MIAMI (September 11, 2018) – The American Red Cross is preparing for a large relief effort as Hurricane Florence and Tropical Storm Isaac continue toward the East Coast and the Caribbean. The South Florida Region of the American Red Cross has quickly mobilized to send support to the areas expected to be the most affected. To date, over 30 South Florida Red Cross staff members and volunteers have deployed to Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and the U.S. Virgin Islands to assist in Red Cross relief efforts.

These individuals are just a few of the more than 700 disaster workers that are in route to the regions to help. They will be supporting different areas of service ranging from mass care, logistics, public affairs and government operations. The Red Cross is also deploying vehicles, equipment and relief supplies and will continue to do so until it is no longer safe to travel.

The Red Cross is preparing to help as many as 100,000 people in the affected areas and is working with state and local officials to identify and prepare evacuation shelters.

“Just as our Red Cross colleagues came from all over the United States to help us a year ago during Hurricane Irma, now we can reciprocate the help and support,” said Joanne Nowlin, Regional CEO of the South Florida Region. “We are One Red Cross and we come together when disaster strikes.”

HOW YOU CAN HELP: The Red Cross depends on financial donations to be able to provide disaster relief immediately. Help people affected by Hurricane Florence by visiting redcross.org, calling 1- 800-RED CROSS or texting the word FLORENCE to 90999 to make a $10 donation.

• Donations enable the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from this disaster.
• The Red Cross honors donor intent. Donors can designate their donation to Hurricane Florence relief efforts by choosing that option when donating on redcross.org or on 1-800-RED CROSS.
• The best way to ensure your donation will go to a specific disaster is to write the specific disaster name in the memo line of a check. We also recommend completing and mailing the donation form on redcross.org with your check.

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 or visit us on Twitter at @SFLRedCross.

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