Alabama Tornado Relief

Osama bin Laden may be dead, but so are 240 Alabamians.

It’s been one week since disaster struck in the form of 197 devastating tornadoes. 80 people are still unaccounted for in the Tuscaloosa area alone. The government is estimating the financial impact of the storms will equal or exceed Hurricane Katrina.

In short, it was a disaster AND it’s still a disaster. And my state needs your help.

How can you help?

The best way to help is in the form of monetary donations. Long after the initial rush of supplies fades, money is still going to be needed to help victims heal and recover. Some of the best places to give money:

Mid Alabama Region of The American Red Cross – the Red Cross is serving meals, hosting shelters, providing medical care, and passing out much-needed supplies. Red Cross support in Tuscaloosa.

United Way – United Way supports organizations like the Red Cross and the Salvation Army as well as runs local volunteer organizations. They are hosting a telethon today, collection supplies, and have a phone bank open to support those in need. United Way assistance in West Alabama.

UA Greek Relief – While there may be lots of criticism of the Greek system, one thing can not be overlooked: their ability to come together and help others. Philanthropy is a cornerstone of the Greek system and never has that been more evident that at The University of Alabama in the past week. Fraternity and sorority members have been cooking and serving meals, assisting with cleanup, coordinating donations, and delivering supplies around Tuscaloosa. They are now turning their attention to fundraising for the city of Tuscaloosa.

UA Acts of Kindness Fund – 6 students at The University of Alabama lost their lives during the storm. The Acts of Kindness fund will be used to financially support employees and students who were victims of the storm.

Other ways to help:
Give blood
Ask for your blood to go to victims of the Alabama tornadoes.

Donate supplies
-The Christian Service Mission in Birmingham has set up an Amazon wish list page that will allow you to purchase and ship much-needed to supplies to impacted areas.
-Follow James Spann on Twitter or on Facebook for up-to-the-minute needs around the state.
-Check out this post from Sarah Wendell of Smart Bitches, Trashy Books fame. She is coordinating mail drop locations for out-of-state folks to mail supplies to Alabama. Mail drop volunteers (myself included) will be collecting the donations and taking them to distribution areas. Sarah has provided a list of donation sources and needed supplies.