Response to Midwest Storms and Flooding
Overview
The remnants of Tropical Storm Erin and a storm system in the upper Midwest combined to cause heavy flooding in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Ohio, Iowa, Texas, Oklahoma, and Missouri during August. More than 20 people died and thousands were forced to evacuate their homes and seek shelter.
American Red Cross Response
More than 3,400 Red Cross disaster workers have assisted relief efforts in the affected areas. Services have included sheltering evacuees, serving meals and snacks, providing clean-up and comfort kits, and offering health and mental health assistance (in cases where the potential exists to make a significant difference in an individual's or family's ability to recover from the flooding).
How to Get Help
If are in need of emergency shelter, water or food, please contact your local American Red Cross chapter for assistance.
Finding Missing Loved Ones
Before disaster strikes, take time to create a family communications plan and complete an emergency contact card for all family members. Planning ahead is the best way to stay connected when disaster strikes. However, if you are separated from or cannot locate loved ones in the aftermath of a disaster, the Safe and Well List Web site also can be used as a resource when normal communications are disrupted.
How to Support the Relief Efforts
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Donate to the Disaster Relief Fund |
All American Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the American people. You can help the victims of thousands of disasters across the country each year by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, which enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to victims of disaster.
Making a financial contribution is the best way to help. To make a donation: |
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Call 1-800-RED CROSS or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish) |
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Make at secure, online donation.
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Contact your local Red Cross chapter |
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Mail a Donation
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The American Red Cross honors donor intent. If you wish to designate a donation for a specific disaster, please do so at the time of donation.
NOTE: The Red Cross has a four-star rating from Charity Navigator for its effective use of donations. |
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Become A Volunteer |
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Contact your local Red Cross chapter or visit Volunteer Match to become a Red Cross volunteer. Well-meaning individuals are urged not to report directly to the affected areas. |
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Find your local Red Cross chapter |
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Visit VolunteerMatch.org |
Promote the Red Cross |
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Support the American Red Cross by hosting an online advertisement/public service banner on your Web site encouraging others to make a financial donation. |
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Sign up to host an online advertisement/public service banner |
About Donations of Goods or Collected Items
Unsolicited, spontaneous donations of goods and services from individuals and community groups, though well intentioned, have hidden costs and pose a number of complications for relief efforts. For these reasons, the Red Cross is not able to accept any large collections of items, such as used clothing, hygiene items, furniture, toys, and canned goods. Nor are we able to accept small, individual donations of these items.
If you represent a company wishing to offer supplies in bulk, please contact your local Red Cross chapter.
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Read more About Collections of Goods and Individual Items |
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Find your Local Red Cross Chapter |
Inquiries Media or Public
Please visit the American Red Cross Press Room on Redcross.org for the latest press releases, media advisories or statements, links to available news photos, video and public service announcements. |
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Visit the Press Room on Redcross.org |
Medial Requests ONLY |
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NATIONAL Requests: Call Disaster Public Affairs at 202-303-5551 |
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LOCAL Requests: Find and contact the closest Red Cross Chapter |
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Public requests, including private citizen, business, or student: |
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Visit the Contact Us page. |
Additional Resources
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