The American Red Cross plans to remain in Rome for at least two weeks to assist residents impacted by last month’s EF-2 tornado with wind gusts as high as 135 miles per hour. As you can imagine, the community and businesses are still picking-up the pieces and trying to move forward. Red Cross CNY Executive Director Lisa Smith says volunteers are there on the ground offering help in any way they can.
“We continue to do a variety of things including case management and disaster assessment in Rome. We have a Resource Center open in Saint Peter’s Church. Where people can come in and get additional help. And we are still working with our community partners.”
Smith says the Rome community continues to work to give it their all to help those still in need.
“Companies have donated pellets of water. We've had a lot of in-kind donations, which were really needed. But as we're winding down and we're doing more home assessments, people are wherever they're going to be for the short period of time until they can get back into their rental property or their home, it really becomes monetary donations is where the greatest need is and also volunteers.”
Even though the shelters in both Rome and Canastota are closed, Smith says the need for donations is still great for those residents who were left with nothing following the tornado. If you would like to donate to local efforts, specify “Rome Tornado” when sending a check to the Red Cross Office in Liverpool: 7359 Oswego Road, Liverpool, NY 13090. You can also donate to their regular fund by clicking here.