Awful! The video footage alone is terrifying to me—I can’t imagine actually experiencing something like this. My heart goes out to all those affected in our southern states.
For those interested, the
USA Today published a list of additional ways we can help:
<<
American Red Cross: The Red Cross is providing relief to people across the hardest-hit states, providing shelter and relief to survivors. To support these efforts, donations can be made to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief. Visit Red Cross's website,
www.redcross.org, or call 1-800-RED-CROSS to make a donation. Checks can be sent to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, D.C. 20013.
[Note: As Dela mentioned above, you can also text "REDCROSS" to 90999 to make a $10 donation.]
Convoy of Hope: Convoy of Hope has deployed their Mobile Command Center to Birmingham, Alabama in response to last night's outbreak of tornadoes. Two tractor-trailers left Springfield Thursday, April 28, 2011 with food, water and supplies. Two more will leave Friday, April 29, 2011. Destination at this time is Birmingham, Alabama where we have partners in place to assist with distribution. Plans are being formulated to send staff and supplies to Tuscaloosa, Alabama in the coming days. To learn more about their work and how you can support it, visit their
website.
Salvation Army: The Salvation Army has provided food, hydration and other services to more than 6,000 survivors and first responders in the southeastern United States since the April tornadoes. The Army will continue to do so in the hardest hit cities, including Tuscaloosa and Birmingham, AL; Cleveland and Chattanooga, TN; Kemper County, Webster County, and Oxford, MS and others. To support the challenges facing survivors, The Salvation Army's Florida Division deployed 10 mobile canteens and a team of 30 volunteers and staff to assist in the relief efforts in Tuscaloosa and Birmingham. You can donate to the Salvation Army by going to their website,
disaster.salvationarmyusa.org, or by calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY. Text "GIVE" to 80888 to make a $10 donation to assist the organization's disaster response efforts. Or send a check to: The Salvation Army Disaster Relief, P.O. Box 100339, Atlanta, GA 30384-0339.
World Vision: World Vision's domestic relief team is preparing to deploy this Saturday morning from the Dallas area to Alabama and nearby states hardest-hit by last night's storms. They plan to work with local churches and other organizations to identify families with limited means, families left destitute, or people who may have difficulty accessing other assistance. To support these efforts, visit
www.worldvision.org to donate to call 888.56.CHILD (24453).
ALABAMA
Governor's Emergency Relief Fund: The Fund, part of the Alabama Governor's Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, provides additional recovery assistance to Alabama residents who have exhausted all other coverage provided by relief organizations, government programs and insurance. To donate, visit their
online donation page.>>
