teNNessee Floods

Beginning on May 1, 2010, unrelenting spring storms inundated Tennessee with more than a foot of rain in a matter of hours. Heavy downpours and flash floods endangered residents as they scrambled to escape the worst flooding the state had witnessed in 30 years. Powerful floodwaters breached levees, pushed homes off their foundations, washed over bridges and flooded roads. Interstates I-40, I-24 and I-65 were all forced to close. More than 9,800 homes were affected, leaving thousands of residents wondering where to turn for help. With the support of our generous donors, the Red Cross was able to provide an answer. Because of our donors prior support of Red Cross disaster relief services, local chapters were able to spring into action immediately, even as the rain continued to fall. In less than 24 hours, 14 shelters were opened, where volunteers met weary residents with meals, blankets, dry clothes and hygiene kits. Disaster assessment teams deployed to affected neighborhoods to determine how to help and where to distribute relief and cleanup items. President Obama issued a federal disaster declaration in 30 counties, and, as the waters receded, the damage proved to be extensive and shocking. The Red Cross continued its outreach into affected communities, bringing cleanup

Four-Month report

Tennessee, including Nashvilles historic district, witnessed the worst flooding the state had experienced for 30 years.

supplies like mops, buckets, disinfectants, gloves and garbage bags to assist those able to return to their homes. Caseworkers went door-to-door, speaking with residents, listening to their stories and

addressing needs for food, bedding, and clothing; and offering resources and assistance with health and medical needs.

American Red Cross tennessee Floods Final service delivery statistics

The Red Cross Tennessee floods relief operation cost an estimated $10 million and brought lifesaving services, meals and supplies to jumpstart the recovery of people across the state. Shelters Opened Overnight Stays Health Service Contacts Mental Health Contacts Red Cross Disaster Workers Meals and Snacks Cleanup Kits Comfort Kits Other Bulk Items (such as shovels, rakes, gloves and trash bags) Mobile Response Vehicles 37 8,684 6,066 8,270 2,384 349,573 20,377 10,845 329,021 63

Larry McCormack/The Tennessean

Shelter From the Storm

As the storms began to pummel Tennessee on May 1, Janene Scott was at home with her four children. The family was laughing about the loud thunderclaps when suddenly one of the girls called Janene to the window saying, Look, mommy, its flooding outside. Her husband, Breland Scott, rushed home and began carrying the children out one-by-one to the car; by the time the 64 father carried the last child out, the water in their home was up to his chest. The family headed to an American Red Cross shelter at Lipscomb University. Though the Red Cross volunteer Laurie Drummond reads with (left to right) Jasmine (8), Jadzia (9), shelter had opened only an hour prior to the familys arrival, Red Cross workers were ready to Braedon (3) and Jubilee (6) Scott. The Scott provide a full array of relief services. The Red Cross staff has been remarkable, gentle and family stayed in a Red Cross shelter after respectful, said Janene. We smelled bad, our clothes were all wet and we looked terrible. They flash floods inundated their home. got us some donated clean clothing and some of the university students even laundered our wet clothes and returned them to us fresh and clean. The family lost everything they owned in the flood, but they are grateful to be safe and together. With the help of the Red Cross, they had a safe place to stay, warm meals and the support they needed to put them on the path to recovery.
Daniel Cima/American Red Cross

Changing Lives
HCA tristar
As torrential rains and winds swept through Tennessee, the American Red Cross sprang into action to launch a massive multifaceted relief effort. HCA Tristar was at the center of this operationliterally. In addition to its timely and generous donation of $500,000 for the relief efforts, HCA Tristar donated 30,000 square feet of space at the Skyline Madison Medical Center to serve as the disaster relief operations headquarters for the Tennessee floods. The headquarters, on the campus of former Tennessee Christian Former first lady Laura Bush visits workers at Medical Center, was set operations headquarters. The space for the up in a matter of hours with the help of local and headquarters was donated by HCA Tristar. national Red Cross volunteers. It served as the main headquarters for the operation, allowing Red Cross workers to coordinate activities such as sheltering, feeding, bulk distribution, medical assistance and communications support, all from one central location.

