Tennessee Tornadoes recovery: Here's how you can help

Emergency workers, storm-survey teams, friends, family and strangers are working together this week to pick through rubble across Middle Tennessee after the greater Nashville region was pummeled by tornadoes late Saturday.

Six people were confirmed dead Saturday night in Clarksville and Madison, and more than 80 were treated at hospitals, according to local officials.

Nashville Weather Service confirmed storm survey findings Sunday evening, with the Clarksville tornado rating as an EF-3, including winds of 150 mph. The Madison/Hendersonville/Gallatin tornado recorded a preliminary rating of EF-2, with winds of 125 mph.

The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency confirmed a preliminary reporting of 13 tornadoes across the state.

Live updates: Tennessee tornado outbreak: 'It just hit so fast.' State recovery efforts continue

“Yesterday was unfortunately another heartbreaking day for Nashville and so many in our Middle Tennessee community,” Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell said in a news conference Sunday morning before thanking first responders, many of whom worked through the night.

Twenty-two structures collapsed as a result of the storm and “countless” others were damaged, O’Connell said.

“Nashville is a place where when we face adversity, the community always steps up,” O’Connell continued. “The amount of outreach I have received … has been astonishing.”

Here are several ways residents can help.

This story is being offered free as a service to the public.

Volunteer efforts

Clarksville

The City of Clarksville created a hotline for people willing to volunteer with debris clean-up.

To volunteer with tornado recovery efforts, call 931-245-2988, city of Clarksville Communications Director Jimmy Settle said Sunday at a news conference at Northeast High School in Clarksville. A shelter is also set up at the high school and Mosaic Church for displaced residents.

“One thing I love about this city — when there’s a need, we rally around that need, and we had neighbor helping neighbor,” Clarksville Mayor Joe Pitts said of crews and volunteers that helped through the night.

Nashville

Hands on Nashville, a local organization that regularly assists in debris removal, food distribution and more following disasters, added several volunteer opportunities to its website Monday.

Spanish speakers can sign up to assist in communicating with tornado survivors at this link. The group will contact those who sign up when help is needed, which may include canvassing neighborhoods hit by the storms and providing translation support at distribution sites.

Mercy Chefs is also asking for volunteers to help prep and package meals for those around the Nashville community on select days from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. beginning tomorrow until Jan. 3, 2024. Those interested can sign up at this link.

Updates on upcoming volunteer efforts through the organization can be found on Hands On Nashville's social media accounts.

Springfield

As of 12:30 p.m. Monday, a few spots remain for volunteers to help distribute water in Robertson County with the United Way of Greater Nashville. Those interested can sign up at this link, and volunteers should wear warm clothing and be prepared to stand for long periods of time.

Blood drives

Blood Assurance, a nonprofit regional blood center serving health care facilities in Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, Kentucky and North Carolina, reported that the company had to ship extra blood, platelet and plasma units to several Middle Tennessee hospitals treating patients with storm-related injuries Saturday night.

All Blood Assurance donation centers were scheduled to be open Monday.

Donors can schedule an appointment here, with walk-ins also accepted.

Find your nearest location at https://donor.bloodassurance.org/donor/schedules/zip.

Supply donations

YAIPak Outreach, a community organization located at 1255 Paradise Hill Road in Clarksville, announced that its warehouse is open to receive donations. A full list of drop-off sites is available on its Facebook page.

"We know our county has been hit hard," an earlier statement from the organization said. "Our hearts are with all who have suffered damage."

As of Monday morning, the organization's disaster team is asking for any donations of:

• Paper towels

• Household cleaning supplies

• Hygiene items

• Duct tape

• Flashlights

• Portable lights

• Work gloves

• Small generators

• Plywood

• Hammers & Nails

• Rope

In Hendersonville, the local chamber of commerce and United Way are collecting items. The groups ask for donations to be dropped off at the chamber's event space at 300 Indian Lake Blvd., Suite D160, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and at Birdie Bros across the street in Suite E180 from 5 p.m. to midnight.

