SAN FRANCISCO — The American Red Cross is deploying hundreds of disaster workers to Alaska where Typhoon Halong has left several coastal villages uninhabitable, forcing the evacuation of as many as 2,000 people to safe shelter in Anchorage, 500 miles from their homes. Some areas are only accessible by air or sea, with evacuees being airlifted by helicopter to Bethel, where Red Cross disaster workers will greet them and register them for their next flight to Anchorage.

In partnership with state agencies and emergency management, the Red Cross is opening and managing a mega shelter at the University of Alaska Anchorage to support evacuees. Relief teams are working around the clock to provide shelter, food and care and will continue to assess and expand services as needed to support impacted communities, including the villages of Kipnuk and Kwigillingok, among others.

As of today, 5 local volunteers from the Northern California Coastal Region are deploying to join the hundreds of Red Crossers who are supporting relief efforts. This could be a prolonged relief operation lasting for months as villages have been left inaccessible or unlivable as winter sets in. The Red Cross will also support people in these villages in addition to the relief operation with evacuees in Anchorage.

HOW YOU CAN HELP People are depending on the Red Cross for help, and we need your support. Help people affected by disasters big and small — whenever and wherever they occur across the country — by making a gift to Red Cross Disaster Relief at redcross.org or by calling 1- 800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

You can also choose to donate by texting the word REDCROSS to 90999, or call 1-800-RED CROSS (800- 733-2767). Other ways to support include making a blood donation, volunteering, or learning lifesaving skills like First Aid/CPR/AED to keep yourself and your community safe.

RECONNECT WITH LOVED ONES If you need assistance locating a missing loved one, the Red Cross may be able to help. Reach us at 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) and be ready to provide as much detail as possible to assist us in potentially locating your missing loved one.

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 visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.

# # #