MOBILE, Ala., September 5, 2011 – The American Red Cross Alabama Gulf Coast Chapter is responding to calls from people whose homes were damaged by Tropical Storm Lee. Red Cross volunteers are headed to Bellfontaine in Mobile County and Lillian in Baldwin County to give out clean-up kits, tarps, and bottled water. If further assistance is needed, Red Cross caseworkers will meet with those families and determine their immediate emergency needs on a case by case basis.

The Red Cross offers the following tips for those in the affected areas to stay safe:

• Listen to area radio and television stations and a NOAA Weather Radio for possible flood warnings and reports of flooding in progress).
• Be prepared to evacuate at a moment’s notice. 
• When a flood or flash flood warning is issued for the area, head for higher ground and stay there.
• Stay away from floodwaters. If you come upon a flowing stream where water is above your ankles, stop, turn around and go another way.
• If you come upon a flooded road while driving, turn around and go another way. If you are caught on a flooded road and waters are rising rapidly around you, get out of the car quickly and move to higher ground. Most cars can be swept away by less than two feet of moving water. 
• Keep children out of the water. They are curious and often lack judgment about running water or contaminated water. 
• Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize flood danger.

The Red Cross depends on the generosity of the American people to fulfill our mission. To help disaster victims please contact the Alabama Gulf Coast Chapter of the American Red Cross at (251) 544-6100 or visit www.redcrossalcoast.org.  

# # #