name: Red Cross, Heart of Tennessee Chapter -> Red Cross, Heart of Tennessee Chapter - 4/09 TORNADO

notes: NEWS RELEASES - http://www.midtnredcross.org/Media.html Persons with disaster-caused needs are encouraged to call the Red Cross at (615) 250-4250 to talk about assistance that might be available. ------------- Please note that the Red Cross is NOT accepting in-kind donations of food and clothing for the disaster. We CANNOT accept walk-in donations at the shelter of physical items such as food, clothing or any other items. Red Cross is required to provide equal assistance to all disaster victims and cash donations allow us to purchase large quantities of food and other items so that we can effectively do this. The Red Cross is NOT a government agency and we provide assistance through generous donations from the public. Red Cross Urges Victims to Use Safe and Well.Org Volunteers Distribute Thousands of Meals, Snacks, Comfort and Clean Up Kits The American Red Cross continues to provide assistance to more than 1,000 victims of Friday’s massive tornado disaster that has become a national disaster for the American Red Cross. With continuing inquiries from friends and family members from outside of the Murfreesboro area worried about those affected, the Red Cross is urging everyone who was affected by these storms to visit www.safeandwell.org and register themselves as being safe and well. Then, family members and friends can visit the same site and see that their family members are okay. If victims cannot access the Internet, they can call 1 (866) GET-INFO and have a Red Cross volunteer register their name on the safe and well website. Since the tornado relief operation began, your American Red Cross has provided more than 1,000 meals, bottles of water and snacks and provided emotional support for victims by visiting communities affected by these storms and passing out these materials. The Red Cross has also opened a shelter where those affected can get a hot meal, a place to stay and pick up clean-up kits to help with the recovery efforts. The shelter is located at: New Vision Baptist Church 1750 North Thompson Lane Murfreesboro, TN 37129 Only four tornado victims stayed in the shelter overnight, which means most victims are residing with friends or family during this time. However, the shelter WILL continue to be open as long as it is needed. The Red Cross is also providing mental health counseling to those affected by the storms and their families. During this emotional time, the mental health is just as important as providing for the physical needs of those families affected. The Red Cross has trained mental health providers on site to give emotional support. HOW TO HELP You can help people affected by this disaster, 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 provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to victims of all disasters. You can visit www.redcross.org or call 1-800-REDCROSS or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish) or mail your donation, to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. You can also donate to help the victims of the Murfreesboro tornadoes at any Middle Tennessee Kroger store at the register as you check out. Just tell the cashier you would like to make a donation to the Red Cross for the Central Tennessee tornadoes. The Red Cross is NOT accepting any donations of clothing, furniture or any other material items. If you would like to volunteer, the CITY OF MURFREESBORO is asking you to call (615)890-1934. Murfreesboro Tornadoes Become National Disaster for American Red Cross Assistance Continues Today for those Affected The American Red Cross continues to provide assistance to the victims of Friday’s massive tornado disaster that has become a national disaster for the American Red Cross. Since the tornado relief operation began, your American Red Cross has provided more than 800 meals and hundreds of bottles of water and snacks and provided emotional support for victims. Hundreds more meals, snacks, bottled water, clean up kits and toiletry items are being distributed by Red Cross volunteers today throughout the affected communities. Preliminary reports say 250 homes are either destroyed or suffered some type of damage. The Red Cross has also opened a shelter where those affected can get a hot meal and a place to stay. The shelter is located at: New Vision Baptist Church 1750 North Thompson Lane Murfreesboro, TN 37129 The Red Cross is also providing mental health counseling to those affected by the storms and their families. During this emotional time, the mental health is just as important as providing for the physical needs of those families affected. The Red Cross has trained mental health providers on site to give emotional support. HOW TO HELP You can help people affected by this disaster, 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 provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to victims of all disasters. You can visit www.redcross.org or call 1-800-REDCROSS or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish) or mail your donation, to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. The Red Cross is NOT accepting any donations of clothing, furniture or any other material items. If you would like to volunteer, the CITY OF MURFREESBORO is asking you to call (615) 890-1934. The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and counsels victims of disasters; provides nearly half of the nation's blood supply; teaches lifesaving skills; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization — not a government agency — and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its humanitarian mission. For more information, please visit www.redcross.org or join our blog at www.redcrosschat.org. Heart of Tennessee Chapter Opens Shelter, Provides Comfort for Tornado Victims Red Cross Provides Tips to Stay Safe After a Tornado The Heart of Tennessee Chapter is on the scene in Murfreesboro and surrounding communities to help those affected by the tornado. An emergency shelter will open at 5:30 p.m. at New Vision Baptist Church located at 1750 N. Thompson Lane in Murfreesboro to help residents impacted by the storm by offering a safe place to stay, a hot meal, minor first aid, and a shoulder to lean on. Pets are not permitted at Red Cross shelters. The Red Cross is only accepting monetary donations to help disaster victims. “In the days and weeks to come, the Heart of Tennessee Chapter will be coordinating with emergency officials and local community partners to help residents impacted by the tornado get back on their feet,” said spokesperson Beth Ferguson. “The Red Cross will keep shelters open as long as needed, in addition to providing mobile feeding and mental health support to those affected by the storm,” said Ferguson. The Nashville Area Chapter of the American Red Cross has also deployed two Emergency Response Vehicles to Murfreesboro as well as 750 Heater Meals, snacks, bottled water and volunteers to assist with the operation. The Red Cross offers the following tips for those in the affected area to stay safer: • Continue listening to local radio or television stations or a NOAA Weather Radio for updated information and instructions. If you are away from home, return only when authorities say it is safe to do so. • Avoid damaged areas