Red Cross relief effort continues in Southwest Georgia following January tornadoes
Red Cross opened four shelters, provided 920 overnight stays following Jan. 21-22 tornadoes
From Staff Reports
ALBANY — One month after tornadoes ripped across several south Georgia counties on Jan. 21-22, resulting in multiple deaths, dozens of injuries and widespread damage, thousands of residents are seeking help from the American Red Cross and still coping with the losses caused by the disaster.
Red Cross officials say caseworkers are continuing to meet one-on-one with impacted families to provide resources and help with next steps, including health and mental health support for tornado survivors.
In response to the January tornadoes, officials said the Red Cross launched a relief operation supported by nearly 600 workers – mostly volunteers – along with 15 Emergency Response Vehicles from across the country.
Working closely with emergency and community partners, Red Cross officials and volunteers:
— Opened four shelters and provided 920 overnight stays;
— Served more than 54,250 meals and snacks at shelters and through mobile outreach with the help of the Salvation Army, Second Harvest of South Georgia and other partners;
—Distributed more than 28,600 relief items, including hygiene kits and bulk supplies such as shovels, rakes, tarps, work gloves, tote bins and trash bags from neighborhood locations and through mobile outreach;
— Made nearly 4,000 health and mental health contacts and provided services such as the replacement of lost medications and eyeglasses, and information on coping after a disaster;
— Collaborated with the community to stand up a Multi-Agency Resource Center where disaster-impacted families could get “one-stop help” from the Red Cross and other service organizations;
— Provided casework assistance and recovery resources for nearly 500 families to date.
Individuals with significant home damage who have not already done so are urged to call the Red Cross at (229) 436-4845 to discuss emergency needs. To find the nearest Red Cross office, visit redcross.org/local/georgia/locations.
The Red Cross depends on donations to provide immediate relief for disaster recovery. Help can be provided to people affected by disasters like tornadoes, floods and other crises by visiting redcross.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS or texting the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.
For recovery tips, visit redcross.org/get-help/disaster-relief-and-recovery/recovery-guides.
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