The American Red Cross is working around the clock along the Gulf Coast to help the thousands of people whose lives have been devastated by Tropical Storm Harvey.

Thousands of people have been forced to leave their flooded homes, losing everything they own – and more rain and flooding is expected throughout the week. It is anticipated that many more families will be impacted.

Hundreds of Red Cross volunteers from all over the country are on the ground, working to provide safe shelter and comfort to people impacted by this devastating storm.

As of Monday evening, a total of 16 Hawaii Red Cross volunteers have either deployed or will be deployed to assist with the Red Cross response to Harvey. Five volunteers from the Big Island, four volunteers from Maui, one volunteer from Molokai, and six volunteers from Oahu will be heading to Texas or Louisiana to assist in relief efforts ranging from damage assessment, bulk distribution, sheltering, community partnerships, feeding and disaster mental health. More Hawaii volunteers are on standby to possibly deploy.

RED CROSS RESPONSE

• Preliminary estimates indicate that at least 6,000 people sought refuge in dozens of shelters in Texas Sunday night. We believe this number to be much higher, and will share additional information as it becomes available. Shelters are also open in Louisiana as bands from the storm move to the east.

• More than 80 tractor-trailer loads of cots, blankets, ready-to-eat meals, comfort kits, kitchen supplies and cleaning supplies are now on the ground in Texas.

• We have shelter supplies for more than 34,000 people, with additional supplies for 18,000 people en route.

• More than half of our emergency response fleet – 200 vehicles – have been mobilized.

• At the end of last week, the Red Cross prepositioned additional blood products in Houston ahead of the storm to help ensure an adequate blood supply would be available for hospital patients. We also staged more blood product inventory in Dallas. We are closely working with local and federal authorities to continue the distribution of blood products to our hospital partners.

• Nearly 11 million hurricane and flood alerts were issued through Red Cross mobile apps since Thursday. The alerts provide people with real-time information so they can help protect themselves and their loved-ones.

• The Red Cross is working closely with the entire response community – government agencies, other non-profit groups, faith-based organizations, area businesses and others – to coordinate emergency relief efforts and get help to people as quickly as possible.