Severe Storms Hit The South: How You Can Help

Devastating storms ripped through the southern United States last week, leaving more than 340 people dead and communities crippled in its wake.

Dozens of tornadoes swept across Alabama, Tennessee, Virginia, Mississippi, Georgia and Kentucky.

The hardest hit areas are in Alabama. President Obama visited the state on April 29 to assess the damage and offer support.

Now, in neighboring Mississippi and Louisiana, residents are bracing for massive flooding that will put the region's levee system to the test.

Across the country, Americans are asking how to help Southerners in need. Here at HuffPost Impact, we're assembling a list of information on how to take action, which we will keep updated as the crisis unfolds.

HOW TO HELP:

• The American Red Cross has opened dozens of emergency shelters for families affected by the severe storms. You can donate online or by calling 1-800-RED-CROSS. To quickly contribute $10, you can text "REDCROSS" to 90999.
• Feeding America recommends that people make financial contributions to local food banks, which will use the money to hand out food supplies to survivors. You can use the locator on the organization's website to find food banks in disaster-affected communities.
• The Salvation Army has deployed mobile feeding units to tornado-affected communities to provide meals to people in need. You can designate your online donation go to "April 2011 Tornado Outbreak" relief. Funds can also be given over the phone by calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY or texting "GIVE" to 80888 (for a $10 donation).
• Governor of Alabama Robert Bentley's office is accepting donations for church and community relief efforts in the wake of the massive storms. Supporters can contribute by credit card or check.
• Alabamians can drop off food, clothing, supplies and other donations to drop off centers around the state. Use Alabama Possible's comprehensive list to find your nearest location.
• In Mississippi, Governor Haley Barbour has established the Mississippi Disaster Recovery Fund to help locals affected by last week's storms -- and who could be impacted by possible flooding in upcoming weeks. You can donate online or give $10 by texting "MS" to 27722.
• Mississippians can find volunteer information on the Mississippi Commission for Volunteer Service website.
• The International Fund for Animal Welfare has sent animal rescue teams to Shelby County, Tennessee to help animals stranded by flooding in the region. You can donate online to help animal rescue efforts.
• The United Way of West Alabama is collecting donations to provide tornado relief in the region. Supporters can give online or by calling 1-205-345-6640 during business hours.
• Samaritan's Purse is sending teams of volunteers to hard-hit areas in Alabama to offer assistance. Supporters can donate online to help the organization provide aid.

Comments

[MelodieSays]

01:51 PM on 05/11/2011

Give freely, but please be aware. One of the charities listed above had to provide banking info, in order to make a promotional film. When the (local) accounts were pulled up, we were all horrified to find enough money to feed and house the entire United States. I have never given to them again.

[Sajwert]

03:33 PM on 05/04/2011

I will sound like a nasty nancy, but frankly, I'm finding it awfully hard to feel massive amounts of empathy for these people who have been caught up in this mess. Their governing bodies have been adamant that they don't want hand outs, that they are people who pull their own weight, voting for political parties and people that insist on personal responsiblity being more important than Federal money, even when it is needed.

I will take the small amount of money I have and continue to give it to the hungry and the poor in my own city. I firmly believe that is being personally responsible. While the legislature in my NH state guts every single social safety net available to the poor, disabled and others in need, my money should go where it will do the most good.

[chadramey]

04:46 PM on 05/05/2011

you are a close minded person to say these things....a GOOD portion of the areas hit in Alabama were poor communities...... MANY OF THEM are NOT REPUBLICANS and didnt vote for the awful Republicans we have representing our state..... I am sick and tired of hearing people say this... .its like saying that everyone in YOUR STATE is a Progressive or a LIBERAL......I am a proud progressive WHO LIVES IN ALABAMA.... I VOTE.... unfortunately.... there are MORE republicans here.... if you look at the demographics of the Pratt City area.... they are mostly POOR BLACK people.... do you really think think these people voted for McCain?.....Its really a shame your generalizing a whole population......

[southernteacher]

10:11 PM on 05/05/2011

I think there's a big difference between taking a handout when you sit on your tail all day without working/looking for a job, etc. and taking a handout when your house was blown to bits and/or your family members sucked out from your home and their bodies flung into a field... As a schoolteacher, I have sponsored help for families in need, especially during the holidays...let me tell you how "helpful" I feel when some of these so-called "needy" families come in wearing their bluetooth pieces, talking on their cell phones without getting off and take their "handouts" without saying a word... However, when entire towns and neighborhoods are completely flattened and people are walking around homeless--truly homeless, and helpless---it's another story. We don't need government handouts--we WILL help each other...you WILL hear the stories...PEOPLE here in Alabama are making a difference...not AGENCIES...headed to Hackleburg, AL this Saturday to help...google it--and google "Toomer's for Tuscaloosa"...look them up on Facebook--see what people are doing to help each other down here.