as your presence might hamper rescue and other emergency operations and put you at further risk from the residual effects of tornadoes. • Stay out of damaged buildings. • When it is safe to return home, wear long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, and sturdy shoes when examining your walls, doors, staircases and windows for damage. • Watch out for fallen power lines or broken gas lines and report them to the utility company immediately. • Use battery-powered lanterns or flashlights when examining buildings. Avoid using candles. • If you smell gas or hear a blowing or hissing noise, open a window and get everyone out of the building quickly. Turn off the gas using the outside main valve if you can, and call the gas company from a neighbor’s home. If you turn off the gas for any reason, it must be turned back on by a professional. • Clean up spilled medications, bleaches, gasoline, or other flammable liquids that could become a fire hazard. • Take pictures of the damage, both of the building and its contents, for insurance claims. • Use the telephone only for emergency calls. Telephone lines are frequently overwhelmed in disaster situations. They need to be kept clear for emergency calls to get through. • Watch your animals closely. Keep all your animals under your direct control. Your pets may be able to escape from your home or through a broken fence. Pets may become disoriented, particularly because tornadoes and the heavy rains that accompany them will usually affect scent markers that normally allow animals to find their homes. The Red Cross depends on the generosity of the American people to fulfill our mission. To help victims of the tornado outbreak and local disaster victims please contact the Heart of Tennessee Chapter of the American Red Cross at 615-893-4272 or visit www.midtnredcross.org to make an online contribution. The Heart of Tennessee American Red Cross Chapter provides vital emergency assistance to help victims of local disasters in Rutherford, Bedford, Cannon, Franklin, Coffee & Moore counties. Over the past year the Chapter trained nearly 8, 237 people in CPR and First Aid and transmitted 191 emergency messages for military families. Over 16,000 pints of life-saving blood were collected from the community last year. All of these services are made possible by over 130 dedicated local Red Cross volunteers as well as through generous gifts from the local community. To get more information or to make a financial contribution to the local chapter please call (615) 893-4272 or log on to www.midtnredcross.org to donate online. -> NEWS RELEASES - http://www.midtnredcross.org/Media.html Persons with disaster-caused needs are encouraged to call the Red Cross at (615) 250-4250 to talk about assistance that might be available. ------------- Please note that the Red Cross is NOT accepting in-kind donations of food and clothing for the disaster. We CANNOT accept walk-in donations at the shelter of physical items such as food, clothing or any other items. Red Cross is required to provide equal assistance to all disaster victims and cash donations allow us to purchase large quantities of food and other items so that we can effectively do this. The Red Cross is NOT a government agency and we provide assistance through generous donations from the public. Red Cross Urges Victims to Use Safe and Well.Org Volunteers Distribute Thousands of Meals, Snacks, Comfort and Clean Up Kits The American Red Cross continues to provide assistance to more than 1,000 victims of Friday’s massive tornado disaster that has become a national disaster for the American Red Cross. With continuing inquiries from friends and family members from outside of the Murfreesboro area worried about those affected, the Red Cross is urging everyone who was affected by these storms to visit www.safeandwell.org and register themselves as being safe and well. Then, family members and friends can visit the same site and see that their family members are okay. If victims cannot access the Internet, they can call 1 (866) GET-INFO and have a Red Cross volunteer register their name on the safe and well website. Since the tornado relief operation began, your American Red Cross has provided more than 1,000 meals, bottles of water and snacks and provided emotional support for victims by visiting communities affected by these storms and passing out these materials. The Red Cross has also opened a shelter where those affected can get a hot meal, a place to stay and pick up clean-up kits to help with the recovery efforts. The shelter is located at: New Vision Baptist Church 1750 North Thompson Lane Murfreesboro, TN 37129 Only four tornado victims stayed in the shelter overnight, which means most victims are residing with friends or family during this time. However, the shelter WILL continue to be open as long as it is needed. The Red Cross is also providing mental health counseling to those affected by the storms and their families. During this emotional time, the mental health is just as important as providing for the physical needs of those families affected. The Red Cross has trained mental health providers on site to give emotional support. HOW TO HELP You can help people affected by this disaster, 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 provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to victims of all disasters. You can visit www.redcross.org or call 1-800-REDCROSS or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish) or mail your donation, to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. You can also donate to help the victims of the Murfreesboro tornadoes at any Middle Tennessee Kroger store at the register as you check out. Just tell the cashier you would like to make a donation to the Red Cross for the Central Tennessee tornadoes. The Red Cross is NOT accepting any donations of clothing, furniture or any other material items. If you would like to volunteer, the CITY OF MURFREESBORO is asking you to call (615)890-1934. Murfreesboro Tornadoes Become National Disaster for American Red Cross Assistance Continues Today for those Affected The American Red Cross continues to provide assistance to the victims of Friday’s massive tornado disaster that has become a national disaster for the American Red Cross. Since the tornado relief operation began, your American Red Cross has provided more than 800 meals and hundreds of bottles of water and snacks and provided emotional support for victims. Hundreds more meals, snacks, bottled water, clean up kits and toiletry items are being distributed by Red Cross volunteers today throughout the affected communities. Preliminary reports say 250 homes are either destroyed or suffered some type of damage. The Red Cross has also opened a shelter where those affected can get a hot meal and a place to stay. The shelter is located at: New Vision Baptist Church 1750 North Thompson Lane Murfreesboro, TN 37129 The Red Cross is also providing mental health counseling to those affected by the storms and their families. During this emotional time, the mental health is just as important as providing for the physical needs of those families affected. The Red Cross has trained mental health providers on site to give emotional support. HOW TO HELP You can help people affected by this disaster, 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 provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to victims of all disasters. You can visit www.redcross.org or call 1-800-REDCROSS or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish) or mail your donation, to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. The Red Cross is NOT accepting any donations of clothing, furniture or any other material items. If you would like to volunteer, the CITY OF MURFREESBORO is asking you to call (615) 890-1934. The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and counsels victims of disasters; provides nearly half of the nation's blood supply; teaches lifesaving skills; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization — not a government agency — and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its humanitarian mission. For more information, please visit www.redcross.org or join our blog at www.redcrosschat.org. Heart of Tennessee Chapter Opens Shelter, Provides Comfort for Tornado Victims Red Cross Provides Tips to Stay Safe After a Tornado The Heart of Tennessee Chapter is on the scene in Murfreesboro and surrounding communities to help those affected by the tornado. An emergency shelter will open at 5:30 p.m. at New Vision Baptist Church located at 1750 N. Thompson Lane in Murfreesboro to help residents impacted by the storm by offering a safe place to stay, a hot meal, minor first aid, and a shoulder to lean on. Pets are not permitted at Red Cross shelters. The Red Cross is only accepting monetary donations to help disaster victims. “In the days and weeks to come, the Heart of Tennessee Chapter will be coordinating with emergency officials and local community partners to help residents impacted by the tornado get back on their feet,” said spokesperson Beth Ferguson. “The Red Cross will keep shelters open as long as needed, in addition to providing mobile feeding and mental health support to those affected by the storm,” said Ferguson. The Nashville Area Chapter of the American Red Cross has also deployed two Emergency Response Vehicles to Murfreesboro as well as 750 Heater Meals, snacks, bottled water and volunteers to assist with the operation. The Red Cross offers the following tips for those in the affected area to stay safer: • Continue listening to local radio or television stations or a NOAA Weather Radio for updated information and instructions. If you are away from home, return only when authorities say it is safe to do so. • Avoid damaged areas as your presence might hamper rescue and other emergency operations and put you at further risk from the residual effects of tornadoes. • Stay out of damaged buildings. • When it is safe to return home, wear long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, and sturdy shoes when examining your walls, doors, staircases and windows for damage. • Watch out for fallen power lines or broken gas lines and report them to the utility company immediately. • Use battery-powered lanterns or flashlights when examining buildings. Avoid using candles. • If you smell gas or hear a blowing or hissing noise, open a window and get everyone out of the building quickly. Turn off the gas using the outside main valve if you can, and call the gas company from a neighbor’s home. If you turn off the gas for any reason, it must be turned back on by a professional. • Clean up spilled medications, bleaches, gasoline, or other flammable liquids that could become a fire hazard. • Take pictures of the damage, both of the building and its contents, for insurance claims. • Use the telephone only for emergency calls. Telephone lines are frequently overwhelmed in disaster situations. They need to be kept clear for emergency calls to get through. • Watch your animals closely. Keep all your animals under your direct control. Your pets may be able to escape from your home or through a broken fence. Pets may become disoriented, particularly because tornadoes and the heavy rains that accompany them will usually affect scent markers that normally allow animals to find their homes. The Red Cross depends on the generosity of the American people to fulfill our mission. To help victims of the tornado outbreak and local disaster victims please contact the Heart of Tennessee Chapter of the American Red Cross at 615-893-4272 or visit www.midtnredcross.org to make an online contribution. The Heart of Tennessee American Red Cross Chapter provides vital emergency assistance to help victims of local disasters in Rutherford, Bedford, Cannon, Franklin, Coffee & Moore counties. Over the past year the Chapter trained nearly 8, 237 people in CPR and First Aid and transmitted 191 emergency messages for military families. Over 16,000 pints of life-saving blood were collected from the community last year. All of these services are made possible by over 130 dedicated local Red Cross volunteers as well as through generous gifts from the local community. To get more information or to make a financial contribution to the local chapter please call (615) 893-4272 or log on to www.midtnredcross.org to donate online. =============== FACEBOOK - http://www.facebook.com/pages/American-Red-Cross-Heart-of-Tennessee-Chapter/85228496908

main_phone: 615.893.4272 -> 615.893.4272 OR (615) 250-4250
notes: NEWS RELEASES - http://www.midtnredcross.org/Media.html ------------- Please note that the Red Cross is NOT accepting in-kind donations of food and clothing for the disaster. We CANNOT accept walk-in donations at the shelter of physical items such as food, clothing or any other items. Red Cross is required to provide equal assistance to all disaster victims and cash donations allow us to purchase large quantities of food and other items so that we can effectively do this. The Red Cross is NOT a government agency and we provide assistance through generous donations from the public. Red Cross Urges Victims to Use Safe and Well.Org Volunteers Distribute Thousands of Meals, Snacks, Comfort and Clean Up Kits The American Red Cross continues to provide assistance to more than 1,000 victims of Friday’s massive tornado disaster that has become a national disaster for the American Red Cross. With continuing inquiries from friends and family members from outside of the Murfreesboro area worried about those affected, the Red Cross is urging everyone who was affected by these storms to visit www.safeandwell.org and register themselves as being safe and well. Then, family members and friends can visit the same site and see that their family members are okay. If victims cannot access the Internet, they can call 1 (866) GET-INFO and have a Red Cross volunteer register their name on the safe and well website. Since the tornado relief operation began, your American Red Cross has provided more than 1,000 meals, bottles of water and snacks and provided emotional support for victims by visiting communities affected by these storms and passing out these materials. The Red Cross has also opened a shelter where those affected can get a hot meal, a place to stay and pick up clean-up kits to help with the recovery efforts. The shelter is located at: New Vision Baptist Church 1750 North Thompson Lane Murfreesboro, TN 37129 Only four tornado victims stayed in the shelter overnight, which means most victims are residing with friends or family during this time. However, the shelter WILL continue to be