Hurricane Wilma - United States
Disaster Overview
On Wednesday, Oct. 19, Hurricane Wilma became the most intense hurricane on record in the Atlantic Basin when the atmospheric (barometric) pressure of the then Category 5 storm was measured at 882 millibars.
The storm system, which became the 21st named storm of the 2005 hurricane season on Monday, Oct. 17, gained strength becoming a Category 1 Hurricane on Tuesday, Oct. 18, and rapidly intensified overnight to become a Category 5 on Wednesday, Oct. 19. That bump in wind speed combined with the low barometric pressure made Wilma the most intense hurricane on record and prompted an early call for evacuation of tourists in the Florida Keys.
Coming just a week after Hurricane Stan, Wilma hit some of the same countries in the Caribbean and Central America before making a sharp turn, as forecasters predicted, towards the United States. While Wilma dropped in intensity as it crossed the Yucatan Peninsula -- all the way down to a Category 1 -- the warm conditions of the Gulf of Mexico soon revved the storm back up to a Cateogry 3. It made landfall in Cape Romano, Fla., (south of Naples and just west of Everglades City) early on Monday, Oct. 24, dropping just barely to a Category 2 storm as it quickly moved across state. Once over open water again, the storm restrengthened and moved north.
Wilma was also blamed mixing with a separate storm front in the Northeastern United States and fueling an early nor'easter storm that pummeled the coast with heavy rain as well as high winds and battering waves and even snow in higher elevations.
American Red Cross Response
While continuing to help survivors of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, who are trying to put their lives back together, the American Red Cross mobilized on all fronts in preparation for Hurricane Wilma’s landfall on the Southwest Coast of Florida as well as its anticipated path across the state.
As Hurricane Wilma thundered through large areas of Florida , the Red Cross already had dispatched truckloads to supply more than 100 shelters across the affected area with hundreds of thousands of ready-to-eat meals, snacks and personal comfort (hygiene) supplies.
These relief supplies were gathered in place in an Orlando staging area days before the storm hit. Red Cross relief workers were deployed to ensure that shelters were prepared and ready to supply food, water and other supplies and support to shelter residents.
By pre-positioning disaster relief workers along with supplies and other response equipment, the Red Cross was able to begin relief efforts immediately after the storm passed. Red Cross employees and volunteers have been in Florida since before Hurricane Wilma made landfall and are prepared to begin the distribution of nearly 360,000 ready-to-eat meals and 160,000 prepared sandwiches
The Red Cross has deployed the Spirit of America, a mobile kitchen built after the Sept.11 terrorist attacks that can prepare more than 20,000 meals daily, as well as other mobile kitchens throughout the state that will be able to provide thousands of meals a day. Meals will be brought to community feeding sites by Red Cross emergency response vehicles in place to meet the needs of evacuees and relief workers.
In anticipate of the clean up efforts that will need to take place in the coming days, other supplies are on standby such as such as blankets, coolers, gloves, trash bags, tarps, bleach, children’s books, flashlights and water.
As evacuees return to their homes, the Red Cross has set up feeding centers to provide meals in communities where residents may not be able to prepare their own meals because of power outages or damage to houses.
Facts at a Glance |
Updated as of Nov. 23, 2005 |
Disaster relief operations change constantly. These numbers are approximate and unaudited:
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Shelters Open Overnight: |
9
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Shelters Open to Date: |
105 |
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Overnight Stays to Date: |
76,229 |
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Meals Served Yesterday: |
1,920 |
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Meals Served to Date: |
3,799,230
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Snacks Served Yesterday: |
540 |
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Snacks Served to Date: |
2,382,270 |
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Mental & Health Services Contacts to Date: |
67,380 |
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Comfort & Clean Up Kits to Date: |
36,380 |
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Red Cross Relief Workers to Date: |
6,755 |
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. After a disaster, follow the plan by checking in with the designated contact person.
Remember, people may be overwhelming telephone lines immediately following a disaster. Try to be patient if lines are busy or not working and call again later. Or, try sending e-mail or text
messages, if those options are available, since these are sometimes able to get
through when telephone calls cannot.
The American Red Cross Family Links Registry also can be used as a resource to reconnect with missing loved ones where and when normal communications are disrupted. Evacuees can log-on to report their current location and loved ones can search an online database of evacuees reporting their locations.
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 recents disasters and thousands of other 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 those in need. Making a financial contribution is the best way to help. To make a donation: |
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Call 1-800-HELP NOW or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish) |
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Make at secure, online donation at www.redcross.org. |
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Contact your local Red Cross chapter |
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Mail a Donation to:
American Red Cross
P.O. Box 37243
Washington, D.C. 20013
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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. At least 91 cents of every dollar donated to the American Red Cross goes directly to assist disaster victims. |
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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 |
Give Blood |
Blood donations are always needed, and it is an important part of preparedness for individuals to make blood donation a regular part of their life. Disasters may prompt the closure of blood collection facilities in the affected area or may cause the cancellation of scheduled blood drives. To ensure that blood is always available in time of need, schedule an appointment to donate and become a regular blood donor.
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Call 1-800 GIVE LIFE |
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Visit GiveLife.org |
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Or, contact your local blood collection agency |
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 |
Media Inquiries
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 |
NATIONAL Medial Requests ONLY: Please call Disaster Public Affairs |
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Call 202-303-5551 |
LOCAL Media: Please contact the American Red Cross Chapter nearest you.
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Find the closest Red Cross Chapter |
Public Comments or Questions
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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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