How You Can Help With Local Storm Relief

Help South Carolina Respond and Prepare for Tornado Season - How You Can Help

Many of our friends and neighbors were impacted recently by severe weather and tornadoes in South Carolina. Trees and power lines were blocking roads and many houses were damaged or destroyed as a result of these storms. Almost before the winds calmed and the night was over, your Red Cross was on the scene helping those impacted by these storms.

Facts at a Glance: Tornado Relief Efforts
As of April 17, 2009

Affected counties Abbeville, Greenwood, Aiken, Allendale, Union, Anderson, Greenville, Oconee
Shelters opened 6
Overnight stays in shelters by individuals 18
Homes destroyed or with major damage (excludes businesses) 156
Meals and snacks provided to individuals 9,771
Vehicles providing mobile feeding* 4
Distribution of clean up kits & comfort kits 441
Volunteers 168
* mobile feeding discontinued mid-day 4/17/09

Your gift to the Disaster Relief Fund is now more important than ever. Red Cross assistance for this effort may
exceed $200,000. Most of the families that we are serving could least afford to suffer this damage and destruction. They need our help to begin their recovery.

The Disaster Relief Fund provides families with food and a safe place to stay, life sustaining medication, infant supplies, and essential toiletries, in addition to health services and mental health counseling. Equally important, the Disaster Relief Fund allows us to maintain the vehicle fleet, warehouses, communications systems and volunteer training necessary to be able to respond 24 hours a day.

How You Can Help
All American Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the American people. Help people affected by disasters like tornadoes, by donating to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. On those rare occasions when donations exceed Red Cross expenses for a specific disaster, contributions are used to prepare for and serve victims of other disasters. Your gift enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, counseling and other assistance to victims of disasters. Call 864-271-8222 to make a donation. Contributions can be mailed to The American Red Cross of Upstate South Carolina at PO Box 9035, Greenville, SC 29604. Internet users can make a secure online contribution by visiting www.upstateredcross.org.

Companies can also help by implementing a customer donation program, sponsoring an employee giving and matching gift program, or even placing a Red Cross banner ad on your website. For more information, please contact the American Red Cross at CorpPartnerships@usa.redcross.org or 202-303-8380.