open as long as it is needed. The Red Cross is also providing mental health counseling to those affected by the storms and their families. During this emotional time, the mental health is just as important as providing for the physical needs of those families affected. The Red Cross has trained mental health providers on site to give emotional support. HOW TO HELP You can help people affected by this disaster, 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 provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to victims of all disasters. You can visit www.redcross.org or call 1-800-REDCROSS or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish) or mail your donation, to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. You can also donate to help the victims of the Murfreesboro tornadoes at any Middle Tennessee Kroger store at the register as you check out. Just tell the cashier you would like to make a donation to the Red Cross for the Central Tennessee tornadoes. The Red Cross is NOT accepting any donations of clothing, furniture or any other material items. If you would like to volunteer, the CITY OF MURFREESBORO is asking you to call (615)890-1934. Murfreesboro Tornadoes Become National Disaster for American Red Cross Assistance Continues Today for those Affected The American Red Cross continues to provide assistance to the victims of Friday’s massive tornado disaster that has become a national disaster for the American Red Cross. Since the tornado relief operation began, your American Red Cross has provided more than 800 meals and hundreds of bottles of water and snacks and provided emotional support for victims. Hundreds more meals, snacks, bottled water, clean up kits and toiletry items are being distributed by Red Cross volunteers today throughout the affected communities. Preliminary reports say 250 homes are either destroyed or suffered some type of damage. The Red Cross has also opened a shelter where those affected can get a hot meal and a place to stay. The shelter is located at: New Vision Baptist Church 1750 North Thompson Lane Murfreesboro, TN 37129 The Red Cross is also providing mental health counseling to those affected by the storms and their families. During this emotional time, the mental health is just as important as providing for the physical needs of those families affected. The Red Cross has trained mental health providers on site to give emotional support. HOW TO HELP You can help people affected by this disaster, 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 provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to victims of all disasters. You can visit www.redcross.org or call 1-800-REDCROSS or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish) or mail your donation, to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. The Red Cross is NOT accepting any donations of clothing, furniture or any other material items. If you would like to volunteer, the CITY OF MURFREESBORO is asking you to call (615) 890-1934. The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and counsels victims of disasters; provides nearly half of the nation's blood supply; teaches lifesaving skills; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization — not a government agency — and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its humanitarian mission. For more information, please visit www.redcross.org or join our blog at www.redcrosschat.org. Heart of Tennessee Chapter Opens Shelter, Provides Comfort for Tornado Victims Red Cross Provides Tips to Stay Safe After a Tornado The Heart of Tennessee Chapter is on the scene in Murfreesboro and surrounding communities to help those affected by the tornado. An emergency shelter will open at 5:30 p.m. at New Vision Baptist Church located at 1750 N. Thompson Lane in Murfreesboro to help residents impacted by the storm by offering a safe place to stay, a hot meal, minor first aid, and a shoulder to lean on. Pets are not permitted at Red Cross shelters. The Red Cross is only accepting monetary donations to help disaster victims. “In the days and weeks to come, the Heart of Tennessee Chapter will be coordinating with emergency officials and local community partners to help residents impacted by the tornado get back on their feet,” said spokesperson Beth Ferguson. “The Red Cross will keep shelters open as long as needed, in addition to providing mobile feeding and mental health support to those affected by the storm,” said Ferguson. The Nashville Area Chapter of the American Red Cross has also deployed two Emergency Response Vehicles to Murfreesboro as well as 750 Heater Meals, snacks, bottled water and volunteers to assist with the operation. The Red Cross offers the following tips for those in the affected area to stay safer: • Continue listening to local radio or television stations or a NOAA Weather Radio for updated information and instructions. If you are away from home, return only when authorities say it is safe to do so. • Avoid damaged areas as your presence might hamper rescue and other emergency operations and put you at further risk from the residual effects of tornadoes. • Stay out of damaged buildings. • When it is safe to return home, wear long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, and sturdy shoes when examining your walls, doors, staircases and windows for damage. • Watch out for fallen power lines or broken gas lines and report them to the utility company immediately. • Use battery-powered lanterns or flashlights when examining buildings. Avoid using candles. • If you smell gas or hear a blowing or hissing noise, open a window and get everyone out of the building quickly. Turn off the gas using the outside main valve if you can, and call the gas company from a neighbor’s home. If you turn off the gas for any reason, it must be turned back on by a professional. • Clean up spilled medications, bleaches, gasoline, or other flammable liquids that could become a fire hazard. • Take pictures of the damage, both of the building and its contents, for insurance claims. • Use the telephone only for emergency calls. Telephone lines are frequently overwhelmed in disaster situations. They need to be kept clear for emergency calls to get through. • Watch your animals closely. Keep all your animals under your direct control. Your pets may be able to escape from your home or through a broken fence. Pets may become disoriented, particularly because tornadoes and the heavy rains that accompany them will usually affect scent markers that normally allow animals to find their homes. The Red Cross depends on the generosity of the American people to fulfill our mission. To help victims of the tornado outbreak and local disaster victims please contact the Heart of Tennessee Chapter of the American Red Cross at 615-893-4272 or visit www.midtnredcross.org to make an online contribution. The Heart of Tennessee American Red Cross Chapter provides vital emergency assistance to help victims of local disasters in Rutherford, Bedford, Cannon, Franklin, Coffee & Moore counties. Over the past year the Chapter trained nearly 8, 237 people in CPR and First Aid and transmitted 191 emergency messages for military families. Over 16,000 pints of life-saving blood were collected from the community last year. All of these services are made possible by over 130 dedicated