2026 has already been a busy disaster year for the American Red Cross. In just the first six months, Red Cross teams have responded to about 280 disasters.

Today, more than 900 disaster volunteers remain hard at work, helping people across a massive area stretching from far out in the Pacific, north to Alaska, to the West Coast and Midwest.

(For more information on each response, check out the links below.)

ISLANDS ARE TARGETS AGAIN All eyes are once again on Guam and the Marianas Islands as Tropical Storm Saudel heads toward the region. People are still recovering from the two super typhoons ─ Sinlaku and Bavi ─ which slammed into the islands just weeks apart earlier this year. This led to two large relief operations and some people are now living in tents, their homes destroyed. The Red Cross is closely monitoring the new storm, preparing to launch a response if necessary.

Meanwhile in Hawaii, a new storm could bring severe weather to the state over the next few days as people work hard to clean up after last week’s Hurricane Lala. Lala destroyed roads, took down power lines and wiped as many as 100 homes off their foundations. Red Cross teams are watching the new storm to respond if necessary as they continue to help people impacted by Lala, offering shelter, helping with damage assessment and handing out clean-up kits, tarps, water, food and snacks.

WILDFIRES Stateside, the Red Cross has been helping thousands of people impacted by the numerous wildfires burning up and down the West Coast. The threat across the area isn’t over, critical and elevated wildfire conditions are expected over the next several days.

There have been more than 730 fires in Washington, consuming more than 406,000 acres. At the beginning of August, several fires in and around Spokane led to the evacuation of as many as 65,000 people and destroyed hundreds of homes. Local volunteers, joined by hundreds of Red Crossers from across the country, are still helping. Shelters remain open and the Red Cross is bringing help directly to families as they return to fire-scarred neighborhoods —delivering food, water and cleanup supplies to help them begin the difficult work of recovery.

Fires are also burning in Oregon, where the Red Cross has a shelter open in Chiloquin due to the Wrights Spring Fire which is 56% contained. There have been 61 large fires in Oregon so far this year which have claimed 2.4 million acres.

Over the past several months, more than 1,200 Red Cross disaster responders have been supporting people impacted by the fires. They have served as many as 19,800 meals and more than 26,000 snacks, opened as many as 62 shelters, provided over 4,400 overnight stays and distributed more than 47,000 relief items.

The Red Cross is also helping in Alaska after a fire started earlier this week, charring thousands of acres. People were forced to evacuate and the Red Cross has a shelter open where volunteers are feeding residents and first responders.

MIDWEST STORMS Severe weather has been plaguing people in Illinois for the last several weeks, the latest happening last weekend when heavy rainfall led to renewed flooding. More than 80 Red Cross disaster volunteers are providing shelter, food and support to those impacted by these devastating storms. Two shelters are open and Red Crossers are helping with damage assessment. Where power is still out in Cook County, the Red Cross is delivering boxes of food from the Greater Chicago Food Depository and will be part of a Multi-Agency Resource Center through the weekend.

In Indiana, rivers crested at record-setting levels, destroying roads and bridges. Officials reported there were hundreds of evacuations and rescues, that people in Indianapolis were living through the worst flooding in 30 years.

Since this severe weather began several weeks ago, more than 315 Red Cross disaster volunteers have been working around the clock to help and support those affected. They have opened or supported more than 30 emergency shelters and seen as many as 1,747 overnight stays in these shelters. With partners, these volunteers have provided more than 41,450 meals and snacks and distributed more than 1,800 relief items. They have supported damage assessment where it is safe to do so and caseworkers have served more than 440 people with recovery support, including financial assistance, replacement of eyeglasses and other medical needs like refilling prescriptions.

The Red Cross also has shelters open in New Lexington, Lawrenceburg, Heath, Zanesville, Pataskala and Columbus in Ohio after storms and heavy rain this week caused flooding. There were numerous water rescues and evacuations across the region. Roads are closed and houses damaged or destroyed.

HOW CAN I HELP? Please help people affected by disasters like wildfires, floods and countless other crises by making a donation to Red Cross Disaster Relief. You can donate by visiting redcross.org, calling 1- 800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767) or texting the word REDCROSS to 90999. Your gift enables the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from disasters big and small, whenever and wherever they occur across the country.