2023 Disasters: Red Cross Helping People from Coast to Coast

The American Red Cross has been providing comfort and support nonstop to thousands of people across the country affected by the massive disasters that have occurred since 2023 began.

Since the first of the year, more than 3,400 trained Red Cross disaster workers from across the U.S. have delivered sorely needed assistance out west where relentless atmospheric rivers inundated California, as well as across the South and Midwest where deadly tornadoes and storms ripped through multiple states, upending entire communities.

Working alongside our partners, these Red Cross volunteers have provided (as of April 17):

• Almost 38,000 overnight stays in emergency shelters
• Almost 500,000 meals and snacks
• More than 156,000 relief supplies to households in need
   

These large relief efforts are on top of the thousands of home fires and smaller disasters in local communities that Red Cross volunteers respond to every day.

As we continue to provide food, shelter, supplies, health services and emotional support to families from California to Georgia, the Red Cross is also starting to helping people plan the next steps in their recovery. In some circumstances, this could include financial assistance for some of those hit hardest and in need of extra support.

The Red Cross is spending tens of millions of dollars to help families affected by these massive disasters spanning coast to coast. These costs include providing meals, shelter, blankets, cots, emotional support, health services, spiritual care, financial assistance and relief supplies. It also includes some of the less visible costs that make relief possible, including disaster response vehicles, warehouse space, staff, volunteer travel and technology expenses.

THE DANGER ISN’T OVER. In California, experts are concerned that as the record-setting snowpack begins to melt it may cause more dangerous flooding in the weeks to come. Plus, the start of what could be very active hurricane and wildfire seasons is just around the corner.

These massive disasters are happening more and more as a result of the worsening climate crisis. In the last five years, the number of billion-dollar disasters has nearly doubled compared to the previous five years. And, the Red Cross is now launching twice as many relief operations for major disasters than we did a decade ago.

YOU CAN HELP The Red Cross is on the ground now and will be working side-by-side with our partners to help people in need for weeks and months to come. Your generous donations will enable the Red Cross to respond to and help people recover from these disasters.

Help those affected by disasters like fires, storms and countless other crises by making a gift to Red Cross Disaster Relief. Visit redcross.org, call 800-RED-CROSS (800-733-2767), or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Your gift enables the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from disasters big and small across the country.

For those interested in helping people specifically affected by the storms and floods in California, we ask that they write “California Storms and Floods” in the memo line of a check and mail it with a completed donation form to the address on the form or to their local Red Cross chapter. Find the donation form at redcross.org/donate.

To ensure your donation helps people affected by only the Southern and Midwest tornadoes and storms, choose that option at redcross.org/donate or through 1-800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767). You can also text the word TORNADO to 90999 to make a $10 donation.

BECOME A VOLUNTEER With these ongoing disasters and active hurricane and wildfire seasons coming soon, there is a critical need for more individuals to volunteer so we can support people who depend on the Red Cross for help. Learn more here.