‘Acute-to-Chronic’: Red Crossers Respond to 80+ Disasters in 100 Days

Over the past 100 days, the American Red Cross has responded to more than 80 separate disasters, some accelerated by the effects of the climate crisis.

“We use the phrase 'acute-to-chronic” to describe how the frequency of big disasters has changed so dramatically in the United States over the past 40 years,” reports Brad Kieserman, vice president, Disaster Operations and Logistics for the Red Cross. “In the 1980s, we had an average of three billion-dollar disasters each year, while over the past five years the country has seen a 6-fold increase and now averages 18 of them annually.”

Kieserman stated this time of year — November to February — used to be relatively quiet when it came to major disasters in the U.S. For example, in 2014 and 2015 during the same time frame, the Red Cross responded to about 30 disasters, only a third of what occurred over the last 100 days.

“This data highlights how we’re now running major disaster operations nearly continually throughout the year as our climate changes and extreme weather increases,” said Kieserman. “Acute-to-chronic means Red Cross volunteers are regularly on the ground after disasters, setting up shelters, arranging for hot meals and providing comfort to thousands of people with no place else to go.”

RECENT DISASTERS

Hurricane Ian: Making landfall in Florida in 2022, Ian is tied with several other storms as the fifth-strongest hurricane on record. More than 22,000 homes were destroyed or received major damage due to the storm

• The Red Cross was still operating shelters in Florida in early November after Hurricane Ian’s devastation.
  
• The Red Cross, working alongside partners, provided more than 60,000 shelter overnight stays; served over 1.7 million meals and snacks; distributed emergency supplies to over 36,000 households; and helped over 30,000 people with recovery support and financial assistance.
  
• Our new program, "Shelter Resident Transition (SRT) Follow-Up", is currently tracking and offering casework, social service referrals, and additional financial assistance to over 800 of the most at-risk families affected by Hurricane Ian. SRT Follow-Up is now a permanent part of our efforts around mission adaptation: the work we're doing to adapt to "acute-to-chronic" disasters in America.   
  
• Our Long-Term Recovery Office is beginning to stand up in Florida, and we've initiated a new program aimed at preventing our most vulnerable displaced clients from falling into or deeper into poverty. These new programs will continue our Ian operations in Florida for another two years.

Atmospheric Rivers: Beginning in late December and continuing through much of January, multiple back-to-back "atmospheric river" storms hit California bringing life-threatening floods, power-outages, evacuations, landslides, sinkholes and downed trees, damaging hundreds of homes across the state.

• The Red Cross, working alongside partners, provided over 9,000 shelter overnight stays to people forced from their homes, served more than 63,100 meals and snacks, and distributed more than 14,700 relief items such as comfort kits and other relief supplies.
  
• Red Crossers are still on the ground helping families to recover and providing financial support to families who need extra support.

Southern Tornadoes: In mid-January, devastating tornadoes struck in Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.
Hardest hit were Georgia, Texas, Louisiana, Florida and Alabama. The National Weather Service has confirmed 123 tornadoes in the U.S. so far this year. Only one other January since 2000 had over 100 tornado reports.

• In response to the tornadoes, Red Cross volunteers helped to provide over 1,600 shelter overnight stays, serve over 54,000 meals and snacks and supply over 4,200 households with nearly 30,000 relief items.  
  
• Some 2,500 people have been helped to recover through casework support and financial assistance.

This extreme weather is not just a 2023 phenomenon. More than 40% of Americans — some 130 million people — lived in a county struck by an extreme weather event in 2021. Year after year, the Red Cross is supporting families who are struggling to cope in the face of increasing climate-driven disasters.

YOU CAN HELP people affected by disasters like floods, fires 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. Donations for Disaster Relief enable the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from disasters big and small. Visit redcross.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767), or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.