As Hurricane Florence continues its approach to the East Coast, East Tennesseans are showing their Volunteer spirit by making sure aide is ready once the storm passes.
More than 1.5 million people have evacuated inland from the Carolina coastline, and the National Weather Service is warning the massive storm could bring life-threatening storm surge, severe flooding and damaging winds to the coast.
The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency, TEMA, put together a Hurricane Florence relief and resources webpage that includes information for donations, volunteers, shelters and weather updates and will continue to update it as they find more resources. They also have informational links for North and South Carolina and information about hotel availability for evacuees from Tennessee's Welcome Centers. You can find all of that information here.
The American Red Cross in East Tennessee is ready to send volunteers and resources. In the meantime, the organization is taking donations by phone, mail or online at this link. You can find out more how to donate at help by calling (865) 584-2999.
______________________________________________________
Radio stations WIMZ and WJXB will be collecting water on Thursday and Friday for Remote Area Medical to deliver to hurricane impacted areas. Radio crews will be located at Pilot Convenience Stores at the following locations across Knoxville on Thursday and Friday to collect donations:
Thursday 9/13
►WIMZ 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. at 421 N. Cedar Bluff Road
►WJXB 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. at 8541 Middlebrook Pike
►WIMZ 6 p.m. -8 p.m. at 410 Merchants Drive
►WJXB 3 p.m. -6 p.m. at 9550 S. Northshore Drive
Friday 9/14
►WIMZ 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. at Rocky Hill -- 7686 South Northshore Drive
►WJXB 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. at 314 Lovell Road
►WJXB 3 p.m. - 5 p.m. at 206 Walker Springs Road
RAM said it is ready to transport emergency medical supplies by Monday if needed. The organization is already loading trucks with food, water, and blankets to deliver to the areas hardest hit by the storm. For more on how to help RAM's relief mission, you can visit their website at this link for donation and volunteer resources.
______________________________________________________
UPDATE: Knoxville Pays it Forward got their truck! A man paid for a U-Haul and another company is paying for the gas for the truck. The group is collecting supplies now and hopes to pack the truck on Saturday full of water, hygiene products, diapers, and other necessary supplies to send.
ORIGINAL: If you've got a tractor-trailer to spare, Knoxville Pays it Forward is in need of one so they can transport supplies for hurricane relief. The charity organization said it is looking for a truck company or local business who can donate a box truck or tractor-trailer for the relief effort. Even if you don't have a truck, it's also collecting water, hygiene products, diapers, and other necessary supplies to send.
"We helped with the wildfires, that was so close to home and people came from all over. And so, if we can help, we need to help because you never know when it might be one of us needing those things," Director Kim Cantrell said.
The charity is hoping to travel down within 48 hours of the storm. If you can help, you're asked to contact them at their email at knoxvillepaysitforward@gmail.com.
____________________________________________________________
Carson-Newman University is helping victims through its "Give'em Whatcha Got" effort.
The school is collecting money and items to sent to the Nolachucky Baptist Disaster Relief Unity and will be accepting cash donations at Saturday's home football game.
People wishing to donate items can drop them off at the First Year and Conference Services office in the Butler Blanc Gym.