[Miami, Fla., December 16, 2024] — In 2024, extreme weather mounted an overwhelming toll on people in South Florida 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, over 330 Red Cross volunteers from South Florida 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 — all while continuing to care for families still recovering from 2023’s extreme disasters.

“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 Krista Coletti, Regional Executive of the South Florida Region, who responded to hurricanes Helene and 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 putting on a red vest and volunteering.”

This holiday season, visit redcross.org to make a financial donation. Individuals can also give the gift of time through volunteering. 

NEED FOR FOOD IN 2024 NEARLY TRIPLES 5-YEAR NATIONAL AVERAGE Nationally, the scope of disasters increased this year’s demand for necessities like food and emergency lodging — which both exceeded the annual average for the past five years. In fact, this year’s more than 7 million meals and snacks, served by Red Cross volunteers, nearly tripled that average.

Locally, this included flooding in Broward and Miami-Dade counties and a multi-family fire in Miami. And on a national scale, volunteers from South Florida responded to help during disasters such as Hurricane Debby in North and Central Florida, Hurricanes Helene and Milton, severe storms, floods and wildfires in other areas of the country.

RESPONDING TO OTHER HUMANITARIAN NEEDS 

This year, the Red Cross addressed people’s urgent needs in other ways too:

• 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 24,000 in south Florida — 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 south Florida this year through over 4,000 services, such as connecting deployed service members and loved ones during family emergencies. Nationally, this also included answering thousands of calls from military families affected by this year’s hurricanes — including Helene and Milton — and connecting them with military aid societies to help facilitate recovery assistance. 

Visit redcrosss.org/SFLYearInReview for more information about how the American Red Cross South Florida Region helped people in South Florida in 2024.

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/southflorida and visit us on Facebook and X at @SFLRedCross.