Chicago Red Cross remembers 2013 tornado relief efforts

CHICAGO (WLS) -- After a disaster, those affected typically first feel shock. Losing everything at once makes it difficult to know where to start picking up the pieces. That's where the American Red Cross steps in. Even before the tornado touched down in Washington, Diamond and Coal City, volunteers were ready to offer relief.

It was all hands on deck at the American Red Cross of Greater Chicago when tornadoes ripped through parts of Central Illinois last year.

On the Chicago's West Side, Red Cross organizers watch weather forecasts, listen to police scanners and monitor locations where there is the greatest need.

"That morning we knew the storm was going to be bad," says Harley Jones of the Red Cross of Greater Chicago. "When November 17th came around, we partially activated the Emergency Operations Center to bring our volunteer leadership in the same room to start watching what was going on."

Volunteers were on the ground in the affected areas shortly after the tornado touched down, delivering water, providing shelter and covering other basic needs.

"In those early hours it was about opening nine shelters to make sure all of those people had a place to stay," Jones says "It was putting 21 of our emergency response vehicles on the ground delivering food and snacks and whatever people needed."

The Red Cross of Greater Chicago is also part of the long term recovery team working to help residents displaced by the storm. The coalition of about 50 non-profits still meets regularly and expects to stay in place at least through next year. Esmeralda Ozella, who was displaced by the tornado, says the group helped her family with expenses insurance would not cover.

"We stayed with family for a short time, but then we had to get a rental house, somewhere to stay and the Long Term Recovery group helped with furnishing it because we had nothing," Ozella says. "They provided beds and just basic necessities to our family."

The American Red Cross depends greatly on donations to provide disaster relief. Financial gifts as well as blood donations are critical to their operation.

ABC7Chicago will be partnering with the American Red Cross in January to host a city-wide blood drive in commemoration of the organization's 100th anniversary.

For more information about the Red Cross and their disaster relief services, visit www.redcross.org