Blue Cross Blue shield of tennessee Health Foundation

When the floods hit Tennessee, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee Health Foundation responded immediately by providing a critically needed $500,000 donation to assist with relief efforts across the state. The images of the devastating flooding and the stories of loss have touched all our hearts, said Vicky Gregg, president and CEO of Blue Cross. We hope that this support will benefit our fellow Tennesseans as they work to piece back together their homes and lives. The funds came at a critical juncture, assisting with rapidly escalating relief costs. It never ceases to amaze me how the community and key supporters Red Cross regional CEO Joel Sullivan and board chairman Bill Andrews thank Blue Cross Blue are always at Shield for their generosity during the floods. the ready to assist the Red Cross in times of major disaster, said Joel Sullivan, regional CEO of the American Red Cross. We are highly honored by the financial support the Blue Cross Blue Shield Tennessee Health Foundation has generously provided.

Christian Callaway/American Red Cross

The center was at the heart of the operationbecoming the impromptu offices for relief operation leadership, and the home base for hundreds of volunteers, including many from HCA Tristar, who spent their days providing services to affected residents throughout Tennessee. Stepping in and making a difference in the aftermath of natural disasters is part of our companys culture and heritage, said Larry Kloess, president of HCAs Tristar division. This is no exception.

Path to Recovery
On May 1, storms struck large portions of Tennessee, dumping up to 15 inches of rain in some areas. The Red Cross responded immediately, opening 14 shelters, beginning disaster assessment of affected homes, and deploying disaster workers, including medical and mental health professionals. The Red Cross engaged national partners such as the NAACP, National Baptist Convention and the National Council of La Raza to assist in the response. During the second week, the Red Cross responded to the changing needs of disaster victims. As residents returned home, the Red Cross reduced open shelters to 10, using more than 60 mobile feeding vehicles to deliver meals and snacks to residents beginning the cleanup process. By this time, more than 2,900 disaster workers had arrived to help. With their assistance, more than 287,000 relief and cleanup items were distributed and more than 3,300 people received medical and mental health assistance.

Week 1

Week 2

American Red Cross

Music City Responds to the Tennessee Floods

Nashville, the nations Music City, was hit hard by the floods. The Grand Ole Opry was forced to relocate shows for the first time since 1975. The Opryland Hotel, the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Schermerhorn Symphony Center all suffered flood damage. Some of Nashvilles most famous artists were among the first to support Red Cross relief efforts. Reba McEntire, award-winning actress, country music superstar, Nashville resident and American Red Cross National Celebrity Cabinet member, donated $100,000 to the Red Cross Nashville Area Chapter. After this tremendous act of nature, it makes you feel so insignificant in the whole scheme of things, but then to know that you can lend a hand and make someone elses life a little better, brings you back up to realize why youre on this earth, McEntire told The Oklahoman newspaper. McEntire, her fellow American Red Cross Celebrity Cabinet members Wynonna Judd, Amy Grant and Sara Evans, as well as dozens of other artists such as Keith Urban, Kenny Chesney, the Zac Brown Band, Jo Dee Messina and Lady Antebellum promoted Red Cross relief efforts, encouraging their many fans to donate $10 by texting REDCROSS to 90999 during the response. Amy Grant, Vince Gill and Taylor Swift all made significant donations to Red Cross relief efforts, while Vince Gill went above and beyond, participating in numerous fundraisers such as the Grand Ole Oprys Jammin for Flood Relief, and hosting the highly successful Working 4 You: Flood Relief with Vince Gill & Friends telethon. The telethon, which benefited the Red Cross, The Salvation Army and Second Harvest Food Bank, raised more than $1.7 million in support of flood relief. Other country music superstars put forth similar efforts to raise support for flood relief. Kenny Chesney held a radio telethon on his internet radio station No Shoes benefiting the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. In addition to personal donations to the Red Cross, Lady Antebellum released a moving video illustrating the extreme damage to Nashville and urging its fans to support the Red Cross. The band then donated the proceeds of its sold-out fan club party on June 10 to the flood relief efforts, allowing more fans to watch online for a $5 donation. The American Red Cross is grateful for the outpouring of celebrity support during this time of extraordinary need. By donating their time and energy to promote the Red Cross response, these artists helped the Red Cross provide assistance to thousands. Their partnership is invaluable.

