Hurricane Ian made landfall on September 28^th, 2022, as a major Category 4 storm, upending the lives of thousands of people from Fort Myers to Daytona Beach before turning northward and carving a path of destruction through Georgia, Alabama, the Carolinas and Virginia. Before Ian made landfall, the Red Cross had pre-positioned critical supplies and volunteers stood ready to provide aid. But a response of this scale requires community support and because of a long-standing partnership with the AME Church, the Red Cross and partners were able to immediately assist those who were impacted by the storm’s extreme winds and destructive storm surge.

The AME Church network served as locations for distributing emergency supplies and meals to their communities. It supported communication efforts related to the Red Cross financial assistance programs and helped locate distribution hubs within the faith-based community. Local organizations like the AME Church provided access to communities that help the Red Cross fulfill its mission of alleviating suffering in the face of emergencies.

Thank you to the AME Church for your continued partnership.