As the ability to access areas impacted by the fury of Hurricane Michael grows, the extent of the destruction the storm left behind is becoming more and more apparent. The American Red Cross is on the ground, providing food, shelter, health services and comfort to thousands of people across the region.

In some areas, entire blocks of homes are destroyed. Storm damage can be seen throughout the region with homes, schools, medical facilities and businesses all victims of the storm’s fury. More than a million people are without power, roads are closed and travel is impacted.

Three Hawaii Red Cross volunteers are deploying to assist with the Red Cross response.  Two volunteers are deploying to Georgia.  One Oahu volunteer is assisting with the distribution of emergency supplies and a Big Island volunteer is assisting with staffing.  One Oahu volunteer is deploying to Florida to assist with feeding operations. 

Thousands of people have sought refuge in numerous Red Cross and community evacuation

centers across Florida, Georgia and Alabama. The Red Cross has mobilized more than 1,000 trained disaster workers to support relief efforts across three states. We have already served 30,000 snacks; and are working with partners to start serving tens of thousands of hot meals each day. We pre-positioned enough shelter supplies, including cots and blankets, to be able to support some 15,000 people. Since October 9, more than 4.8 million weather alerts have been issued through Red Cross apps allowing people to make informed and lifesaving decisions.

• If you need to find a shelter, visit here.
• Find out how to stay safe at redcross.org/hurricane.
• If you are without power, find out what you should do here.
• Download the free Red Cross Emergency App to have real-time information about the weather, shelter locations, as well how to stay safe during and after a hurricane and flood. The Emergency App is in English and Spanish and is available in app stores by searching for the American Red Cross or going to redcross.org/apps.

RECONNECTING WITH LOVED ONES Due to issues with communication lines throughout Florida’s Panhandle, there has been an increase in the number of calls for individuals missing, well-being checks, and concerns. The state has established a webpage for individuals to report these concerns. The State EOC will route these inquiries to the appropriate local agency for response. Go to Hurricane Michael Life Safety Reports.

The Red Cross has two easy ways to help you reconnect with loved ones.

• The Red Cross Emergency App features an “I’m Safe” button that allows users to post a message to their social accounts, letting friends and family know they are out of harm’s way.
• The Red Cross also offers the Safe and Well website, a secure option that allows people to list their own status and allows friends and family to search for messages from their loved ones. To register yourself or search for a loved oneon the Safe and Well website, visit  redcross.org/safeandwell. You can also call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) to be connected with your local chapter.

HURRICANE FLORENCE Meanwhile, the Red Cross is still on the ground in the Carolinas, helping people impacted by Hurricane Florence. The Red Cross and other organizations have already provided more than 124,600 overnight stays in emergency shelters.

Working with partners, the Red Cross has served more than 1.55 million meals and snacks and

distributed more than 312,700 relief items like clean up kits, rakes, shovels, bleach, garbage bags and much more to help with the massive clean-up effort.

HOW YOU CAN HELP This is the second massive hurricane response in the United States in less than a month. Thousands of people are looking to the Red Cross for help, and the organization depends on financial donations to be able to provide disaster relief immediately. 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.