(Aug. 24, 2021) - American Red Cross disaster responders from across Tennessee and the nation are on the ground in Hickman, Humphreys and Dickson counties assisting survivors of the historic flooding on Aug. 21. The area received up to 17 inches of rain in 12 hours and is being called the deadliest flooding event in Tennessee history. At press time, 16 people were confirmed dead, and more than 20 are missing in the area.
Red Cross is providing sheltering assistance with our local partners and are out in the areas affected providing shelter, relief items and comfort for people impacted by floods. On Aug. 22, 2021, 93 residents stayed in shelters.
“The need is great here in Middle Tennessee,” said David Buchanan, logistics manager with the Red Cross. “I have been to many disasters, and this is one of the worst I have seen. We have people who have lost everything they worked their whole lives for. We have people here who watched as their family members were swept away in flood waters. This community is hurting. We are here to try to help.”
Disaster Recovery Updates Aug. 23:
Red Cross volunteers continue to reach out to access areas affected to provide support to citizens. Many roadways are unpassable still, but our disaster volunteers will continue to seek communities that need assistance as it is safe to do so. If you know of someone in need of assistance, please contact us at 1-800-RED CROSS.
•Red Cross continues working with our shelter partners, feeding and supplying a safe place for residents to sleep that have had their homes were damaged or destroyed.
•Red Cross is working closely with local officials, community partners, and Emergency Management Agencies to assess community needs.
•Red Cross Emergency Response Vehicles continue to work their way through affected neighborhoods surveying damage and have recovery items available for residents.
•Red Cross is working with the Health Department to provide nursing support for the community’s health needs.
•Disaster Mental Health volunteers are on site providing assistance to anyone in need of help.
•Red Cross is working at the Reunification Center at McEwen High School, and have staff on hand to support condolence care.
•All services of the American Red Cross are being provided with strict COVID protocols to ensure safety for clients, staff and volunteer workforce. This includes a mask mandate regardless of vaccine status.
Safe and Well
The Red Cross also offers the Safe and Well website which is a secure and more private option than the “I’m Safe” feature on the Emergency App. It allows people to list their own status and allows friends and family to search for messages from their loved ones. The Safe and Well website is a free public reunification tool that allows individuals and organizations to register and post messages to indicate that they are safe, or to search for loved ones. The site is always available and open to the public and available in Spanish. Registrations and searches can be done directly on the website.
English- safeandwell.org
Registrations can also be completed by texting SAFE to 78876. Messages exist in both Spanish and English. To speak with someone at the American Red Cross concerning a missing friend or relative, please contact 1-800 Red Cross.
Disasters are upsetting experiences for everyone involved. Children, senior citizens, people with disabilities and people for whom English is not their first language are especially at risk and are likely to need extra care and help.
To reach out for free 24/7 counseling or support, contact the Disaster Distress Helpline at 1-800-985-5990.
Be cautious when cleaning up your home and wear protective clothing, including rubber gloves and boots.
Throw out items that absorb water and can’t be disinfected, and dispose of all food, drinks, and medications.
Emergency App:
Download the Red Cross Emergency App for real-time weather alerts, open shelters, and expert advice on what to do after a disaster. The Emergency App is available for free in-app stores by searching “American Red Cross” or going to redcross.org/apps.
If you are interested in learning about volunteering with the Red Cross, or to make a financial donation, check out RedCross.org/Tennessee or call 1-800-Red Cross.
Visit redcross.org/flood for full flood safety information.
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