KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The American Red Cross sent extra help from Knoxville to Middle Tennessee on Monday, helping communities there recover from devastating storms and tornadoes. Hundreds of people are cleaning up after the tornadoes touched down over the weekend, killing at least six people.
Many of the survivors need food and shelter said Sharon Hudson, executive director of the Red Cross in East Tennessee. She said three shelters were already in place as of Monday. The organization said 43 people stayed in these shelters Sunday night, but the number could change Monday night due to incoming cold weather.
"A lot of families lost power, many lost their homes," Hudson said. "When you've left your home and you've left everything behind, those volunteers are there to assist those families."
The National Weather Service said tornados are not as common in East Tennessee as they are in the rest of the state, but people should be prepared. According to Anthony Cavallucci, an NWS warning coordination meteorologist, the types and severity of tornadoes can vary across Tennessee. Many times, he said they can be unpredictable.
"People in East Tennessee should be prepared for tornadoes all times of the year," Cavallicci said. "Some areas may not see any tornadoes. Other times they may see a significant amount of tornadoes or something in between."
He said there's a misconception in East Tennessee. Some people in the area may believe that because of the Great Smoky Mountains and hills surrounding the region, few tornadoes impact East Tennessee.
Cavallucci said that is not the case, and emphasized people should always be ready to react in case a tornado touches down.
"Just because there are mountains surrounding us, we are not safe," Cavallucci said.
In Middle Tennessee, Hudson said work to recover will continue for a long time, as they will have to help people assess the damage after people get back on their feet.
Natural disasters will continue to happen, Hudson said, and what matters is how communities come together to pick up the pieces.
"We have baby diapers in, spiritual care volunteers that are able to assist families," Hudson said. "We'll be working with pharmacies to make sure people have the medicine that they need ... It's important to volunteer and give back to your community and no better time than in the giving season of December."