Darke County Red Cross
How You Can Help
American Red Cross Volunteers On the Ground 

Darke County, May 21, 2013 —The American Red Cross is responding in multiple states where tornadoes have touched down and caused significant damage. The Darke County Chapter American Red Cross of has been informed that additional support will likely be needed and have contacted their trained disaster volunteers, who are available at this time. At this time, no volunteers have been deployed, but that is expected to change.  

During the next few days, besides providing shelter, feeding, clothing, medication, and crucial mental health services, Red Cross workers are on the ground in the disaster areas will be assessing the damage, deciding where and what kind of additional support is necessary, and determining the needs of the affected communities. 

If you still haven’t heard from friends or family in the affected area, we encourage people to check the Red Cross Safe and Well website at redcross.org/safeandwell. If you are not an online user, please feel free to call or stop by the Darke County Chapter. Those in the affected area are also encouraged to register on the Safe and Well website. 

We recognize that Darke Countians want to help during this very large response effort and are so thankful to live in an area where people have such a heart for service to others in need, the Darke County office has already received several calls from residents asking how they can help. Here is a list of ways you can help not only those in Oklahoma, but play a significant role in helping your own family at home. 

People who wish to help can make a donation to support American Red Cross Disaster Relief, which helps provide food, shelter and emotional support to those affected by disasters like the recent tornadoes in across the Mid-West as well as disasters big and small throughout the United States by visiting redcross.org, dialing 1-800-REDCROSS, texting REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation or mailing to the local office

If this tragedy has sparked your interest in disaster volunteering, go to www.redcross.org/oh/greenville and follow to the volunteer page. Our hope is that we won’t need to deploy you to this disaster, but there is always another one and we are just weeks away from the start of hurricane season.  If internet is the issue, call the office to set up an appt. 

Talk to your children about this disaster; give them an opening to express their concerns, questions or grief.  Keep young children away from visual media as much as possible and the same could be said for adults as well.  Information is available from your local chapter or online at redcross.org on how you can have these conversations with children.

People can also be prepared for severe weather by downloading the Red Cross Tornado App. The free app has tips on what to do before, during, and after a tornado hits. It also has a warning siren and watch and warning weather alerts. It is available for download on any iOS or Android device

“Our hearts go out to our Oklahoma neighbors, let us take this moment, this opportunity to turn our concern into caring action”, stated Lynne Gump, Executive Director Darke County American Red Cross, “ Won’t you join with us?”. 

About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or join our blog at blog.redcross.org.