The American Red Cross has relief operations set up across multiple states to help people in an area covering about 240,000 square miles who are impacted by the deadly flooding and tornadoes which have been plaguing the Midwest and South since April 2. The situation is still evolving and the threat of flooding and severe weather isn’t over.

RED CROSS RESPONSE The Red Cross is providing safe shelter, meals and emergency supplies in storm-impacted communities.

More than 20 Central Florida responders are among hundreds of  disaster workers helping from all across the country, including some 40 emergency shelter teams to making sure people have a safe place to stay.

One of the shelter volunteers is Eloise Major from Orlando, a first-time deployer. "I'm excited about this deployment, but most of all, I feel this is a good precursor to our hurricane season that we have coming," she said.

CLIMATE CRISIS  Thus far in 2025, the country has already witnessed a significant number of big disasters, following 2024, which recorded the second-highest number of billion-dollar disasters in a single year, highlighted by extreme events such as Hurricanes Helene and Milton.

Today, the Red Cross is responding nonstop to new major disasters about every 15 days, compared to monthly a decade ago. These massive events, like storms and wildfires, are on top of the home fires — which upend families multiple times every day across the country.

HOW YOU CAN HELP Please click, text or call to support Red Cross Disaster Relief and help people affected by disasters like fires, floods and countless other crises. Visit redcross.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767) or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Your gift enables the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from disasters big and small.

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