How to Help Victims of the Kentucky Tornado – WCCO
MINNEAPOLIS (AP / WCCO) – Dozens of organizations and people are coming together to help Kentuckians affected by tornadoes and hurricanes this past weekend.
Friday’s tornado outbreak killed at least 88 people in five states – 74 of them in Kentucky – cutting off the devastating road that stretched from Arkansas, where a nursing home was destroyed, to Illinois. , where an Amazon distribution center was badly damaged.
In Kentucky, Governor Andy Beshear said the death toll could rise as authorities continue to work around debris that slows recovery efforts. Nearly 450 National Guard members have been mobilized in the state, and 95 of them are searching for those presumed dead.
“With this amount of damage and debris, it could be a week or even more before we have a final death toll,” the governor said.
Kentucky authorities say the sheer extent of the devastation is hampering their ability to tally the damage. However, efforts have shifted to repairing the power grid, sheltering those whose homes have been destroyed and providing supplies.
How to help victims in Kentucky:
Beshear said many hospitals in Kentucky are treating hurricane victims and need more blood. The Red Cross says it is experiencing its worst anemia in more than a decade.
To find a blood donation center in your area, visit Website of the Red Cross Blood Center and enter your zip code.
The Minnesota Red Cross tweeted Tuesday that 19 responders from all three states in the Minnesota and Dakotas regions were deployed for disaster relief.
#Update – 19 responders from all three states in our Minnesota and Dakotas regions have now been deployed to tornado relief. We expect this number to increase in the coming days and weeks as relief efforts continue.
– Minnesota Red Cross #GiveWithMeaning (@mnredcross) December 13, 2021
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How to donate to Western Kentucky relief organization, Red Cross
Beshear announced Saturday the creation of Team Western Kentucky Tornado Relief Fund Donations to support victims of tornadoes and hurricanes. All funds will go directly to the victims.
As of Monday, more than 44,000 people have donated more than $6.25 million according to the governor website.
People can also send donations. Details are available on website.
Beshear also tweeted out additional ways people can help.
People have shown their kindness and generosity today, please ask how they can help.
➡️If you live in a difficult, safe and powerful community, stay off the roads. Let our first responders reach everyone as quickly as possible.
1/3
– Governor Andy Beshear (@GovAndyBeshear) December 11, 2021
The American Red Cross accepts donations by mail, phone or online.
Fundraising Online Verified
GoFundMe has a list of verified fundraisers on its foundation. According to their website, their Trust and Safety team reviews fundraising activities created in response to a crisis. The team works to “verify the recipient’s personal information, identity, and they ensure that all funds raised on GoFundMe go to the right place.”
This is a centralized hub where you can find every verified GoFundMe to support the victims and families affected by last night’s deadly tornado outbreak.
Our Trust & Safety team will continue to update this hub with more fundraisers as they are verified: https://t.co/QPe3QevLdu
– GoFundMe (@gofundme) December 11, 2021
GoFundMe says it works closely with state and local officials and law enforcement to assist in any investigation.
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https://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2021/12/14/how-to-help-kentucky-tornado-victims/ How to Help Victims of the Kentucky Tornado – WCCO
