Southeastern Tornado Disaster: May 2, 2011

One of the worst tornado disasters in U.S. history hit six southeastern states on Wednesday, April 27 with a death toll reaching to 300 today, the large majority in Alabama.

The National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center reported137 tornadoes around the region, including 66 in Alabama and 38 in Mississippi. In addition, officials say 10 tornadoes came through North Georgia, taking 15 lives.

Governor Nathan Deal has designated the following Georgia counties as disaster areas, five of which are in The Community Foundation’s service area (bold): Bartow, Catoosa, Coweta, Dade, Floyd, Green, Lamar, Meriweather, Monroe, Morgan, Pickens, Polk, Rabun, Spalding, Troup and Walker. At least 300 people have lost their homes and are currently living in shelters. Georgia has yet to be declared a federal disaster area.

Coverage/News:
Atlanta Journal Constitution  – Obama visits Alabama as South reels in tornado aftermath
Southeastern Council of Foundations  – Tornadoes Devastate Southeast Region
Reuters – Tornadoes tear across South, killing over 306

We at The Community Foundation are having conversations with our fellow funders throughout Georgia and the southeast regarding both short- and long-term recovery plans. According to David Aft, president of the Community Foundation of Northwest Georgia, storms have ravaged and shut down entire communities destroying homes, businesses and schools. He and other funders know that significant financial support for the rebuilding process will be needed for some time to come. We have also reached out to local nonprofits serving these areas, and hope to share additional insights with you in the coming days.

For donors interested in supporting relief efforts, we have provided below an initial list of nonprofit organizations providing essential assistance during these difficult times. To make a grant from your fund or for questions, please contact your philanthropic advisor at 404-688-5525.

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Nonprofits responding in Georgia and throughout the Southeast:

Medshare – MedShare is partnering with the Alabama Association of Volunteer Fire Departments (AAVFD), the coordinating body within the state for fire services and emergency medical services, to ship much-needed medical supplies. The organization plans to ship the first tractor-trailer load in May and at least two additional trailers  in June.

The Atlanta Community Food Bank – The Food Bank is reaching out to its 700 partner agencies to assess the needs of those affected.  Currently the organization is working with North Point Church in Adairsville, North Bartow Community Services and Oothcalooga Baptist Church for food staging and distribution.

Boggs Mountain Humane Shelter  – Boggs Mountain Humane Shelter, located in Rabun County, estimates it will assist 250 dogs and cats due to the disaster. The shelter has set up a database to reunite pets with their owners. The shelter will check for microchips, rabies and ID tags, as well as worm and inoculate all animals that come in.

St. Vincent de Paul Society – St. Vincent de Paul has volunteer groups, called Conferences, already in place to assist those who have experienced this devastation.

American Red Cross –  Red Cross shelters are open in Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Missouri, Indiana, Kentucky, Arkansas, North Carolina and Texas. More than 1,600 people sought refuge in 65 Red Cross shelters Wednesday night as the storms forced them from their homes.

The Community Foundation for Greater Birmingham – Emergency Relief Fund – The Community Foundation for Greater Birmingham is working with leaders of the community foundations serving the affected areas, especially community foundations in Tuscaloosa, Huntsville and Walker and Calhoun Counties.

The Salvation Army – In response, the Alabama-Louisiana-Mississippi (ALM) Division of The Salvation Army has mobilized a communications unit and 10 feeding units. Another 22 mobile feeding units including catering trucks, mobile kitchens and a 20,000 meal-per-day, full service field kitchen have been placed on standby. Units are providing food, beverage and spiritual support to storm victims in Tuscaloosa, Guntersville and Lauderdale County (Ala.) as well as Montpelier and Oxford (Miss.). Mobile units from the Kentucky-Tennessee Division (KTN) are serving victims in Chattanooga and Cleveland (Tenn.).