Spring 2011 Tornado Diaster Services update as of May 9, 2011. For more information on how you can help, visit: www.eastgeorgia.redcross.org or http://www.facebook.com/redcrossega

1. Disaster
Update
Red Cross Relief Efforts Continue in Tornado-Ravaged Georgia
“The Red Cross has meant more to my
family than you will ever know,” said an
emotional Candice Landers of Barnesville
when our volunteers delivered the donated
sandwiches and pastries to her mother’s
tornado-damaged home in Griffin. “You’ve
fed us, given us something to drink when we
were thirsty, and given us hugs when we
needed a hug. I just want to say, from the
bottom of my heart, God bless each and
every one of you for everything you do.”
American Red Cross relief efforts are continuing in tornado-ravaged Georgia as impacted families
and communities begin the long road to recovery. Additional volunteers are arriving daily from
throughout Georgia and other states to help with the care and feeding of disaster survivors, the bulk
distribution of clean-up and recovery supplies, and individual client casework.
Well before the tornadoes hit on April 27, Red Cross volunteers in communities across Georgia
prepared to respond. Local Disaster Action Teams were among the first to shelter, feed, and comfort
their devastated neighbors in the aftermath of the storms.
In the weeks and months ahead the Red Cross will continue to work closely with local, government
and corporate partners to help disaster-stricken families get back on their feet and support struggling
communities in their recovery. No one organization can meet the widespread needs created by the
tornadoes, but working together, and through the support of generous donors and volunteers, a
compassionate Georgia is making a difference.
Watch a video from the Red Cross shelter at Manchester High School in Meriwether County.
Kia Motors Donates $1.5 Million to Georgia’s Red Cross
Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia donated $1.5 million to the Georgia Tornado Relief Effort on
Wednesday. Georgia Region Interim CEO Charlie McGivern participated in a press conference at
the Governor’s Office with Kia Motors Group President and CEO Byung Mo Ahn, Governor Nathan
Deal, and Lt. Governor Casey Cagle to announce the gift.

2. Red Cross Response to Date:
• 388 Red Cross volunteers and staff in hard-hit areas of the state are working with
community partners to provide shelter, meals, health and mental health services, clean-up
supplies, and other recovery resources.
• 45,231 meals have been served and 520 clean-up and comfort kits distributed. 10
Emergency response vehicles have been mobilized to provide mobile feeding and clean-up
supply distribution.
• 454 bulk items have been distributed (includes rakes, sunscreen, diapers, baby formula,
insect repellent, garbage bags, dust masks, paper towels and more).
• 486 people have been provided safe haven in 11 Red Cross shelters. Two shelters remain
open: One in Catoosa County, now located at Poplar Springs Baptist Church, and one at
Manchester High School in Meriwether County. On the night of the storms, Red Cross
shelters were operating in Catoosa, Dade, Floyd, Meriwether, Morgan, Pickens, Rabun, and
Spalding counties.
• Red Cross nurses and mental health counselors are providing health and mental health
services for those who face the daunting task of rebuilding.
• Red Cross damage assessment teams report 600 homes in Georgia were destroyed and 595
suffered major damage.
Red Cross-Georgia Tornado Call Center
Anyone who needs information on Red Cross tornado relief services in Georgia is urged to call the
Red Cross-Georgia Tornado Call Center, a toll-free number, at 1-800-RED CROSS
(1-800-733-2767) and follow the prompts for disaster relief in Georgia.
The call center, open daily from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m., is a resource for families with questions about
what types of services the Red Cross is providing to disaster survivors and how to access them in
local communities. Volunteers can also provide tips and recovery resources, community referrals,
and help with family reunification through the Red Cross Safe and Well website. The Safe and Well
website provides a way to let loved ones know you are safe and to find information about people in
the affected areas. Callers can register themselves as Safe and Well at www.redcross.org.
Bulk Distribution Sites Now Open
Four bulk distribution sites are now open from noon until 6 p.m. each day at the following locations:
Spalding County: 817 Memorial Drive, Griffin
Lamar County: 118 Academy Drive, Barnesville
Meriwether County: Manchester High School
Troup County: The Mike Daniel Recreation Center, 1220 Lafayette Parkway, LaGrange
Items available to families impacted by the tornadoes include: comfort kits (personal hygiene items),
clean-up kits, rakes, water, sunscreen, hydrocortisone cream, diapers, baby formula, insect repellent,
chapstick, garbage bags, dust masks, and paper towels.

