Red Cross continues to help people affected by Illinois tornadoes
Volunteers from Central Illinois Region includes Valerie Alberts of Emden

[April 15, 2015]  PEORIA, Illinois - Monday, April 13, 2015 - The American Red Cross continues to help with recovery efforts in the Northern Illinois communities affected by the tornadoes on Thursday, April 9, 2015.

Volunteers are providing supplies to help disaster victims clean up their homes as well as food and water for the community and first responders. The Red Cross has set up multiple emergency aid stations to provide clean up items such as 30-gallon totes, metal rakes and shovels, work gloves, dust masks, heavy-duty trash bags, tarps, water and food as well as support to disaster victims.

Five volunteers from the Central and Southern Illinois Region have deployed to assist with the recovery efforts in Northern Illinois. Mike McKnight and Ron Hodel from Normal, Valerie Alberts of Emden, Erik Cozzolino from Springfield and Pam Arnold from Barry have all been deployed to assist families in the affected areas.

“Red Cross volunteers are trained and ready to assist wherever and whenever they are needed, Betsy Pratt, Regional Chief Executive Officer explains. Volunteers from Northern Illinois assisted us with the recovery process following the devastating tornadoes in November 2013, so I think our volunteers feel a special connection with helping the families in Northern Illinois.”

If you would like to help those affected by disasters like the recent Illinois tornado outbreak, please visit www.redcross.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS.

Get prepared now. Download the free Red Cross Tornado App, which also allows users to monitor weather reports. The Tornado App, along with other free Red Cross apps, can be found in the Apple ITunes Store and the Google Play Store for Android phones.

Make a financial donation. After a disaster, financial donations are the quickest and best way to get help to the people who need it most. Your support helps the Red Cross be there every day for disasters big and small. Make your donations today by calling 1 800 REDCROSS, by visiting www.redcross.org or texting REDCROSS to 90999.

About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.

[Trish Burnett, American Red Cross]