Red Cross Providing Financial and Housing Assistance to Victims of Hurricane Rita

WASHINGTON, Friday, September 30, 2005 — Even as it continues to offer emergency shelter and food to those unable to return to their homes in the wake of the storm, the American Red Cross is expanding its financial and housing assistance to residents of areas heavily impacted by Hurricane Rita.

"The scope of both disasters requires an unprecedented response on the part of the Red Cross," said Joe Becker, American Red Cross Senior Vice President, Preparedness and Response. "We are doing everything we can, as quickly as we can, to support the evacuees as they begin to recover."

• Victims of both Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita are receiving assistance for their most immediate disaster-caused needs. The Red Cross will continue to feed and shelter people affected by the storms as long as needed.
• The Red Cross is also providing families with financial assistance, meant to meet immediate, emergency needs and be a bridge until governmental assistance is available.
• Eligibility for financial assistance is based upon a victim’s disaster caused needs and verified disaster-caused damage to a residence. Service is provided by calling the toll free number or by visiting service centers.

Financial assistance will be given only once to victims of either hurricane. Case workers will refer hurricane survivors to other community, state and federal resources for additional assistance.

There are currently three ways for hurricane victims to register for Red Cross financial assistance:

1. Call our toll-free financial hotline at 1-800-975-7585
2. In the affected area, contact an American Red Cross service center, where available
3. If outside the hurricane-impacted area, contact your local Red Cross chapter

In mounting its unprecedented response to the needs of an estimated 1.4 million hurricane victims, the Red Cross continues to focus on its core mission to provide emergency shelter, food, emotional support and financial assistance for immediate needs. As families return to their homes following the hurricanes, many are finding that stocks of refrigerated and frozen food have spoiled. Although the Red Cross does not provide financial assistance to replace spoiled food, it will direct clients to Red Cross feeding facilities and other community resources. The Red Cross also does not cover costs related to evacuation travel.

In addition, the Red Cross has worked with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to expand the motel housing program to accommodate Rita evacuees who cannot return home. Victims of Hurricane Rita from counties that have received a FEMA disaster declaration for individual assistance who were able to find housing in motels following the storm may be eligible to have those rooms paid for by FEMA.

Red Cross financial assistance is separate from any assistance provided by the FEMA and other community agencies. Individuals applying to FEMA following Hurricane Katrina and Rita have already begun to receive financial assistance.

Evacuees checking into motels must identify themselves as evacuees and show identification confirming their former residence in order to be eligible for housing assistance. Individuals and families who are not able to locate available motels should contact a local Red Cross chapter for help in finding shelter.

If they have not yet done so, residents who are already checked into motels should alert front desk staff that they are hurricane evacuees. Clients will receive 30 days worth of covered housing at a time, which may be extended as needed.

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 the recent hurricanes 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. Call 1-800-HELP NOW or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Contributions to the Disaster Relief Fund may be sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P. O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. Internet users can make a secure online contribution by visiting www.redcross.org. The American Red Cross honors donor intent. If you wish to designate your donation to a specific disaster please do so at the time of your donation.