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The Siouxland Area Chapter of the American Red Cross has had a busy spring. Disaster volunteers have responded to flooding and tornado activity during May, June, and July.
Several Siouxland and Iowa Great Lakes volunteers responded to flooding in Nashville, TN in May. Volunteers were able to assist with Damage Assessment, Client Casework, Sheltering, Public Affairs, and Mass Care during the relief operation.
Just a few weeks after returning from Tennessee, Disaster volunteers helped in neighboring Norfolk and Omaha, NE with flooding along the Elkhorn River Valley. Several volunteers helped with Client Casework, Disaster Assessent, Emergency Response Vehicle (ERV) drivers, and Public Relations.
As flooding was still occuring in Nebraska, an EF-5 tornado hit the Little Rock/Sibley area and caused severe damage late June 25th. Five homes were completely destroyed and several others were damaged. Disaster teams set up shelters, provided canteen service to emergency response workers, and helped Clients with immediate needs.
The next night several inches of rain fell again in Northwest Iowa and caused flooding from Sprit Lake to Correctionville. Disaster volunteers provided clean-up kits to residents of Cherokee, Aurelia, Paullina, and surrounding areas effected by the flooding.
A thank you note was received from one of the families that had their home destroyed by the tornado near Sibley. She wrote, "Dear American Red Cross: We cannot say enough to let you know how much we appreciate your generosity and services, which have benefited us after the tornado took our farmstead. We were both very impressed and very grateful. Thank you, thank you and may God bless you and your outreach. Signed *tornado client from Sibley, IA*" |
