Crossposted on BCLCblog.com

Tornadoes affected six states in the Southern U.S. this past week causing major damage in many areas. The state of Alabama was the most heavily affected state, experiencing a mile-wide F-5 tornado that damaged the cities of Tuscaloosa and Birmingham. Experts are saying that it is the deadliest tornado in 40 years, killing at least 297 people. Three hundred thousand people in Alabama were without power on Thursday, with half of the affected customers in the Birmingham area. President Obama signed a disaster declaration in the State of Alabama to help with the relief and recovery efforts in the state.

While the tornado narrowly missed Birmingham’s central business district, many small businesses have still been affected. The Birmingham Business Journal reports on damage reports coming in. Disaster-affected small businesses that are not sure what to do, or don’t know what resources are available to them, should call BCLC’s National Disaster Help Desk at 1-888-MY-BIZ-HELP (1-888-692-4943). The Help Desk is made possible by the Office Depot Foundation.

During times of crises, businesses (and citizens) often wonder how they can help people in the affected area. Our advice in these situations is to let the first responders do their jobs and plug in with your established nonprofit partners who are working on the ground. We advise against funding startup nonprofits and sending unsolicited volunteers or in-kind donations to the disaster area. Our advice on how to give appropriately during disaster times is summed up here. If your company is interested in giving now and you don’t have pre-established partners, please visit the National Voluntary Agencies Active in Disaster (NVOAD)’s website for ways to help. Additionally, if you would like advice on your giving strategy, call the Help Desk. 

During times of tragedy such as these, it is important to remember that disasters can happen in a flash and we must be prepared to deal with their devastating effects. To learn more about tornado preparedness, visit the Red Cross checklist.