LOS ANGELES - A passenger plane departed Los Angeles International Airport Sunday morning filled with American Red Cross disaster relief supplies to help residents of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) after Super Typhoon Yutu.

Relief supplies from across the country were gathered in a Red Cross staging warehouse in Los Angeles before being loaded onto a cargo jet and departing for Saipan. Items in the Boeing 747 cargo jet included relief items such as solar ovens, cleanup kits, and comfort kits containing personal hygiene items.

A similar operation took place earlier this year when Red Cross workers in Los Angeles received, processed, packaged, and shipped supplies from across the country to deliver to Hawaii after Hurricane Lane.

Yutu was the most powerful storm to hit the United States in more than 80 years, destroying homes with winds of 174 mph and gusts up to 235 mph, and depriving thousands of power and running water across two U.S. territories.

With relief underway and local businesses beginning to re-open their doors, the Red Cross is helping the local government alleviate the human toll of the storm by assisting in the operation of 18 shelters, while 80 Red Cross volunteers have helped distribute food, water, blankets, buckets, tarps, and emergency supplies to over 10,000 households.

About the American Red Cross

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members 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/la or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCrossLA or @CruzRojaLA.