local Red Cross volunteers as well as through generous gifts from the local community. To get more information or to make a financial contribution to the local chapter please call (615) 893-4272 or log on to www.midtnredcross.org to donate online. -> NEWS RELEASES - http://www.midtnredcross.org/Media.html Persons with disaster-caused needs are encouraged to call the Red Cross at (615) 250-4250 to talk about assistance that might be available. ------------- Please note that the Red Cross is NOT accepting in-kind donations of food and clothing for the disaster. We CANNOT accept walk-in donations at the shelter of physical items such as food, clothing or any other items. Red Cross is required to provide equal assistance to all disaster victims and cash donations allow us to purchase large quantities of food and other items so that we can effectively do this. The Red Cross is NOT a government agency and we provide assistance through generous donations from the public. Red Cross Urges Victims to Use Safe and Well.Org Volunteers Distribute Thousands of Meals, Snacks, Comfort and Clean Up Kits The American Red Cross continues to provide assistance to more than 1,000 victims of Friday’s massive tornado disaster that has become a national disaster for the American Red Cross. With continuing inquiries from friends and family members from outside of the Murfreesboro area worried about those affected, the Red Cross is urging everyone who was affected by these storms to visit www.safeandwell.org and register themselves as being safe and well. Then, family members and friends can visit the same site and see that their family members are okay. If victims cannot access the Internet, they can call 1 (866) GET-INFO and have a Red Cross volunteer register their name on the safe and well website. Since the tornado relief operation began, your American Red Cross has provided more than 1,000 meals, bottles of water and snacks and provided emotional support for victims by visiting communities affected by these storms and passing out these materials. The Red Cross has also opened a shelter where those affected can get a hot meal, a place to stay and pick up clean-up kits to help with the recovery efforts. The shelter is located at: New Vision Baptist Church 1750 North Thompson Lane Murfreesboro, TN 37129 Only four tornado victims stayed in the shelter overnight, which means most victims are residing with friends or family during this time. However, the shelter WILL continue to be open as long as it is needed. The Red Cross is also providing mental health counseling to those affected by the storms and their families. During this emotional time, the mental health is just as important as providing for the physical needs of those families affected. The Red Cross has trained mental health providers on site to give emotional support. HOW TO HELP You can help people affected by this disaster, 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 provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to victims of all disasters. You can visit www.redcross.org or call 1-800-REDCROSS or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish) or mail your donation, to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. You can also donate to help the victims of the Murfreesboro tornadoes at any Middle Tennessee Kroger store at the register as you check out. Just tell the cashier you would like to make a donation to the Red Cross for the Central Tennessee tornadoes. The Red Cross is NOT accepting any donations of clothing, furniture or any other material items. If you would like to volunteer, the CITY OF MURFREESBORO is asking you to call (615)890-1934. Murfreesboro Tornadoes Become National Disaster for American Red Cross Assistance Continues Today for those Affected The American Red Cross continues to provide assistance to the victims of Friday’s massive tornado disaster that has become a national disaster for the American Red Cross. Since the tornado relief operation began, your American Red Cross has provided more than 800 meals and hundreds of bottles of water and snacks and provided emotional support for victims. Hundreds more meals, snacks, bottled water, clean up kits and toiletry items are being distributed by Red Cross volunteers today throughout the affected communities. Preliminary reports say 250 homes are either destroyed or suffered some type of damage. The Red Cross has also opened a shelter where those affected can get a hot meal and a place to stay. The shelter is located at: New Vision Baptist Church 1750 North Thompson Lane Murfreesboro, TN 37129 The Red Cross is also providing mental health counseling to those affected by the storms and their families. During this emotional time, the mental health is just as important as providing for the physical needs of those families affected. The Red Cross has trained mental health providers on site to give emotional support. HOW TO HELP You can help people affected by this disaster, 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 provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to victims of all disasters. You can visit www.redcross.org or call 1-800-REDCROSS or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish) or mail your donation, to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. The Red Cross is NOT accepting any donations of clothing, furniture or any other material items. If you would like to volunteer, the CITY OF MURFREESBORO is asking you to call (615) 890-1934. The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and counsels victims of disasters; provides nearly half of the nation's blood supply; teaches lifesaving skills; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization — not a government agency — and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its humanitarian mission. For more information, please visit www.redcross.org or join our blog at www.redcrosschat.org. Heart of Tennessee Chapter Opens Shelter, Provides Comfort for Tornado Victims Red Cross Provides Tips to Stay Safe After a Tornado The Heart of Tennessee Chapter is on the scene in Murfreesboro and surrounding communities to help those affected by the tornado. An emergency shelter will open at 5:30 p.m. at New Vision Baptist Church located at 1750 N. Thompson Lane in Murfreesboro to help residents impacted by the storm by offering a safe place to stay, a hot meal, minor first aid, and a shoulder to lean on. Pets are not permitted at Red Cross shelters. The Red Cross is only accepting monetary donations to help disaster victims. “In the days and weeks to come, the Heart of Tennessee Chapter will be coordinating with emergency officials and local community partners to help residents impacted by the tornado get back on their feet,” said spokesperson Beth Ferguson. “The Red Cross will keep shelters open as long as needed, in addition to providing mobile feeding and mental health support to those affected by the storm,” said Ferguson. The Nashville Area Chapter of the American Red Cross has also deployed two Emergency Response Vehicles to Murfreesboro as well as 750 Heater Meals, snacks, bottled water and volunteers to assist with the operation. The Red Cross offers the following tips for those in the affected area to stay safer: • Continue listening to local radio or television stations or a NOAA Weather Radio for