Anchorage, AK, October 12, 2018 — For the second time in just weeks, the American Red Cross is helping thousands of people in the southeast after another devastating hurricane – Michael – slammed into the Gulf Coast this week as the third-strongest hurricane in U.S. history.

To contribute to the relief efforts, there are now 12 Alaska volunteers from Fairbanks, Ketchikan, Anchorage, Sitka, Kenai and Juneau that have departed for Georgia, Florida and Alabama to aid in sheltering and staffing, among other aspects of the Hurricane Michael relief efforts.

Meanwhile, the Red Cross of Alaska continues to support efforts in North Carolina through the power of volunteers. In total, 37 Alaska volunteers have spent a number of weeks lending a hand across both North and South Carolina following Hurricane Florence, which made landfall in mid-September. A handful of volunteers from across Alaska remain on the ground supporting sheltering, feeding, community partnerships and the distribution of emergency supplies in North Carolina.

MICHAEL The extent of this storm’s destruction is just now being revealed. In some areas, entire blocks of homes are demolished along with schools, medical facilities and businesses. More than a million people are without power, roads are closed and travel is impacted.

Thursday night, approximately 2,900 people stayed in as many as 37 Red Cross and community evacuation centers across Florida, Georgia and Alabama. The Red Cross has mobilized more than 1,000 trained disaster workers to provide shelter, food, health services and emotional support to those in the affected areas. More volunteers, relief supplies, vehicles and other equipment are being mobilized now.

FLORENCE Tropical Storm Michael has also now passed through the Carolinas, where the storm dropped several inches of rain in areas already saturated by Florence. The Red Cross is still on the ground there, continuing to help people impacted by the previous storm.

Thursday night, more than 500 people stayed in 10 Red Cross shelters in North Carolina. Thousands of Red Cross volunteers, working alongside partners, have served more than 1.55 million meals and snacks, and distributed more than 319,400 relief items like clean up kits, rakes, shovels, bleach, garbage bags and much more to help with the massive clean-up effort there.

HOW YOU CAN HELP This is the second massive hurricane response in the United States in less than a month. Thousands of people are looking to the Red Cross for help, and the organization depends on financial donations to be able to provide disaster relief immediately. Help people affected by Hurricane Michael by visiting redcross.org, calling 1- 800-RED CROSS or texting the word MICHAEL to 90999 to make a $10 donation.

About the American Red Cross of Alaska:
In FY18, the American Red Cross of Alaska offered food, shelter, comfort and hope to 892 Alaskans. We responded to 308 disasters. Our preparedness/Health and Safety teams installed 2,309 smoke alarms statewide and educated 1,722 youth through The Pillowcase Project. Additionally, our Service to the Armed Forces staff exchanged 1,161 emergency messages for U.S. military service personnel and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org/Alaska or visit us on Twitter at @redcrossak.