World Vision Responding to Two U.S. Disasters

May 13, 2010

Nashville Response

World Vision has shipped 50 pallets of relief supplies from its distribution centers in Chicago and Appalachia to assist flood victims in Nashville. The supplies, which arrived on May 10 in Nashville, include men's and women's clothing, blankets, personal hygiene items, cleaning supplies, and cleanup items such as work gloves, safety glasses, and Tyveck suits. Approximately 2,000 people affected by the flooding are expected to benefit from these supplies.

A series of early May storms triggered flooding in Tennessee, Mississippi, and Kentucky, with Tennessee being the hardest hit. The disaster caused an estimated $1 billion in damage to Nashville alone. Some 30 people died in the flood after Nashville's swollen Cumberland River poured over its banks on May 3, spilling into Music City's historic downtown streets.

World Vision relief supplies are being distributed by two Nashville partners: the National Association of Christian Churches and the National Baptist Convention. These church groups are conducting needs assessments to ensure the supplies are distributed to those in greatest need.

Mississippi Response

A truckload of supplies also was shipped from World Vision’s distribution center serving North Texas to Yazoo City, Miss., to assist partner churches responding to needs in the wake of the April 24 tornado. One of the widest tornadoes on record to cut across Mississippi, the twister left destruction three-quarters of a mile wide.

Local churches requested World Vision’s assistance to care for those whose homes were damaged or destroyed in the tornado. World Vision shipped  24 pallets of personal hygiene items, cleaning supplies, men’s and women’s clothing, toys, games, Bibles, and school supplies to Greater Historic Bethel AME and the National Association of Christian Churches, which are distributing these goods to tornado victims. These partners plan to continue to support those in need through the rebuilding phase of this response.

Phyllis Freeman, World Vision’s domestic disaster director, says, “As children were preparing for end-of-school-year celebrations and a fun summer their plans were disrupted. Now they are helping with the recovery after the recent floods. World Vision’s hope is to help their families through the process as quickly as possible.”

World Vision is continuing to monitor conditions in these disaster areas, and is working with our partners to ensure urgent needs of affected families are met.

World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. World Vision serves all people, regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or gender. For more information, please visit www.worldvision.org/press.