[Dosadi]

10:49 PM on 05/05/2011

There are millions of Americans who believe we are all in this together.  The political talk is just that, talk.

The politicians want to claim that the people in the south do not want or need our help.  But they do and it is coming.

We are America.  We are a union of states that for a republic that takes care of our own, no matter the color or walk of life.

Help is coming in spite of politics.

We love you, never forget that please.

[nnyl]

01:53 AM on 05/08/2011

Do you know they are sitting on their tail all day and not looking for work? If you see a person with a bluetooth wanting a handout, how do you know if if the person has been living milking the system or if they were they doing fine until the economy tanked and even though they are looking haven't been able to find a new job? Did you see how many people around the country queued up for jobs at McDonalds last month? Yes, there are people who milk the system and have no shame, but in my community, much has been made of the increased need for food banks and assistance in fairly affluent suburbs because jobs are only starting to come back.

Alabama is getting federal handouts from federal agencies and so they should. They are also getting help from individuals and NGOs from all over the country. I know members of the MDS were there within a day to start helping and they will stay until the work is done.

[dutchdragonfly]

03:03 PM on 05/01/2011

Check out www.tuscal­oosachambe­r.com. It's a good way to help .

[eaglett1111]

01:07 PM on 05/01/2011

I just heard a plea for people to go to serveAlabama.gov if you want to physically go help. Sounds like they are taking sponaneous volunteers, but unless you are already affiliated with an organization, they need you to register so they not only know who you are but they can use your skills in the best way. And please, no "looky-loos." There is too much to do there.

[eurotom]

09:05 AM on 05/01/2011

Seriously, the Koch brothers who own Georgia Pacific and many other entities, are against federal and state social spending. They created the "tea party movement" with their massive fortunes. Now they should put their money where their mouths are. Each of these brothers own 21.5 billion dollars. Consider this: each billion is 1000 million, so each of them are hoarding 21,500 million dollars for a grand total of 43,000 million dollars. I'd like to invite these American oligarchs to loosen some money from their purse strings and lead by example. give as much money as possible so that federal and state funds will not be necessary to help the people in the red states (their natural base). Thoughts?

[WoodyCPM]

12:48 PM on 05/01/2011

I think that's a CAPITAL idea!

[dutchdragonfly]

02:59 PM on 05/01/2011

Your idea is wonderful, but I don't see it happening any time soon.

IF they did anything at all to help out, I might re-think my opinion of them. But that's not who they are, and not how they got where they are.

[luckydog1857]

08:46 PM on 04/30/2011

One way to help - monitor the insurance companies. NOW

[Caroleeena]

07:31 PM on 04/30/2011

Ways to help Tornado survivors: Take sandwiches, chips, food, cookies & water to people working; Donate flashlight­s, batteries, candles and coolers with ice to people without power; Take tarps, loppers, chainsaws and gas. Also, people will need sunscreen, workgloves and hats. We got hit hard two weeks ago in NC and I got sunburned and poison ivy trying to dig out. If you have a generator, let someone in need use it. Take people in! Give them a place to shower and/or a bed to sleep in. Take them to the store if their car was smashed and they don't have a way to get around.

Remind people that they are not alone. Show up and help! Don't just call and express regrets. People need help in all sorts of ways and will for a long time. Despair and depression set in swiftly. People need to know that we know what they're going through and they don't have to go through it alone. Reach out. Please help.

[Caroleeena]

07:52 PM on 04/30/2011

People who have to move will need boxes, preferably big plastic ones with lids in case they have to put their stuff in storage but cardboard boxes are also helpful.

[Ann Thurlow]

03:34 PM on 04/30/2011

Will people kindly cease and desist using this page, which is designed for our "better angels," to make infantile, petty, partisan posts? Please, if you have any decency lurking in the recesses of your hearts and souls, take that business elsewhere, and leave this page for those who actually care about others' suffering.

[WillowInTheWind]

11:17 AM on 04/30/2011

It started at 6:00 AM and didn't stop until 8:00 PM, 14 strait hours of hell, I've never been through anything like it. Four EF 4s in Madison county alone.........

[trumbull desi]

03:03 PM on 04/30/2011

I hope you and yours are all okay.

[Caroleeena]

07:41 PM on 04/30/2011

I am glad you survived. I know there is a long road ahead for everyone My heart goes out to you and everyone there as you clean up and rebuild. Stay strong.

[Nelson Montana]

09:30 AM on 05/01/2011

He's been too busy going to parties with Donald Trump.

