Volunteers assisting residents displaced by Aug. 21 Flooding in Hickman, Humphreys, and Dickson Counties
WAVERLY, Tenn., Aug. 23, 2021 – American Red Cross disaster responders from across Tennessee and the nation are on the ground in Hickman, Humphreys and Dickson counties assisting survivors of the historic flooding on Aug. 21. The area received up to 17 inches of rain in 12 hours and is being called the deadliest flooding event in Tennessee history. At press time, 16 people were confirmed dead, and more than 20 are missing in the area.
Red Cross is providing sheltering assistance with our local partners and are out in the areas affected providing shelter, relief items and comfort for people impacted by floods. On Aug. 22, 93 residents stayed in shelters.
“The need is great here in Middle Tennessee,” said David Buchanan, logistics manager with the Red Cross. “I have been to many disasters, and this is one of the worst I have seen. We have people who have lost everything they worked their whole lives for. We have people here who watched as their family members were swept away in flood waters. This community is hurting. We are here to try to help.”
Disaster Recovery Updates Aug. 23:
Shelter locations:
YMCA Dickson County
225 Henslee Dr.
Dickson, TN 37055
Fairfield Church of Christ
1860 TN-100
Centerville, TN 37033
Waverly First Baptist Church
300 E. Main St.
Waverly, TN 37185
Reunification Center Location:
McEwen High School
335 Melrose Street
McEwen, TN 37101
Safe and Well
The Red Cross also offers the Safe and Well website which is a secure and more private option than the “I’m Safe” feature on the Emergency App. It allows people to list their own status and allows friends and family to search for messages from their loved ones. The Safe and Well website is a free public reunification tool that allows individuals and organizations to register and post messages to indicate that they are safe, or to search for loved ones. The site is always available and open to the public and available in Spanish. Registrations and searches can be done directly on the website.
English- safeandwell.org
Registrations can also be completed by texting SAFE to 78876. Messages exist in both Spanish and English. To speak with someone at the American Red Cross concerning a missing friend or relative, please contact 1-800 Red Cross.
Safety Tips:
Disasters are upsetting experiences for everyone involved. Children, senior citizens, people with disabilities and people for whom English is not their first language are especially at risk and are likely to need extra care and help.
To reach out for free 24/7 counseling or support, contact the Disaster Distress Helpline at 1-800-985-5990.
Be cautious when cleaning up your home and wear protective clothing, including rubber gloves and boots.
Throw out items that absorb water and can’t be disinfected, and dispose of all food, drinks, and medications.
Emergency App:
Download the Red Cross Emergency App for real-time weather alerts, open shelters, and expert advice on what to do after a disaster. The Emergency App is available for free in-app stores by searching “American Red Cross” or going to redcross.org/apps.
If you are interested in learning about volunteering with the Red Cross, or to make a financial donation, check out RedCross.org/Tennessee or call 1-800-Red Cross.
Visit redcross.org/flood for full flood safety information.