Alabama Tornado Tragedy: How You Can Help (10798 hits)
By Pam Wright
Communities Struggling to Recover from Devastating Tornado Damage
At a Glance
- Alabama residents are beginning the difficult task of rebuilding their lives after Sunday's deadly tornado outbreak. - Here are ways in which you can help the victims.
The search continued Tuesday for victims of an EF4 tornado that ripped through the town of Beauregard, Alabama, on Sunday, killing at least 23 and leaving dozens more missing.
Hundreds of people in the town of 10,000 lost their homes and livelihoods to the powerful twister and are now struggling to recover and get back on their feet.
Several organizations have stepped up to help and support those in need. Here is a list and ways in which you can help:
The American Red Cross
Officials with the Red Cross headed to the area on Monday to assess the situation and offer help to victims, WRBL reports.
Donations to the Red Cross Disaster Relief fund can be made by logging onto Redcross.org or calling 1-800-RED-CROSS.
The Red Cross of East Alabama is also accepting donations for people hardest-hit areas, including Barbour, Chambers, Coffee, Dale, Geneva, Henry, Houston, Lee, Pike and Russell counties.
Blood donations for people injured in the tornadoes are also being accepted at numerous regional offices of the American Red Cross.
Auburn Dream Center The religious organization based in Auburn, Alabama, is accepting needed items like diapers, granola bars, baby formula, baby wipes and hygiene products, according to a Facebook post. The organization that is supported by the Church of the Highlands, the state's largest church, also have rescue teams on the ground helping with recovery.
Financial donations or those interested in volunteering can text the word “response” to 74000, according to the church.
United Way of Central Alabama/Lee County The United Way of Central Alabama is teaming up with the United Way of Lee County to create a secure website so donations can be made for tornado victims. To help with the rescue and recovery, visit the site here. https://www.uwca.org/helpleecounty/
Salvation Army The Salvation Army sent a full Incident command team to the area on Monday to assist with recovery.
The Salvation Army Lee County Service Center has also provided 200 meals to first responders wand will continue to do so from six mobile feeding units.
Telethon In conjunction with the Alabama Broadcasting Association, WBRC Fox6 News, WVTM 13 and other networks and radio stations statewide will be hosting an all-day telethon on Wednesday. The Together for Alabama telethon is being held in partnership with the Birmingham Salvation Army and American Red Cross, WBRC reports.
All monetary donations made during the telethon will go directly to relief efforts in Lee County and surrounding communities. To donate, call (205) 583-4303.
Disaster Recovery Fund A long-term recovery fund has been set up by the Community Foundation of East Alabama, Lee County emergency management tweeted Tuesday. To make a donation call (334) 744-1020 or email info@cfeastalabama.org.
Governor’s Relief Fund The Alabama Governor's Emergency Relief Fund helps victims of natural disasters, including those impacted by the recent tornadoes and flooding. To donate, visit the website here. http://www.unitedwaysofalabama.org/alabama...
Convoy of Hope The faith-based, nonprofit organization has sent a disaster services team to the area to help, along with a load of supplies.
The online marketplace and hospitality service has activated its Open Homes Program to help local residents who lost their homes to the disaster, as well as to provide housing for relief relief workers deployed to the area.
The program is seeking hosts willing and able to provide free housing to displaced residents and disaster relief workers in the area for any length of time between March 4 and March 25. Victim's Funds
Funding sites are also being set up for some of the victims, including several GoFundMe campaigns.