They are asking for the following items:

• work gloves

• paper towels

• flashlights, lanterns, batteries

• trash bags

• hammers

• tarps

• eye protective glasses

• portable heaters

• rakes

• nails

• wheelbarrows

• shovels

• bottled water

• bottled Gatorade

• individual snacks

Those in need can pick up things, including food, blankets, clothing and cleaning supplies, from Miss Lucille's Cafe on 2231 Madison St., Suite L, from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

More information is available on the Hendersonville Area Chamber of Commerce's Facebook page.

Monetary donations

The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee and United Way created relief funds to assist those impacted by the Dec. 9 tornadoes, in collaboration with the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County and its Office of Emergency Management.

The two organizations are also supporting recovery efforts in Cheatham, Dickson, Montgomery, Robertson and Sumner Counties through the Tennessee Emergency Response Fund.

The funds raised by both organizations provide "critical support to nonprofit and faith-based partners actively working to address survivors’ needs," and "address urgent needs such as financial assistance, food and nutrition, temporary housing, debris clean-up and animal sheltering."

To donate to tornado disaster relief in Davidson County, click here.

To donate to disaster relief outside Davidson County, click here.

The Dickson County Disaster Relief Fund is also accepting donations through pay service app Venmo.

If you wish to donate, comment "disaster relief" on a donation and send it to @dchelpcenter on Venmo.

Additionally, the Salvation Army announced Sunday that it is preparing to respond to areas affected across Middle Tennessee.

"Currently, we are assessing areas that have been hit and will begin snack and hydration service alongside emotional and spiritual care later today in the Madison and Clarksville communities," a statement read.

The Salvation Army accepts monetary donations for disaster response, which can be made at https://helpsalvationarmy.org/ or by calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY.

'God’s Pit Crew' offers debris clearing, tree removal

God's Pit Crew will travel on Dec. 12 from its headquarters in Danville, Virginia, to Clarksville, Tennessee and surrounding areas to help people impacted by the weekend's storms. The disaster relief crew will deploy semi trucks and haulers equipped with chainsaws, tarps and heavy equipment to clear debris and cut and remove trees.

They'll also convey emergency relief supplies including pallets of water, Gatorade and "Blessing Buckets," or five-gallon buckets containing non-perishable food, water, hygiene items, first-aid kits, Bibles and handwritten notes of encouragement, according to a media release from the ministry.

“The destruction caused by this deadly line of storms is widespread and tragic," God’s Pit Crew President Randy Johnson said in a statement. "We continue to pray for all impacted and are ready to begin working to help the survivors.”

God’s Pit Crew relies on volunteers and donations to fuel its relief response and restock and deliver Blessing Buckets to survivors. Individual buckets cost $35 to fill. Donations can be provided via GodsPitCrew.org or (434) 836-4472.

Want to help? How to avoid scams

• Research charities before donating. Charities that raise more than $50,000 per year must register with the Secretary of State’s Division of Charitable Solicitations. To see if a charity is registered with the State of Tennessee, visit sos.tn.gov/charitable or call the Division of Charitable Solicitations and Gaming at 615-741-2555.

• Report any false, misleading or deceptive fundraising activity to the Division of Charitable Solicitations and Gaming.

• Ask Questions. If an organization has a specific mission, ask how and who will benefit from your donation. If a paid fundraiser asks you for a donation, ask how much is kept by the fundraiser and how much goes to the nonprofit.

• If you are asked for a donation via text or email, verify the request is directly from the charity or nonprofit.

• Do your own research and don't assume a social media or blog recommendation has been approved by the nonprofit.

• Avoid giving cash. Always ask for a receipt and if your contribution is tax deductible.

• Remember that there are many ways to give, such as volunteering your time.

Montgomery County animal control seeking pet food, blankets

Montgomery County Animal Control and Adoption Service is accepting donations for pets displaced from Saturday’s storms. Items can be brought to the main shelter at 606 N. Spring St. or the Fort Campbell location at 5290 Eighth St., Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

The shelter is mainly asking for cat food, dog food and blankets, an employee said Monday afternoon.

Animal control also asks that any stray animals be taken to the shelter during business hours.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Here's how you can help after Middle Tennessee tornadoes, severe weather disaster