[Nelson Montana]

09:28 AM on 04/30/2011

It's things like this that show how we cannot afford to be the worlds policeman.

Isn't it interesting how billions of dollars automatically goes into foreign aid and issues, yet they have to ask the U.S. citizens to donate their pennies to help their own.

These people should be given everything they need. If that means Libya, and Iraq, and Afghanistan gets a little less, well...sorry to say...it doesn't hurt my feelings too much.

[eurotom]

09:10 AM on 05/01/2011

For a long time America used 30% of the world's resources while being only 5% of the world's population. We have screwed ourselves by following the Bretton Woods post WWII economic formula that said EXPANSION ABROAD + GROWTH AT HOME = UNIFIED INTERESTS. The "expansion abroad" was largely done by militarized interventions in sovereign countries. The attack on the Unions started in earnest after the loss of the Vietnam War which made American Capital panic and thus the deal was dead. Ironically the first direct assault on labor came when President Carter approved the bailout of Chrysler which required give backs by unionized workers. Since then, the attack on labor has been building with earnest. As for the South, I believe they should split off from the USA and recreate their Confederacy. The North can no longer afford to subsidize them.

[WoodyCPM]

12:44 PM on 05/01/2011

The expansion of the American Empire began at the end of the 19th century. The tales of American intervention and military invasion into other countries picked up steam in the first decade of the 20th century. The history is appalling. Then it racheted up with WWI, then at the end of WWII it was on steroids.

[Krisgi]

09:11 AM on 04/30/2011

Which the Republican leaders in the devastated states are only too happy to take. Things being on account of the Will of God and such...

[theindividual]

09:36 AM on 04/30/2011

I see the liberal rationailization for not helping a neighbor in need with personal money is alive and well. No surprise.

[Subsoil73]

11:03 AM on 05/03/2011

Lets see...Terrorist Attack on New York City (blue state) victims get millions each from victims compensation fund.

Terrorist Attack on Oklahoma City (red state) victims get 0 from federal government and money that was mailed to them individually is intercepted by the postal service and turned over to the Red Cross.

If you give to the blue states - you've got to give to the red ones, too.

[trumbull desi]

03:09 PM on 04/30/2011

It says how can 'you' help. Should you choose not to make a donation, you have to live with that. You don't want to help your fellow citizens? Nobody's twisting your arm.

[Krisgi]

05:09 PM on 05/03/2011

Did I say that I wasn´t willing to make a personal donation? No. Do I believe that we ALL, from a federal and personal level, should come together and help each other out every day and not only in times of tragedy? Yes.

All of a sudden the Republicans think they have the monopoly on generosity! Wonders will never cease.

[BurtonDesque]

08:09 AM on 04/30/2011

The GOP should insist we use this disaster to demonstrate once and for all that charities and self help are superior to government aid. The governments in the affected areas should refuse Federal assistance. That would be in keeping with the rest of their rhetoric.

Of course, being hypocrites, they've already got their hands out for Federal $$$.

[Krisgi]

05:10 PM on 05/03/2011

It was an act of Gawd.

[Kadeed]

02:12 PM on 05/19/2011

Yawn

[emilyanne]

06:52 AM on 04/30/2011

This isn't political.
These are human beings who are suffering and need help.
If you just can't find it in your heart to care about people you suspect may have voted a particular way, you need to grow up.

[BurtonDesque]

06:59 AM on 04/30/2011

Tell that to the Republicans the South elects.

[WoodyCPM]

07:54 AM on 04/30/2011

There are a lot of Democrats down South too, you know. I'm sure the tornadoes didn't pick and choose which houses to hit. People are hurting and need our help and we help them out of compassion for the undeserved suffering they are enduring not because of who they vote for. You're never going to persuade them to change their politics by ignoring them when they're in misery. There are a lot of liberals and progressive thinking people down South. Their houses were destroyed and their lives were lost equally with all those you disagree with politically. Mature people put those things aside when catastrophes strike because they put us all in the same boat.

[trumbull desi]

03:10 PM on 04/30/2011

Fanned. How other people's suffering amuses some is very dismaying to me.

[Kadeed]

02:13 PM on 05/19/2011

I think it shows a lack of class.

[AbeMartin]

06:51 AM on 04/30/2011

By now most of us are very aware of the service organizations that provide aid and assistance during natural disasters.  The extent of the devastation and the promise of additional problems as the Mississippi River rises and we move into the Hurricane Season raises another question:  The U.S. is quick with offers of assistance to other countries when they are savaged by an earthquake, tsunami, cyclone or hurricane.  What countries in this hemisphere or in Asia, the Middle East, Africa or Europe's offers of aid and assistance.  Seems like it only flows out of the U.S., rather than both ways.