Pine Island resident David Claflin and his pets have been staying in the Red Cross shelter at Hertz Arena after Hurricane Ian. He was evacuated by boat and and is living with stage 4 cancer, yet, he is grateful.
CENTRAL FLORIDA – OCTOBER 12, 2022 – It’s been two weeks since Hurricane Ian made landfall in Southwest Florida and the American Red Cross is here, continuing to work day and night with our partners to help Floridians struggling with the devastation Ian left behind. To date, more than 1,900 Red Cross workers have supported relief efforts for this storm -- the sixth major hurricane to hit the U.S. in the last six years.
With the help of partners Southern Baptist Disaster Relief and others, mobile kitchens are cooking tens of thousands of hot meals each day. More than 120 Red Cross emergency response vehicles are on the roads delivering these meals and relief supplies to the hardest hit areas. To date, more than 930,000 meals and snacks have been provided and some 167,000 comfort kits and other relief items like cleaning supplies have been distributed.
Red Cross shelters and disaster aid stations are also open where people can either stay or get food, relief supplies and other assistance. Trained volunteers are providing health and mental health support to families who have suffered unimaginable loss. This includes help coping with new challenges, managing medical conditions and replacing prescription medications or other critical medical equipment like canes and wheelchairs.
HOW TO GET HELP People who need a safe place to stay or a hot meal can find open shelters on redcross.org, the free Red Cross Emergency app or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767) and selecting the disaster option. Locations for Disaster Aid Stations are updated daily on the Central Florida Region Facebook page.
HOW TO GIVE HELP You can help people affected by Hurricane Ian by visiting redcross.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS, or texting the word IAN to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Your gift is a commitment to helping people in need, and every single donation matters.
The American Red Cross of Central Florida and the U.S. Virgin Islands serves 19 Florida counties through five chapters: Florida’s Space Coast (Daytona Beach), Greater Orlando, Mid-Florida (Winter Haven), Southwest Florida (Sarasota) and Tampa Bay; and the Virgin Islands territories of St. Thomas, St. Croix, St. John and Water Island. For more information, visit redcross.org. Also find us on Facebook and Twitter.
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.
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