Volunteer disaster responders with the American Red Cross of Chicago & Northern Illinois responded to 20 fires from Monday, August 26 to today across the region in Maywood, Rockford, Harvey, Marengo, South Elgin, and Riverdale with 11 of the fires occurring in Chicago.
This past week, our volunteers helped 77 individuals, including 52 adults and 22 children who were affected with temporary housing, food, clothing and comfort kits with toiletry items, information about recovery services and health and mental health services and, depending on the circumstances, financial assistance.
The Red Cross responds to 3 to 4 home fires every day in Northern Illinois. The Red Cross recommends two easy steps to help protect your home and loved ones from a fire: get a smoke alarm and create a fire escape plan. For more Red Cross fire safety and preparedness information visit www.redcross.org/prepare.
Also, as Hurricane Dorian continues to impact the Bahamas, the American Red Cross is preparing to help tens of thousands of people in the path of Dorian and the potential destruction the storm could bring to the Southeast coast of the country.
As of today, 12 local volunteers with the Red Cross are joining more than 1,600 volunteers being deployed to Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina ahead of the dangerous
storm. These volunteers are highly trained individuals who will be helping with logistics, setting up shelters, providing meals as well as disaster mental health services and health services.
The Red Cross has also prep-positioned additional blood products and stocked many hospitals to capacity in areas of the Southeast likely to be affected by Hurricane Dorian.
19 million people live in areas that could be impacted by wind, as much as 15 inches of rain, flooding and high storm surge.
HOW YOU CAN HELP Disaster relief involves complex responses and the Red Cross needs the public’s support to help the people affected. You can make a difference in the lives of people impacted by Hurricane Dorian. Visit redcross.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS, or text the word DORIAN to 90999 to make a $10 donation. These donations enable the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from disasters big and small.
DONATE BLOOD The Red Cross urges eligible individuals in parts of the country unaffected by the storm to roll up a sleeve to give today. The Red Cross currently has an emergency need for blood donations following a summer shortage. Schedule an appointment today by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting redcrossblood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
About the American Red Cross of Chicago & Northern Illinois:
The American Red Cross of Chicago & Northern Illinois serves 9.5 million people in 21 counties including Boone, Bureau, Carroll, Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, Jo Daviess, LaSalle, Lake, Lee, McHenry, Ogle, Putnam, Stephenson, Whiteside, Will and Winnebago. 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 us at redcross.org/il/chicago or visit us on Twitter @ChicagoRedCross.