FAYETTEVILLE, North Carolina (MONDAY, SEPT 24, 2018) – More than a week after landfall, flooding continues in the Carolinas and the American Red Cross is working around the clock to provide shelter, food, comfort and other emergency support to victims of Hurricane Florence.
The Red Cross is doing all it can to provide for the urgent needs of disaster victims. In the immediate aftermath, we focus on providing safe shelter, food, emotional support, first aid and health services, and emergency relief supplies such as comfort kits and cleaning supplies.
Interview and B-Roll Opportunity
Tuesday, Sept. 25 ∙ 9:00 am to 10:00 am
Fayetteville Red Cross Distribution Center ∙ 131 Pepsi Lane
Phil Harris, American Red Cross Sand Hills Chapter executive director, will be available for interviews. The press is encouraged to visit the center, take a look at the emergency relief supplies going out to communities throughout Eastern North Carolina and discuss more about the distribution process.
“Thousands of people are in need of immediate assistance and we are in the middle of a massive relief effort,” said Phil Harris, American Red Cross Executive Director for the Sand Hills Chapter. “The American Red Cross has been present in this area for many years and we are now joined by thousands of volunteers from around the country who’ve come to help. We were here for this community before this disaster and we’ll be here after this disaster as we recover together.”
So far, the Red Cross has distributed more than 45,000 relief items like diapers and comfort kits that contain deodorant, toothbrushes, toothpaste and other hygiene items for North Carolinians forced from their homes. Moving forward, we will continue to distribute emergency relief supplies to affected communities, such as clean-up kits, brooms, tarps, duct tape, trash bags and bottled water.
SERVICES DELIVERED TO DATE
* Sunday night, approximately 2,280 people in 28 Red Cross shelters in North Carolina.
* In total, the Red Cross and other organizations have provided more than 107,800 overnight stays in emergency shelters across the Carolinas. The Red Cross has provided about 91 percent of these stays.
* Today, more than 3,300 Red Cross disaster workers from all over the country are helping to shelter, feed and support people affected.
* Working with partners, the Red Cross has served more than 563,000 meals and snacks.
* Volunteers from partner organizations are cooking hot meals at 15 kitchens. These meals are being served at shelters or from more than 100 Red Cross food trucks circulating through affected neighborhoods.
* Volunteer mental health and health services professionals have provided some 21,400 contacts to provide support and care to evacuees.
* We’ve distributed more than 45,000 relief items like diapers and comfort kits that contain deodorant, toothbrushes, toothpaste and other hygiene items for people forced from their homes.
* Since September 11, more than 5 million weather alerts have been sent through Red Cross apps to help people make lifesaving decisions.
* As of September 24, hundreds of blood drives have been forced to cancel due to Hurricane Florence, resulting in more than 6,000 uncollected blood and platelet donations.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
The Red Cross has launched a massive response to this disaster and 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.
About the American Red Cross:
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. Please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.