American Red Cross Helping Victims of Hurricane Wilma

WASHINGTON, Monday, October 24, 2005 — As Hurricane Wilma thundered through large areas of Florida, the American Red Cross had already distributed truckloads of supplies for more than 100 shelters across the affected area. Hundreds of thousands of ready to eat meals, snacks and personal hygiene supplies were in place in an Orlando staging area days before the storm hit. Red Cross relief workers were dispatched to ensure that shelters were well stocked to supply food, water and various personal hygiene items to shelter residents.

Even as the organization continues to help the survivors of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita reassemble their lives, the Red Cross had supplies available for Hurricane Wilma.

“Despite the unprecedented response the Red Cross is putting forth for the survivors of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, American Red Cross volunteers are already serving the many residents of Florida who have been impacted by the hurricane,’’ said Joe Becker, American Red Cross senior vice president of preparedness and response.

Red Cross employees and volunteers have been in Florida since days before Hurricane Wilma hit. We are prepared to begin distribution of nearly 360,000 ready to eat meals and 160,000 prepared sandwiches and are mobilizing kitchens throughout the state that will be able to provide thousands of meals a day in Florida.

The Red Cross has also dispatched the Spirit of America, a mobile kitchen built after September 11, which can prepare more than 20,000 meals daily. Meals will be brought to feeding sites, by one of thirty Emergency Rescue Vehicles (ERVs) in place to meet the needs of evacuees and relief workers.

In preparation for the clean up that will take place in the coming days, others supplies are on standby such as such as blankets, coolers, gloves, trash bags, tarps, bleach, children’s books, flashlights and water.

Once it is safe to return home, the Red Cross will also set up feeding centers in areas where residents may not be able to prepare meals in their own kitchens because of power outages or damage to homes.

The American Red Cross urges evacuees not to return home until local or shelter officials indicate that it is safe to do so. Downed trees, power lines, and other destruction can pose serious perils. For safety information after a hurricane, log on to www.redcross.org.

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, disasters like the Midwest ice storms, 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. 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. Call 1-800-REDCROSS 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.