(Photo by Wendy Melton)
One week after Hurricane Michael made landfall as the 3rd strongest hurricane in U.S. history, thousands are still living in dire conditions. The Red Cross of Georgia is working around-the-clock with emergency partners to get help where it is needed the most—with an immediate focus on providing food, water and shelter.
Sadly, preliminary reports indicate more than 800 homes in the state have been heavily damaged or destroyed by the storm and close to 1500 have been reported as having minor damage. Power is still out to 45,000 customers, which affects food storage, availability of well water and services regularly available in communities.
During the night of Tuesday, October 16th alone, more than 220 people stayed in three Red Cross shelters in Albany (Dougherty Co.), Thomasville (Thomas Co.) and Bainbridge (Decatur Co.). At these safe-havens, Red Cross volunteers are providing food, supplies and health and emotional support. All told, more than 300 Red Cross volunteers from across the country have flocked into affected areas of Georgia to not only staff and help feed shelter residents, but to also conduct damage assessments (to identify pockets of need and connect people with help), and to drive Red Cross Emergency Response Vehicles (ERVs) into the most heavily impacted communities—warm-meals and emergency supplies like shovels, rakes, mops and brooms, in-tow.
With a long road to recovery expected, the Red Cross will continue to share life-saving disaster safety information with the public via traditional news outlets, social media and the Red Cross Emergency App. For example, during power outages, residents are especially urged to use flashlights, not candles - which can cause home fires and possibly result in further tragedy.
After two major hurricanes in less than a month, thousands of people are looking for help. The Red Cross depends on financial donations to fund our relief services. Help people affected by Hurricane Michael by visiting redcross.org, calling 1- 800-RED CROSS or texting the word MICHAEL to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Donations enable the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from disasters.