|
[Minneapolis, MN] June 22, 2010 — During the weekend American Red Cross volunteers from across the state were helping those affected by the June 17 tornadoes.
Priorities were providing emotional support for the survivors and others assisting them, food and water for clean-up crews, and shelter for those with no place to live.
Among the volunteers on hand was Dick Pike, a Red Cross disaster responder with the Central Minnesota Chapter of the American Red Cross, based in St. Cloud.
Pike returned to a neighborhood in Wadena, MN, that he’d previously visited to assess damage to residences. This time, he was there to make personal contact with families.
“We have a team of nurses and mental health professionals walking the neighborhoods,” said Pike. “People can let them know what they need. We’re here to help.”
Pike checked in with Tina Schluttner. Her home was destroyed during the storm. When the sirens went off, she ran to her basement before the tornado hit.
“You just can’t imagine this until you go through it,” said Schluttner. “But we’re all in this together. This is an incredible neighborhood.”
Also active were several Red Cross emergency response vehicles and volunteer teams providing water and snacks for those doing exhausting clean up work.
“They’ve been here a lot,” said Schluttner. “Everyone has been really great.”
Current Red Cross figures show that 842 homes were damaged because of this disaster. Of those, 113 were destroyed, rendering them permanently inhabitable, and 170 will need extensive repair before people can live in them again.
The Red Cross will continue to provide services, including financial assistance for those who were left most vulnerable following the tornadoes.
If you are in need of Red Cross services, please contact your local chapter. Local chapter information is available at 1-800-RED-CROSS or www.redcross.org.
To date, nearly 50 Red Cross volunteers have responded to this disaster, serving more than 7500 meals and snacks, and distributing more than 70 clean-up kits.
This is an evolving disaster and while our relief operations are ongoing, it’s not easy to nail down the exact cost of our services. Our current best estimate for this disaster is from $259,000 to $406,000.
Help people affected by disasters like the recent 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, food, emotional support and other assistance to victims of all disasters.
To donate, call 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Contributions to the Disaster Relief Fund may be sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P. O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013.
Internet users can make a secure online contribution by visiting www.redcross.org.
—END—
|
