CONNECTICUT (November 25, 2024) — In 2024, the climate crisis mounted an overwhelming toll on people in Connecticut and the U.S., who relied on the American Red Cross for relief and care as they faced the country’s second-highest number of billion-dollar disasters ever recorded.

This year’s 24 major climate and weather events — each with losses exceeding $1 billion — are topped only by last year’s record-breaking 28. To help, hundreds of Red Cross volunteers have been part of teams responding nonstop to provide shelter, food and other assistance to tens of thousands of people reeling from this year’s hurricanes, storms, floods and wildfires. Locally, over 25% of our trained disaster responders deployed to assist with this season’s hurricanes, all while continuing to care for families affected by disasters like flooding in Western Connecticut and daily home fires across the state.

“First-hand, I’ve seen the devastation that disasters have caused families this year — and the climate crisis shows no signs of slowing down,” said Richard Branigan, CEO of the American Red Cross Connecticut and Rhode Island Region, who traveled to Florida in October to help respond to Hurricane Milton. “Whether a crisis happens in our backyard or a community across the country, neighbors are counting on us to help ensure they don’t face it alone. Please join us by making a donation of any size or rolling up a sleeve to give blood.”

This GivingTuesday (December 3) and holiday season, visit redcross.org to make a financial donation or an appointment to give blood. Individuals can also give the gift of time through volunteering. 

RESPONDING TO OTHER HUMANITARIAN NEEDS This year, the Red Cross addressed people’s urgent needs in other ways too:
 

• BLOOD DONATIONS: Millions of blood donors nationwide, including in Connecticut, helped overcome a significant number of blood drive cancellations due to the country’s severe weather and heat. This support was critical because as the nation’s largest blood supplier, the Red Cross helped ensure patients continued accessing lifesaving treatment during major disasters by pre-positioning blood products near areas likely to be impacted — including in Georgia and Florida for Hurricane Helene and in Florida again just days later for Hurricane Milton.  To celebrate 30 years of FRIENDS, all who come to give blood or platelets Nov. 18-Dec. 8 will receive two pairs of custom FRIENDS + Red Cross socks, while supplies last, in partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products. See RedCrossBlood.org/Friends for details.
• LIFESAVING TRAINING: With emergency rooms experiencing a spike in heat illness visits amid the country’s extreme temperatures, Red Cross instructors empowered millions of people — including over 57,600 in Connecticut — this year with vital first aid, CPR and AED skills to help them prevent and respond to heat stroke and heat exhaustion.
• MILITARY FAMILIES: Through our 24/7, global Hero Care Network, local Red Cross workers supported military members, veterans and their families in Connecticut this year through services, such as connecting deployed service members and loved ones during family emergencies.

Visit Red Cross Connecticut’s Year In Review webpage for more information about how the Red Cross helped Connecticut residents in 2024.

The Red Cross is grateful for our generous Disaster Responder and Ready 365 partners who allow us to bring help and hope to people in need year-round. These partners include Disaster Responder partners, Avangrid Foundation & Stanley Black & Decker and Ready 365 Giving Circle Partners, Edgewell Personal Care, The Diebold Foundation, The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc., Primo Brands, The ZAC Foundation, CVS Health, FactSet Research Systems, Inc., Henkel, M&T Charitable Foundation, Webster Bank, World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc., Amica Insurance, National Shooting Sports Foundation, Pitney Bowes, Robinson+Cole, The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, The Ernest & Joan Trefz Foundation, United Way of Southeastern Connecticut, Windward Trading Group, Community Foundation of Eastern CT, Connecticut Apartment Association, Duracell, ESPN, Gen Re, Linde, The Barden Foundation, The Hartford Foundation for Public Giving and United Way of Greater Waterbury.

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.