Lady Antebellum donated the proceeds of their sold-out fan club party on June 10 to the flood relief efforts.

As the response continued, former first lady Laura Bush visited the Red Cross operations headquarters in Nashville to praise disaster workers for their service and dedication. By the end of the week, the Red Cross had only two shelters open and had delivered more than 331,000 meals and snacks and more than 308,000 relief items. Red Cross medical and mental health workers assisted more than 11,300 people.

Week 3

June 2

The Red Cross relief operation transitioned from a national operation to an operation run by the local chapter, which will continue long-term recovery assistance for those in need.

American Red Cross

American Red Cross Disaster Relief

The American Red Cross is an integral part of the worlds largest humanitarian network, with 186 Red Cross and Red Crescent societies and more than 97 million trained and dedicated volunteers. The American Red Cross spends $600 million on average each year on disaster relief around the world. Whether they are the millions affected by an earthquake abroad, the thousands affected by a hurricane here at home or the family of four driven from their apartment by a fire, we are the premier provider of disaster relief across the country and around the world.

maintains an emergency infrastructure strategically located around the nation that includes: 26 emergency supply warehouses; More than 56,000 pre-identified shelter locations; The resources to feed one million meals per day; An ability to shelter 350,000 people per day; A fleet of more than 320 emergency response vehicles; and A cutting-edge National Disaster Operations Center in Washington, D.C. The Red Cross response focuses on meeting peoples immediate needs following an emergency, with the primary goals of giving them relief and expediting their return to normal daily activities. We work with local governments, emergency management agencies and community organizations to coordinate the immediate sheltering and feeding of affected populations. Because the shelters are identified ahead of time, disaster workers can open doors within hours of notification to get people out of harms way. In addition to a hot meal and a warm blanket,

shelter residents can receive medical and mental health assistance from one of our more than 10,000 licensed medical and mental health professionals. Pat Burkard, a registered nurse who volunteered during the Tennessee floods, says she feels empowered when serving affected communities on behalf of the Red Cross because of the resources she is able to offer to affected residents. I feel that nursing has a great part in a disaster. Your skills as far as problem solving and critical thinking are very necessary, Burkard said. But I think out of all the things, what Ive learned the most is the need for resources; youve got to have resources available in order for the communication to be effective. When disaster survivors return home, Red Cross caseworkers address disaster-caused needs and develop a plan for effective steps toward recovery. Depending on the needs, the Red Cross also provides a wide variety of relief supplies ranging from soap and toothbrushes, to mops and pails, to backpacks filled with blankets, first aid kits and crank-powered radio/ flashlight/cell phone chargers.

Disasters Across the Country

This year alone, the Red Cross has spent almost $30 million in readiness activities in preparation for a major disaster such as a hurricane. At the core of our response, we have more than 90,000 volunteers with expertise in mission-critical areas such as running shelters, setting up communications infrastructure and providing medical care or emotional support. To ensure that adequate disaster supplies are available at a moments notice, the Red Cross

Thank You
The Red Cross is empowered by its supportersthose who give selflessly because they believe in our mission. Every year, the Red Cross responds to disasters big and small, across the country and around the world. No other organization has the capacity to offer this depth of service. Every year, the Red Cross is able to grow in its capabilities and expertise because of people like you. With every donated dollar we are more prepared, our volunteers better trained and our resources better able to reach those in need. Thank you for making this possible by being a part of the Red Cross mission. To learn more about your gift at work, please visit us at redcross.org where you can view our Disaster Online Newsroom and find links to the Red Cross community on your favorite networking sites such as Flickr, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn and SocialVibe. You can continue to help people affected by disasters like floods, fires, tornadoes and hurricanes as well as countless crises at home and around the world, by making a donation to support American Red Cross Disaster Relief.

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