updated information and instructions. If you are away from home, return only when authorities say it is safe to do so. • Avoid damaged areas as your presence might hamper rescue and other emergency operations and put you at further risk from the residual effects of tornadoes. • Stay out of damaged buildings. • When it is safe to return home, wear long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, and sturdy shoes when examining your walls, doors, staircases and windows for damage. • Watch out for fallen power lines or broken gas lines and report them to the utility company immediately. • Use battery-powered lanterns or flashlights when examining buildings. Avoid using candles. • If you smell gas or hear a blowing or hissing noise, open a window and get everyone out of the building quickly. Turn off the gas using the outside main valve if you can, and call the gas company from a neighbor’s home. If you turn off the gas for any reason, it must be turned back on by a professional. • Clean up spilled medications, bleaches, gasoline, or other flammable liquids that could become a fire hazard. • Take pictures of the damage, both of the building and its contents, for insurance claims. • Use the telephone only for emergency calls. Telephone lines are frequently overwhelmed in disaster situations. They need to be kept clear for emergency calls to get through. • Watch your animals closely. Keep all your animals under your direct control. Your pets may be able to escape from your home or through a broken fence. Pets may become disoriented, particularly because tornadoes and the heavy rains that accompany them will usually affect scent markers that normally allow animals to find their homes. The Red Cross depends on the generosity of the American people to fulfill our mission. To help victims of the tornado outbreak and local disaster victims please contact the Heart of Tennessee Chapter of the American Red Cross at 615-893-4272 or visit www.midtnredcross.org to make an online contribution. The Heart of Tennessee American Red Cross Chapter provides vital emergency assistance to help victims of local disasters in Rutherford, Bedford, Cannon, Franklin, Coffee & Moore counties. Over the past year the Chapter trained nearly 8, 237 people in CPR and First Aid and transmitted 191 emergency messages for military families. Over 16,000 pints of life-saving blood were collected from the community last year. All of these services are made possible by over 130 dedicated local Red Cross volunteers as well as through generous gifts from the local community. To get more information or to make a financial contribution to the local chapter please call (615) 893-4272 or log on to www.midtnredcross.org to donate online.

notes: Please note that the Red Cross is NOT accepting in-kind donations of food and clothing for the disaster. We CANNOT accept walk-in donations at the shelter of physical items such as food, clothing or any other items. Red Cross is required to provide equal assistance to all disaster victims and cash donations allow us to purchase large quantities of food and other items so that we can effectively do this. The Red Cross is NOT a government agency and we provide assistance through generous donations from the public. Red Cross Urges Victims to Use Safe and Well.Org Volunteers Distribute Thousands of Meals, Snacks, Comfort and Clean Up Kits The American Red Cross continues to provide assistance to more than 1,000 victims of Friday’s massive tornado disaster that has become a national disaster for the American Red Cross. With continuing inquiries from friends and family members from outside of the Murfreesboro area worried about those affected, the Red Cross is urging everyone who was affected by these storms to visit www.safeandwell.org and register themselves as being safe and well. Then, family members and friends can visit the same site and see that their family members are okay. If victims cannot access the Internet, they can call 1 (866) GET-INFO and have a Red Cross volunteer register their name on the safe and well website. Since the tornado relief operation began, your American Red Cross has provided more than 1,000 meals, bottles of water and snacks and provided emotional support for victims by visiting communities affected by these storms and passing out these materials. The Red Cross has also opened a shelter where those affected can get a hot meal, a place to stay and pick up clean-up kits to help with the recovery efforts. The shelter is located at: New Vision Baptist Church 1750 North Thompson Lane Murfreesboro, TN 37129 Only four tornado victims stayed in the shelter overnight, which means most victims are residing with friends or family during this time. However, the shelter WILL continue to be open as long as it is needed. The Red Cross is also providing mental health counseling to those affected by the storms and their families. During this emotional time, the mental health is just as important as providing for the physical needs of those families affected. The Red Cross has trained mental health providers on site to give emotional support. HOW TO HELP You can help people affected by this disaster, 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 provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to victims of all disasters. You can visit www.redcross.org or call 1-800-REDCROSS or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish) or mail your donation, to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. You can also donate to help the victims of the Murfreesboro tornadoes at any Middle Tennessee Kroger store at the register as you check out. Just tell the cashier you would like to make a donation to the Red Cross for the Central Tennessee tornadoes. The Red Cross is NOT accepting any donations of clothing, furniture or any other material items. If you would like to volunteer, the CITY OF MURFREESBORO is asking you to call (615)890-1934. Murfreesboro Tornadoes Become National Disaster for American Red Cross Assistance Continues Today for those Affected The American Red Cross continues to provide assistance to the victims of Friday’s massive tornado disaster that has become a national disaster for the American Red Cross. Since the tornado relief operation began, your American Red Cross has provided more than 800 meals and hundreds of bottles of water and snacks and provided emotional support for victims. Hundreds more meals, snacks, bottled water, clean up kits and toiletry items are being distributed by Red Cross volunteers today throughout the affected communities. Preliminary reports say 250 homes are either destroyed or suffered some type of damage. The Red Cross has also opened a shelter where those affected can get a hot meal and a place to stay. The shelter is located at: New Vision Baptist Church 1750 North Thompson Lane Murfreesboro, TN 37129 The Red Cross is also providing mental health counseling to those affected by the storms and their families. During this emotional time, the mental health is just as important as providing for the physical needs of those families affected. The Red Cross has trained mental health providers on site to give emotional support. HOW TO HELP You can help people affected by this disaster, 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 provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to