The American Red Cross is helping people in multiple states impacted by Tropical Storm Florence, providing food and shelter to the thousands of people who have had to flee their homes as the danger from this massive storm continues. 

As of Saturday, more than 17,100 people were in more than 240 Red Cross and community shelters. This includes at least 10,400 people in 153 shelters in North Carolina, and 6,200 people in 73 shelters in South Carolina. An additional 480 people stayed in 22 shelters in Virginia, Georgia, Tennessee, Maryland and Kentucky. Working with partners, the Red Cross has served 95,600 meals and snacks across eight states.

Oahu Red Cross volunteer, Amy Laurel Hegy, deployed to South Carolina to support sheltering operations on the response.  

About 2,200 Red Cross disaster workers from all over the country have been mobilized to help shelter, feed and support people affected by Florence.

The Red Cross is mobilizing 140 emergency response vehicles and more than 120 trailers of equipment and supplies, including more than150,000 ready-to-eat meals and enough cots and blankets for more than 42,000 people. We’re also working with the Southern Baptists to deploy 9 field kitchens that can together produce 170,000 meals per day.

Since September 11, more than 3.6 million weather alerts have been sent through Red Cross apps to help people make lifesaving decisions.

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.