Tornado relief: How to help

A Red Cross relief truck brings food and drinks to workers as they clean-up after a tornado left a path of destruction in the Harvest area on the same path that an F5 tornado left destruction on April 27, 2011 on Saturday, March 3, 2012, in Athens, Ala. / AP Photo/Butch Dill

For those seeking a way to help the survivors of this week's tornadoes, FEMA suggests making donations to members of its National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (National VOAD) partnership, with provides a list of affiliated relief organizations and local chapters. Information can be found on FEMA's blog and on the partnership's Facebook page.

Many local governments and voluntary agencies, such as the American Red Cross and Salvation Army, are providing shelter to disaster survivors displaced by the storms.

FEMA suggests cash donations are the best way to help relief groups. Below is a list of some non-profit agencies and the different ways one can contribute to those in need:

By texting:

-- Sending "REDCROSS" via text message to 90999 will charge $10 to your next cell phone bill to distribute to the American Red Cross.
-- Sending "STORM" via text message to 80888 will charge $10 to your next cell phone bill to distribute to The Salvation Army (You will need to reply "yes" when asked).

Online:

-- The American Red Cross' web site offers a search for local Red Cross chapters: redcross.org/where
-- In addition, you may check with churches and food banks in affected communities to find out about specific local needs.
-- Feeding America, a group that works with food banks, offers lists of local food banks and contact information searchable by state or zip code: feedingamerica.org/foodbank-results.aspx
-- The Salvation Army can be reached here: donate.salvationarmyusa.org

By phone:

-- The American Red Cross can be reached at (800) RED CROSS (800-733-2767).
-- Feeding America can be reached at [phone] (National Office).
-- The Salvation Army can be reached at (800) SAL-ARMY.

By mail:

American Red Cross
P.O. Box 37243
Washington, D.C. 20013

The Salvation Army Disaster Relief
P.O. Box 100339
Atlanta, Ga. 30384-0339

Survivors Safe and Well List:

The Red Cross' "Safe and Well" registration page allows survivors to notify family members, and for family members to search a list of those who have registered on the site.

[ladyang]

I'd go there with voter registration forms.

[madjek]

If these red states had any guts they would reject any help from the Hated Federal Govt. Why beg from Obama and let him interfere with your life and what GOD has visited upon you. Go live in rushs mouth.

[darkhorseky]

I am from Kentucky ,
You are ignorant! Referencing a CBS news artical Conservattives give more money then any other group there is in this country to everything from supporting collages to supporting groups that supports the poor!! We give everything from Millions to pennies an all of it we give because we want to. So how about keep your mouth shout. Of course iam sure your one of those who knows all and gives crap.

[madjek]

Typical of the two faced groups you make possible with your pennies is the catholic church. The biggest pedophile group in the world. See Ireland.

[vpcharan]

GOP superpacs can spend their money to help their followers in the red states instead of polluting the national communication system. Last year also the red states got the mother natures beating and so also this year. Why the red states?

[oneStarman]

Like many Diseases that Plague Humankind: The Best REMEDY is Prevention - We must STOP the INCREASING FREQUENCY and SEVERITY of CLIMATE DISASTERS by STOP Burning COAL and OIL - We can Power our Electric Cars on Solar Panels on Our Roofs and wind Farms off Our Coasts.

[stevador39]

First, the people who lost their homes and are injured won't be helped by your righeous rant. Second, I support anti-pollution efforts across the board. Third, there is no scientific evidence that people can control climate change.

[maiingan]

We can't prevent tornadoes, because storms are an inevitable result of Ferrel cell heat movement on a very un-smooth planet. We can greatly reduce the property damage and related deaths and injuries by rebuilding with much better construction types. See more info at EFTornadoSafeHome.com. I'd like to help with this latter aspect, but I can't afford to do it unless paid for legit work, which I'm seeking through routes other than this Comment board. I live too far away to help with the basic cleanup, which I could.