The East Escambia Red Cross chapter is encouraging residents to donate to the Red Cross to help residents in the Midwest and South recover from tornadoes and floods.

Red Cross has been providing a safe place to stay and relief supplies for thousands of people displaced by tornadoes and floods. Even as relief operations continue full force in Tennessee, Kentucky, Mississippi, Arkansas and Alabama, the Red Cross has opened shelters in Oklahoma after this week’s tornadoes.

“These storms have left thousands across the country without homes, without any belongings,” said Chris Smith, director of East Escambia Red Cross, which is headquartered in Brewton.  “It is important that everyone remember those whose lives have been impacted by these disasters.”

If someone would like to help by making a donation, they can visit redcross.org to donate online, call 1-800-REDCROSS, or make a $10 donation by texting REDCROSS to 90999.

Multiple tornadoes in Oklahoma destroyed homes and businesses, left thousands without power, and forced road closures due to overturned vehicles and structure damage. Red Cross workers are providing a safe place to stay, food to eat, toiletries and clean-up items.

Meanwhile, people in Tennessee and other areas affected by flooding are still tossing furniture and appliances into the street, ripping up flooring and tearing out walls as they work on their homes after last week’s flooding and tornadoes.  Red Cross teams from 37 different states have shelters open, are providing meals, and distributing various clean-up items and basic necessities such as toiletries.

If someone would like to help, there are three ways that people can make a donation to the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund: Visit redcross.org to donate online, call 1-800-REDCROSS, or make a $10 donation by texting REDCROSS to 90999.