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How the Red Cross helps tornado victims

Posted at 2:08 PM, May 21, 2013
and last updated 2013-05-21 14:10:35-04

RICHMOND, Va. (WTVR) – The American Red Cross is coordinating efforts to provide relief to people who lost their homes in the Moore, Oklahoma tornado on Monday.

Reggie Gordon, CEO of the local Red Cross chapter, joined CBS 6 on set to explain what goes into the effort.

The Red Cross is on the ground in Oklahoma with teams of trained disaster relief workers who will provide food, direct people to the next steps, assess damage and connect them with loved ones who may be looking for them.

"We train for this, we work with community partners as well as emergency managers all over the country to say what steps need to be in place so we can limit suffering and also save lives," Gordon said. Gordon said in large disasters people need to turn to organizations like the Red Cross to provide basic human needs and get their lives back on track.

The Red Cross is moving its resources including emergency response vehicles and mobile kitchens, so they can distribute food and water.

No local volunteers have been deployed to Oklahoma, Gordon said. He added monetary donations are needed to purchase food and supplies and set up relief shelters.

For a link to the Red Cross click here.