Council seeks federal funding for storm clean up

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - Mobile City Council Member Fred Richardson said he wants Mayor Sam Jones to ask for the federal government's help to assist tornado victims.

Richardson said that help should come as quickly as it did for victims of Superstorm Sandy in the northeast.

He said, "They rush to the rich and the famous, and, I'm afraid if we don't prod them, they won't come."

Help from the Red Cross

Officials with the American Red Cross said they've been answering calls from tornado victims and trying to assist them.

Sometimes, its providing a temporary place to stay, but it can even be providing tarp for people who've lost the roof of their home.

Elizabeth Saunders with the American Red Cross said, "We've got volunteers doing case work, going out to their houses where they (tornado victims) were staying last night, and just seeing what they need, and, then, well help them on a case-by-case basis."

Keeping "Samson" dry

One person who stopped by the American Red Cross office to get tarp Friday was Christopher Evans.

He said the tornado blew the roof off his home on Hart Avenue.

Evans said, "The roof lifted up, and I could see the rain coming in. And that's when I rolled off the bed, and, five minutes after I rolled off the bed, the ceiling came down."

Fortunately, Evans said his pet Pekingese dog, Samson, was in the front room and wasn't hurt.

Soaked furniture

Daisy Jackson lives on Union Avenue. She came to the American Red Cross office Friday to ask about furniture.

 She said, "My furniture is just messed up: wet, water just destroyed that."