victims of all disasters. You can visit www.redcross.org or call 1-800-REDCROSS or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish) or mail your donation, to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. The Red Cross is NOT accepting any donations of clothing, furniture or any other material items. If you would like to volunteer, the CITY OF MURFREESBORO is asking you to call (615) 890-1934. The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and counsels victims of disasters; provides nearly half of the nation's blood supply; teaches lifesaving skills; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization — not a government agency — and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its humanitarian mission. For more information, please visit www.redcross.org or join our blog at www.redcrosschat.org. Heart of Tennessee Chapter Opens Shelter, Provides Comfort for Tornado Victims Red Cross Provides Tips to Stay Safe After a Tornado The Heart of Tennessee Chapter is on the scene in Murfreesboro and surrounding communities to help those affected by the tornado. An emergency shelter will open at 5:30 p.m. at New Vision Baptist Church located at 1750 N. Thompson Lane in Murfreesboro to help residents impacted by the storm by offering a safe place to stay, a hot meal, minor first aid, and a shoulder to lean on. Pets are not permitted at Red Cross shelters. The Red Cross is only accepting monetary donations to help disaster victims. “In the days and weeks to come, the Heart of Tennessee Chapter will be coordinating with emergency officials and local community partners to help residents impacted by the tornado get back on their feet,” said spokesperson Beth Ferguson. “The Red Cross will keep shelters open as long as needed, in addition to providing mobile feeding and mental health support to those affected by the storm,” said Ferguson. The Nashville Area Chapter of the American Red Cross has also deployed two Emergency Response Vehicles to Murfreesboro as well as 750 Heater Meals, snacks, bottled water and volunteers to assist with the operation. The Red Cross offers the following tips for those in the affected area to stay safer: • Continue listening to local radio or television stations or a NOAA Weather Radio for updated information and instructions. If you are away from home, return only when authorities say it is safe to do so. • Avoid damaged areas as your presence might hamper rescue and other emergency operations and put you at further risk from the residual effects of tornadoes. • Stay out of damaged buildings. • When it is safe to return home, wear long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, and sturdy shoes when examining your walls, doors, staircases and windows for damage. • Watch out for fallen power lines or broken gas lines and report them to the utility company immediately. • Use battery-powered lanterns or flashlights when examining buildings. Avoid using candles. • If you smell gas or hear a blowing or hissing noise, open a window and get everyone out of the building quickly. Turn off the gas using the outside main valve if you can, and call the gas company from a neighbor’s home. If you turn off the gas for any reason, it must be turned back on by a professional. • Clean up spilled medications, bleaches, gasoline, or other flammable liquids that could become a fire hazard. • Take pictures of the damage, both of the building and its contents, for insurance claims. • Use the telephone only for emergency calls. Telephone lines are frequently overwhelmed in disaster situations. They need to be kept clear for emergency calls to get through. • Watch your animals closely. Keep all your animals under your direct control. Your pets may be able to escape from your home or through a broken fence. Pets may become disoriented, particularly because tornadoes and the heavy rains that accompany them will usually affect scent markers that normally allow animals to find their homes. The Red Cross depends on the generosity of the American people to fulfill our mission. To help victims of the tornado outbreak and local disaster victims please contact the Heart of Tennessee Chapter of the American Red Cross at 615-893-4272 or visit www.midtnredcross.org to make an online contribution. The Heart of Tennessee American Red Cross Chapter provides vital emergency assistance to help victims of local disasters in Rutherford, Bedford, Cannon, Franklin, Coffee & Moore counties. Over the past year the Chapter trained nearly 8, 237 people in CPR and First Aid and transmitted 191 emergency messages for military families. Over 16,000 pints of life-saving blood were collected from the community last year. All of these services are made possible by over 130 dedicated local Red Cross volunteers as well as through generous gifts from the local community. To get more information or to make a financial contribution to the local chapter please call (615) 893-4272 or log on to www.midtnredcross.org to donate online. -> NEWS RELEASES - http://www.midtnredcross.org/Media.html ------------- Please note that the Red Cross is NOT accepting in-kind donations of food and clothing for the disaster. We CANNOT accept walk-in donations at the shelter of physical items such as food, clothing or any other items. Red Cross is required to provide equal assistance to all disaster victims and cash donations allow us to purchase large quantities of food and other items so that we can effectively do this. The Red Cross is NOT a government agency and we provide assistance through generous donations from the public. Red Cross Urges Victims to Use Safe and Well.Org Volunteers Distribute Thousands of Meals, Snacks, Comfort and Clean Up Kits The American Red Cross continues to provide assistance to more than 1,000 victims of Friday’s massive tornado disaster that has become a national disaster for the American Red Cross. With continuing inquiries from friends and family members from outside of the Murfreesboro area worried about those affected, the Red Cross is urging everyone who was affected by these storms to visit www.safeandwell.org and register themselves as being safe and well. Then, family members and friends can visit the same site and see that their family members are okay. If victims cannot access the Internet, they can call 1 (866) GET-INFO and have a Red Cross volunteer register their name on the safe and well website. Since the tornado relief operation began, your American Red Cross has provided more than 1,000 meals, bottles of water and snacks and provided emotional support for victims by visiting communities affected by these storms and passing out these materials. The Red Cross has also opened a shelter where those affected can get a hot meal, a place to stay and pick up clean-up kits to help with the recovery efforts. The shelter is located at: New Vision Baptist Church 1750 North Thompson Lane Murfreesboro, TN 37129 Only four tornado victims stayed in the shelter overnight, which means most victims are residing with friends or family during this time. However, the shelter WILL continue to be open as long as it is needed. The Red Cross is also providing mental health counseling to those affected by the storms and their families. During this emotional time, the mental health is just as important as providing for the physical needs of