creating and practicing a Disaster Plan: Talk to everyone in your household about what to do if a flood occurs. Decide where you would meet and who you would contact in case of flooding. Assemble and maintain an emergency preparedness kit. Be prepared to evacuate your family and pets at a moment’s notice. Listen to area radio and television stations for possible flood warnings and reports of flooding in progress.

Turn Around, Don’t Drown: Drivers approaching water logged roads are encouraged to turn around and not attempt to travel through any roads covered with water as its hard for any driver no matter the type of vehicle your drive how deep the water is and whether or not your car could be stuck. Already today, emergency crews have had to rescue individuals attempting to travel through water that was too deep forcing them to be rescued.

Assembling an Emergency Preparedness Kit: Kits should contain a first aid kit and essential medications, foods that don’t require cooking or refrigeration and manual can opener, bottled water, flashlights and a battery-powered radio with extra batteries, copies of important documents and other emergency items for the whole family.

Heeding Flood Warnings: Listen to your local radio and TV stations for updated flood information.  A flood WATCH means flooding or flash flooding is possible in your area. A food WARNING means flooding or flash flooding is already occurring or will occur soon in your area. When a flood or flash flood warning is issued for your area, head for higher ground and stay there. 

Relocating During Flood Warnings: Stay away from flood waters. If you come upon a flowing stream where water is above your ankle, stop, turn around and go another way. If you come upon a flooded road while driving, turn around and go another way. If you are caught on a flooded road and waters are rising rapidly around you, get out of the car quickly and move to higher ground. As always, volunteers are on standby and shelters ready to assist those that might be displaced by rising flood waters.

Editors Note: The American Red Cross stands ready to help our community through anymore severe weather, tornado responses and especially river and creek flooding. American Red Cross Disaster Assistance is provided free of charge thanks to donations from the community – you can help us be prepared and ready to serve our community through any natural disaster by making a financial gift online www.tristateredcross.org.

For more information on flood preparedness, contact your local Red Cross chapter or visit www.tristateredcross.org. We urge you to share these Red Cross flood preparedness tips with every member of your household, because the best protection is to be prepared ahead of time.  

About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies nearly half of the nation's blood; teaches lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization — not a government agency — and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit www.tristateredcross.org or join our blog at http://blog.redcross.org