Clean-up is just beginning for many affected by the Southeast flooding
ATLANTA, September 30, 2009 – American Red Cross volunteer disaster assessment and casework teams have been pounding the pavement in the Metro-Atlanta area, working to meet the needs of those affected by the floods.
Preliminary data shows that 2,803 homes in Georgia have been affected by the flooding; 745 of which are destroyed, 760 have major damage.
Martha Mask’s Austell, Ga., home sustained significant damage as flood waters flowed five-and-a-half-feet high through her kitchen and bedroom. Her home is now gutted as piles of dry wall and damaged furniture lie at the end of her driveway.
“We’ve never seen flooding like this before,” said Beatrice Bowles, Mask’s sister-in-law. “It’s been hard, but we’ve survived.” The Red Cross provided food, water and clean-up supplies for Mask and her family as well as put her in touch with partner agencies to assist her in the recovery process.
Mask and her family are just one of more than 1,200 families the Red Cross anticipates will need its help as a result of the flooding.
Through mobile outreach into flood-affected areas, Red Cross caseworkers are connecting one-on-one with people in need and providing financial assistance for food, clothing, shelter and health-related concerns. Along with providing emotional support, caseworkers can direct clients to recovery resources in the community, including Red Cross Distribution Centers for clean-up supplies (mops, brooms, pails, etc.) and personal hygiene items.
Hours for distribution centers are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday at the following locations:
Lawrenceville Fire Dept. Station 20
1801 Cruse Road
Lawrenceville, GA 30044
Lawrenceville Fire Dept. Station 25
3575 Lawrenceville Highway
Lawrenceville, GA 30045
Powder Springs Police Department
4483 Pineview Drive
Powder Springs, GA 30127
Austell Shopping Center
5875 Love St.
Austell, GA 30168
The Red Cross Disaster Call Center has fielded questions and requests for help from more than 2,800 people. Those affected by the flooding who need help can call 404-870-4440.
Since flooding began, the Red Cross:
• Has provided nearly 1,838 overnight shelter stays for about 500 affected residents and has provided nearly 20,000 meals
• Has had 742 volunteers and staff from 18 states on the ground in affected areas to support the disaster-caused needs of clients
• Has had 21 emergency response vehicles serving as mobile and fixed feeding stations
• Has provided more than 32,801 bulk items including bleach, comfort kits, clean-up kits and bottled water.
Red Cross shelters currently open in Georgia are:
Cobb County
Cobb County Civic Center
548 South Marietta Parkway
Marietta, GA 30060
Gwinnett County
Zoar United Methodist Church
3895 Zoar Church Road
Snellville, GA 30039
Cherokee County
Cherokee Recreation and Parks Agency
(South Annex)
7545 Main St. Building 200
Woodstock, GA 30188
The U.S. government has declared 17 of the 20 affected counties in Georgia as federal disaster areas – Bartow, Carroll, Catoosa, Chattooga, Cherokee, Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Fulton, Gwinnett, Heard, Newton, Paulding, Rockdale, Stephens and Walker.
For continuous updates visit http://newsroom.redcross.org.
How to Help
1. Donate to the Red Cross. You can help people affected by disasters like the current floods 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. Visit www.redcross.org or call 1-800-RED-CROSS
2. Donate blood. The need for blood is constant and the Southern Blood Services Region is committed to continuing to provide blood and blood products to those in need at all times. Visit www.redcross.org or call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE to find a drive near you.
3. Donate your time. Sign up as a Red Cross volunteer. Visit www.redcross.org.
Help people affected by disasters like the current floods 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 prepare for disasters and provide shelter, food, emotional support and other assistance to victims of all disasters. Call 1-800-REDCROSS (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, D.C. 20013. Internet users can make a secure online contribution by visiting redcross.org.
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