Memphis Flooding: How to Help Flood Victims
More than 1,300 homes have been ordered to evacuate.
May 9, 2011 -- Thousands of people from Arkansas to Tennessee are fleeing their homes ahead of recording-breaking flooding. Here's what you can do to help.
The Mississippi River's record crest was 48.7 feet in 1937 and the Army Corp of Engineers expects the river to rise to 48 feet by early Tuesday morning.
More than 1,300 homes are under an evacuation order and another 240 have been warned that they might need to leave. Nearly 400 people are staying in shelters. The damage has been extensive in places like Memphis where entire neighborhoods have been swallowed by the water and vehicles completely submerged.
Find out below how to help and donate to the flood relief effort.
Donate to the Flood Relief Effort
American Red Cross: The Red Cross is providing shelter and supplies to those who have been hardest hit. They have more than 400 volunteers on the ground.
To make a donation to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief, visit its online donation page.
You can also call 1-800-RED-CROSS or text "REDCROSS" to 90999 to make a $10 donation.
United Way: The United Way is collecting donations to support local nonprofit programs that are working to provide immediate and long-term recovery in the Memphis and Mid-South area.
To donate to the United Way, visit its online donation page.
The Salvation Army: The Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services is responding to the floods and has opened three response stations in the Memphis area. The response stations provide hot food, snacks, drinks, hygiene and baby supplies as well as emotional and spiritual support.
To donate to the Salvation Army's flood relief efforts, visit www.salvationarmyusa.org, click on their donation page and designate "May Floods."
You can call 1-800-SAL-ARMY and donors can text "GIVE" to 80888 to make a $10 donation. Checks can be made out to the Salvation Army Disaster Relief, P.O. Box 100339, Atlanta, Ga., 30384-0339.
Hope Presbyterian Church: Hope Presbyterian Church will serve as a donation and distribution hub, collecting donations to supply the shelters. Donations are accepted daily 7 a.m.-10 p.m. If you have any questions, please call (901) 755-7721.
To make a donation to Hope Presbyterian Church, visit its online donation section located at the bottom of this page.
All donated items must be new and in original packaging. At the request of the shelters, please only bring items from the list below:
Towels and washcloths BIG NEED FOR WASHCLOTHS
Batteries - sizes: C,D, AA, AAA BIG NEED
Ear Plugs BIG NEED
Socks for kids and adults BIG NEED
Flip Flops (for the showers) BIG NEED
Shaving cream/gel BIG NEED
Wal-Mart or Target gift cards BIG NEED
Deodorant Men's/Women's BIG NEED
Shampoo/conditioner (unopened hotel bottles work great)BIG NEED
Hair Brushes
Combs (Wide & Regular Tooth)
Pony tail holders/Hair clips
Body lotion
Hand Sanitizer
Gatorade
Toothbrushes (individually packaged)
Toothpaste
Training/Toddler Toothpaste BIG NEED
Children's toothbrushes BIG NEED
Hair Gel BIG BIG NEED
General first-aid (band-aids, ibuprofen, acetaminophen, TUMS, rubbing alcohol) BIG NEED FOR RUBBING ALCOHOL & PEROXIDE
Lip Balm BIG NEED
Diapers & Pull-Ups (all sizes) 0-3, 6, 2t, 3t, 4t, 5t
Baby/Child Medicine BIG NEED
Teething Medicine BIG NEED
Diaper Rash Cream BIG NEED
Travel size baby lotion & wash BIG NEED
Baby blankets
Baby food
Baby Oil BIG NEED
Baby spoons
Baby bottles
Baby pacifiers
Baby Shampoo/Lotion/Wash
Baby bottle brushes
Baby formula (No generics please: Carnation or Gerber "Good Start Gentle Plus")
Pedialyte
Vaseline (generic welcome) BIG NEED
Sanitary Pads/Tampons
Depends (NOT Adult Diapers) BIG NEED