those families affected. The Red Cross has trained mental health providers on site to give emotional support. HOW TO HELP You can help people affected by this disaster, 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 provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to victims of all disasters. You can visit www.redcross.org or call 1-800-REDCROSS or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish) or mail your donation, to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. You can also donate to help the victims of the Murfreesboro tornadoes at any Middle Tennessee Kroger store at the register as you check out. Just tell the cashier you would like to make a donation to the Red Cross for the Central Tennessee tornadoes. The Red Cross is NOT accepting any donations of clothing, furniture or any other material items. If you would like to volunteer, the CITY OF MURFREESBORO is asking you to call (615)890-1934. Murfreesboro Tornadoes Become National Disaster for American Red Cross Assistance Continues Today for those Affected The American Red Cross continues to provide assistance to the victims of Friday’s massive tornado disaster that has become a national disaster for the American Red Cross. Since the tornado relief operation began, your American Red Cross has provided more than 800 meals and hundreds of bottles of water and snacks and provided emotional support for victims. Hundreds more meals, snacks, bottled water, clean up kits and toiletry items are being distributed by Red Cross volunteers today throughout the affected communities. Preliminary reports say 250 homes are either destroyed or suffered some type of damage. The Red Cross has also opened a shelter where those affected can get a hot meal and a place to stay. The shelter is located at: New Vision Baptist Church 1750 North Thompson Lane Murfreesboro, TN 37129 The Red Cross is also providing mental health counseling to those affected by the storms and their families. During this emotional time, the mental health is just as important as providing for the physical needs of those families affected. The Red Cross has trained mental health providers on site to give emotional support. HOW TO HELP You can help people affected by this disaster, 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 provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to victims of all disasters. You can visit www.redcross.org or call 1-800-REDCROSS or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish) or mail your donation, to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. The Red Cross is NOT accepting any donations of clothing, furniture or any other material items. If you would like to volunteer, the CITY OF MURFREESBORO is asking you to call (615) 890-1934. The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and counsels victims of disasters; provides nearly half of the nation's blood supply; teaches lifesaving skills; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization — not a government agency — and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its humanitarian mission. For more information, please visit www.redcross.org or join our blog at www.redcrosschat.org. Heart of Tennessee Chapter Opens Shelter, Provides Comfort for Tornado Victims Red Cross Provides Tips to Stay Safe After a Tornado The Heart of Tennessee Chapter is on the scene in Murfreesboro and surrounding communities to help those affected by the tornado. An emergency shelter will open at 5:30 p.m. at New Vision Baptist Church located at 1750 N. Thompson Lane in Murfreesboro to help residents impacted by the storm by offering a safe place to stay, a hot meal, minor first aid, and a shoulder to lean on. Pets are not permitted at Red Cross shelters. The Red Cross is only accepting monetary donations to help disaster victims. “In the days and weeks to come, the Heart of Tennessee Chapter will be coordinating with emergency officials and local community partners to help residents impacted by the tornado get back on their feet,” said spokesperson Beth Ferguson. “The Red Cross will keep shelters open as long as needed, in addition to providing mobile feeding and mental health support to those affected by the storm,” said Ferguson. The Nashville Area Chapter of the American Red Cross has also deployed two Emergency Response Vehicles to Murfreesboro as well as 750 Heater Meals, snacks, bottled water and volunteers to assist with the operation. The Red Cross offers the following tips for those in the affected area to stay safer: • Continue listening to local radio or television stations or a NOAA Weather Radio for updated information and instructions. If you are away from home, return only when authorities say it is safe to do so. • Avoid damaged areas as your presence might hamper rescue and other emergency operations and put you at further risk from the residual effects of tornadoes. • Stay out of damaged buildings. • When it is safe to return home, wear long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, and sturdy shoes when examining your walls, doors, staircases and windows for damage. • Watch out for fallen power lines or broken gas lines and report them to the utility company immediately. • Use battery-powered lanterns or flashlights when examining buildings. Avoid using candles. • If you smell gas or hear a blowing or hissing noise, open a window and get everyone out of the building quickly. Turn off the gas using the outside main valve if you can, and call the gas company from a neighbor’s home. If you turn off the gas for any reason, it must be turned back on by a professional. • Clean up spilled medications, bleaches, gasoline, or other flammable liquids that could become a fire hazard. • Take pictures of the damage, both of the building and its contents, for insurance claims. • Use the telephone only for emergency calls. Telephone lines are frequently overwhelmed in disaster situations. They need to be kept clear for emergency calls to get through. • Watch your animals closely. Keep all your animals under your direct control. Your pets may be able to escape from your home or through a broken fence. Pets may become disoriented, particularly because tornadoes and the heavy rains that accompany them will usually affect scent markers that normally allow animals to find their homes. The Red Cross depends on the generosity of the American people to fulfill our mission. To help victims of the tornado outbreak and local disaster victims please contact the Heart of Tennessee Chapter of the American Red Cross at 615-893-4272 or visit www.midtnredcross.org to make an online contribution. The Heart of Tennessee American Red Cross Chapter provides vital emergency assistance to help victims of local disasters in Rutherford, Bedford, Cannon, Franklin, Coffee & Moore counties. Over the past year the Chapter trained nearly 8, 237 people in CPR and First Aid and transmitted 191 emergency messages for military families. Over 16,000 pints of life-saving blood were collected from the community last year. All of these services are made possible by over 130 dedicated local Red Cross volunteers as well as through generous gifts from the local community. To get more information or to make a financial contribution to the local chapter please call (615) 893-4272 or log on to www.midtnredcross.org to donate online.