Millions in Aid to Help Survivors in a Deadly Tornado Year

Emergency Aid Sent to Eight States, Including Massachusetts

Immediate Tornado Response: Helping Communities Recover and RebuildThe year 2011 is one of the deadliest tornado years in U.S. history, claiming 520 lives, leaving tens of thousands homeless, and damaging billions in property. Since April, 2011, AmeriCares has sent $1.4 million in medical and humanitarian aid to eight states, helping people in the hardest-hit areas of Joplin MO, Tuscaloosa and Birmingham, AL, Smithville, MS, and Sanford, NC.  Help us deliver health and hope to tornado survivors. »AmeriCares was the first on the scene to assist our clinic. Your generous grant has literally saved us weeks in restoring medical services. The medications, hygiene products, and cleaning supplies have been vitally important to those affected by the tornado.

“I will always be AmeriCares cheerleader! You have done the most by far for the people of Smithville.”

— Marilyn Sumerford
    Executive Director
   Access Family Health
   Smithville, MSApril 14-16, 2011

Dozens of tornadoes wreaked havoc in 20 counties throughout North Carolina. AmeriCares immediately dispatched a relief worker, and within a week of the disaster, emergency shipments began to arrive at a partner clinic in Sanford. A total of eight deliveries were shipped to five partner clinics, including chronic care medications for diabetes and cardiovascular disease, water, and hygiene kits totaling $128,141.April 25-28, 2011An outbreak of dozens of tornados tore through seven states, killing 350. April 27 alone was the deadliest day of tornadoes in the U.S. history. AmeriCares mobilized aid to communities in crisis.

• Smithville, MS:  On April 28, 2011, the headlines of the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal read “10 Seconds – It Was Gone”. The ‘It’ was the entire town of Smithville, Mississippi, nearly wiped off the map. A massive 205 mph tornado (the first EF5 tornado in the world since 2008) struck the town, claiming 14 lives, injuring 40 and causing shocking devastation. Our emergency expert was on the scene within 24 hours, and a total of $987,000 in aid has been sent, including chronic and acute care medicine, supplies, water, hygiene items, and a clinic recovery grant.
• Alabama: The cities of Tuscaloosa and Birmingham suffered the worst impact of the April 27 tornado outbreak. Our emergency expert met with partner clinics, and $222,000 in requested medicines, supplies, water, and hygiene items have been delivered to five partner organizations in the state.
• Tennessee: $6,586 in needed respiratory medicines was delivered to one partner clinic.
• Arkansas: AmeriCares delivered four shipments totaling $17,405 in chronic care medicines, hygiene items and clean-up supplies to three partner organizations.
• Virginia: One shipment of $9,879 of respiratory medicines was delivered to one partner clinic

May 22, 2011Joplin, MO: A mile-wide EF-5 twister packing winds of more than 200 mph cut a six-mile swath of destruction through the heart of the city, killing 138, injured 750, and damaging $1 billion in property. AmeriCares mobilized an immediate response, dispatching a relief worker to assess urgent needs. To date, a total of $239,132 in aid has been delivered, including chronic care medicines, a rush shipment of tetanus vaccine, medical supplies, two temporary structures, and a clinic recovery grant.  June 1On June 1, at least two 135 mph tornadoes ripped through western Massachusetts, causing damage in 19 communities and leaving four people dead and 200 injured. The National Guard was deployed and the state senate approved $15 million in tornado cleanup and response. AmeriCares responded to partner Feeding America’s request for assistance for their Hatfield, MA food bank with a shipment containing $7,360 in soap, hygiene and personal items for families in the impact area. Read MoreDonate Now