Red Cross Helping Coast to Coast

The American Red Cross is on the ground, helping people down south after Hurricane Ida and the flash flooding in Tennessee, as well as supporting people out west affected by the massive wildfires.

YOU CAN HELP PEOPLE affected by floods, wildfires and countless other crises by making a gift to Red Cross Disaster Relief. Your gift is a commitment to helping people in need, and every single donation matters. Financial donations enable the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from disasters big and small. Visit redcross.org, call 800-RED-CROSS, or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.

GIVE BLOOD Through our national inventory system, the Red Cross has the ability to move blood around the country to wherever and whenever it is needed most. The Red Cross also urges individuals in unaffected areas of the country to make an appointment to give blood to ensure a sufficient blood supply remains available for patients. Schedule a blood or platelet donation appointment by using the Red Cross Blood Donor app, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (800-733- 2767).

VOLUNTEER If you have the time, you can make a significant impact as a Red Cross volunteer. Review our most urgently needed volunteer positions at redcross.org/volunteertoday.

TROPICAL STORM IDA

The damage left behind from Hurricane Ida in Louisiana and Mississippi is becoming clearer. More than a million people are without power; homes and businesses are destroyed; cell phone, water and sewer services are down in many areas; roads are damaged or blocked; and many communities remain flooded.

Some 450 trained Red Cross workers are on the ground now with hundreds more traveling from all over the country to help. Monday night, more than 1,500 people sought refuge in some 38 Red Cross and community shelters across Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Texas.

With the help of partners, the Red Cross has already provided more than 7,000 meals and snacks. Mobile kitchens capable of preparing tens of thousands of meals are being set up now with the help of the Southern Baptist Convention. In the coming days, dozens of Red Cross emergency response vehicles will begin bringing food and relief supplies to people across the region.

Trained Red Cross volunteers are helping evacuees cope as they await news about whether they will have a home to return to. Volunteers are also replacing prescription medications, eyeglasses or critical medical equipment, like canes and wheelchairs, which were left behind in the rush to get to safety.

While we do not typically serve hospitals in Louisiana, the Red Cross is standing ready to support and provide blood products as needed.

Ida isn’t done yet. As Ida heads northeast, states all the way to the mid-Atlantic region can expect heavy rain and possible flash flooding this week. People in those states should finalize their storm preparations now.

TENNESSEE FLOODING

As hundreds of families across middle Tennessee undertake the difficult task of cleaning up their homes from the recent catastrophic flooding, officials are warning that Tropical Storm Ida may strike the same area, bringing the risk of new flooding.

The American Red Cross is working alongside emergency officials and community groups to help those in need with a safe place to stay, food to eat, critical relief supplies, emotional support and comfort for families affected by the deadly flooding.

Red Cross emergency response vehicles are circulating through accessible areas to distribute hot meals, water and critical relief supplies including cleanup kits, hygiene items, gloves, shovels and tarps. Some 180 trained Red Cross volunteers are working alongside our partners and have helped to provide more than 9,200 meals and snacks and distribute more than 5,700 relief supplies to people in need.

Volunteers have met with more than 1,200 people, providing emotional support, health services and spiritual care for people during this challenging situation. In the coming days, the Red Cross will be reaching out to families that need recovery assistance to offer support. We plan to provide financial assistance to help families replace clothes or food, offset transportation costs, or support any other immediate needs. In Waverly, the Red Cross is meeting with people at a multi-agency resource center people can learn about available services and programs to help them rebuild their lives.

WESTERN WILDFIRES

More than 58,000 Californians are under evacuation orders as the state’s massive wildfires continue to spread. The American Red Cross has been helping since June and will continue to assist people devastated by these relentless fires for as long as support is needed. Monday night the Red Cross and our partners cared for nearly 900 Californians seeking refuge from wildfires in about 25 emergency shelters and locations where people have chosen to stay outside. Since June, we’ve provided more than 13,900 overnight stays for people in need. Since the fires began, over 780 Red Cross disaster workers have supported relief efforts in person or virtually. About 330 disaster responders are still active across the state today.

With the help of partners, the Red Cross has provided 40,000 meals and snacks and distributed 2,500 relief items. Volunteers have already made more than 10,000 contacts providing emotional support, health services and spiritual care for people who’ve been evacuated. The Red Cross has also provided financial assistance to more than 1,700 people who have experienced loss due to recent California wildfires.