Red Cross disaster worker Georgi Donchetz walks past cars abandoned during the evacuation. The South Fork and Salt Wildfires scorched more than 25,000 acres and destroyed entire neighborhoods. Photo by Marko Kokic/American Red Cross
The American Red Cross is on the ground in New Mexico and Iowa, helping the hundreds of people struggling to recover after losing everything in the devastating flooding and deadly wildfires in the two states.
In Iowa, new storms are dropping heavy rain in the same areas impacted in last week’s deluge. Early estimates indicate hundreds of homes are already affected.
In New Mexico, floodwaters and debris have damaged hundreds of homes and businesses. Both the Salt Fire and South Fork Fire are almost 90% contained and officials report lightning caused the South Fork Fire which scorched more than 17,500 acres.
RED CROSS RESPONSE Both the flooding and fires have caused tremendous losses, and the Red Cross will be with those affected in the weeks and months to come, helping them recover.
As many as 470 trained Red Cross disaster workers are helping people in Iowa and New Mexico, providing safe shelter, food, emotional and spiritual support, relief supplies and other services. Where it is safe to do so, the Red Cross is helping assess the damage left behind by both the flooding and wildfires. This information will determine what support the affected communities may need in the days and weeks ahead.
IOWA Working with partners, some 270 trained Red Cross disaster workers are helping those affected. Since the onset of the flooding, there have been almost 3,320 overnight stays in shelters managed or supported by the Red Cross. The Red Cross has also provided over 43,300 meals and snacks to those affected and distributed more than 6,670 relief supplies. See more about our response here.
NEW MEXICO The Red Cross has begun offering financial assistance for those who need help recovering and whose primary residences were destroyed or sustained eligible structural damage. This assistance will allow people to make their own decisions and prioritize what their family needs most to start recovering. Funds can help families replace clothes or food, offset transportation costs, replace religious or spiritual items, and support other immediate needs, such as verified, disaster-caused health and mental health concerns. The Red Cross works with partners and community advocates to identify households whose homes were destroyed or sustained eligible damage. This outreach includes sending mobile teams of Red Cross workers into heavily damaged neighborhoods and setting up enrollment sites. If you have questions about Red Cross financial assistance or other services call 1-800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767).
More than 200 trained Red Cross disaster workers from all over the U.S. are helping both in person and virtually. Since shelters were opened for this disaster, the Red Cross and our partners have provided more than 2,200 overnight stays, along with almost 27,700 meals and snacks and more than 7,800 relief supplies. More information on what the Red Cross is doing in New Mexico here.
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 enables the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from disasters big and small. Visit redcross.org, call 800-RED-CROSS (800-733-2767), or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.
PLEASE GIVE BLOOD Since the start of 2024, severe weather has caused approximately 20,000 blood donations to go uncollected. The American Red Cross critically needs blood and platelet donors now. Donors of all blood types are needed, especially those with type O blood and donors giving platelets. The Red Cross encourages those in unaffected areas to make and keep blood donation appointments now using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, by visiting RedCrossBlood.org or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
CLIMATE CRISIS AND DISASTERS The Red Cross is responding to twice as many major disasters now compared to a decade ago and is enhancing its large-scale disaster response and recovery services, expanding financial assistance, strengthening local partner networks, and growing our disaster workforce as families and communities struggle with more frequent and intense disasters. Find out more about the Red Cross and its work on the climate crisis here.
If you are impacted by flooding, find steps to help you stay safe here. Affected by wildfires? You can find safety steps here. Download the free Red Cross First Aid app so you’ll know what to do if emergency help is delayed and the free Emergency app for weather alerts, open Red Cross shelter locations and safety steps for different emergencies. Find these and all of the Red Cross apps in smartphone app stores by searching for the American Red Cross or going to redcross.org/apps.
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow us on social media.
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