3. Georgia Red Cross Working with Partners to Help Neighbors in Need
Here is a small sampling of the Red Cross tornado relief partnerships to date:
• UPS is helping with logistics; picking up donated supplies and delivering them to distribution
sites across the state.
• The Home Depot is providing various clean-up supplies (tarps, buckets, gloves, bleach, etc)
for bulk distribution.
• Shaw Industries in Dalton donated use of a centrally located air conditioned warehouse.
This facility will serve as a distribution center for Red Cross relief supplies.
• The Southern Baptists are setting up a Southern Baptists Kitchen in Ringgold. They will
prepare thousands of meals to be picked up by Red Cross emergency response vehicles and
distributed to tornado survivors in northwest Georgia.
• The American Legion and the Trinity United Methodist Church (UMC) in Trenton are
partnering with the Red Cross to prepare meals for tornado victims in their community. Red
Cross supplies the food and delivers meals prepared by American Legion and Trinity UMC
volunteers.
• Tractor Supply Company has donated a tractor trailer load of water for Red Cross
distribution and other in-kind support.
• Financial Partners, whose generous support is turned into warm meals, blankets, shelters,
clothing, emotional support and so much more to help those in need of our help.
25 Georgia Counties Designated for Federal Assistance; Recovery Centers Open
Twenty five counties were designated for disaster assistance for individuals, families, and businesses
as part of Georgia’s federal disaster declaration: Bartow, Catoosa, Cherokee, Coweta, Dade, Floyd,
Gordon, Greene, Habersham, Harris, Heard, Lamar, Lumpkin, Meriwether, Monroe, Morgan, Newton,
Pickens, Polk, Rabun, Spalding, Troup, Upson, White and Walker.
Affected individuals and business owners in these counties can apply for assistance by calling
FEMA’s toll-free registration number, 800-621-FEMA (3362). An online application may be
completed at www.DisasterAssistance.gov. Individual assistance for homeowners and renters can
include grants to help pay for rental housing, home repairs, and other serious disaster-related
expenses not met by insurance or other assistance programs.
Four more Disaster Recovery Centers opened in Cartersville (Bartow County); Jasper (Pickens
County); Clayton (Rabun County); and Rock Springs (Walker County). They will be open from 7
a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week until further notice. Disaster recovery centers opened earlier in
Catoosa, Dade, Floyd, Lamar, Meriwether, Morgan, Spalding and Troup counties. Visit
www.fema.gov for exact locations.

4. Red Cross Helping
People Across the
Country
Since March 31, the
Red Cross has
responded to 20 large
disasters across the
southeast, helping
people devastated by
tornadoes, floods, and
wildfires. The Red
Cross has opened more
than 145 shelters,
served nearly 638,000
meals and snacks, and
distributed more than
335,000 clean-up
supplies.
Alabama was the hardest hit state:
• An estimated 7 -10,000 homes have been severely damaged or destroyed. Damage was
centered in Birmingham and Tuscaloosa.
• The Red Cross is operating 23 shelters with 5,121 overnight stays.
• The Red Cross mobilized 62 emergency response vehicles to assist with feeding, relief
supply distribution, and medical and mental health outreach throughout affected areas.
• More than 195,000 meals and snacks have been served.
• Two Red Cross communication vehicles are assisting with communication needs.
How You Can Help
Red Cross disaster assistance is free. The Red Cross depends on financial donations to help in
times of disaster. Please consider making a donation today to help those affected by these
disasters.
By Phone: Call 1-800-RED-CROSS
By Text: Text REDCROSS to 90999 and donate $10
By Check: Mail to American Red Cross, P.O. Box 101508, Atlanta, GA 30392-1508
By Internet: Visit www.redcross.org
Your gift enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, counseling, and other emergency assistance. 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.