NEWS RELEASE
Amid multiple hurricanes, wildfires, and a tragic mass casualty incident, 275 responders from Oregon and SW Washington have deployed to help at disaster relief operations in our region and beyond. This represents a more than 60 percent increase in deployments when compared to the same time last year.
PORTLAND, Ore., October 25, 2017 – With deadly wildfires and record hurricanes, the local American Red Cross in Oregon and Southwest Washington (Cascades Region) has experienced an unprecedented number of disaster relief responses and deployments in the third quarter of 2017. Since July 1, 275 local responders have deployed to help at disaster relief operations including Oregon wildfires; Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, Maria and Nate; and wildfires in California plus other responses to flooding and storms in the Midwest and South.
The number of responders deploying to relief operations in the first quarter of 2017 represents a more than 60% increase in deployments when compared to the same time last year. In addition to deployments, local responders continue to respond to home fire disasters and help an average of three families across the region every day with things like shelter, food, water and other assistance following home fires, floods and damaging storms.
In the past 50+ days, the American Red Cross has sheltered more people than we have in the past five years combined. As of today, 40 local responders remain deployed either virtually or on the ground in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, California and Texas helping communities affected by destructive hurricanes and record wildfires.
Responders currently deployed are from the following cities: Ashland, Beaverton, Bend, Coos Bay, Eugene, Florence, Happy Valley, Keizer, Mosier, North Plains, Portland, Rockaway Beach, Roseburg, Salem, Silverton, Springfield, Tigard and Turner, Oregon and Battle Ground, Goldendale and Vancouver, Washington.
OREGON WILDFIRES
· The local Red Cross served more than 22,560 meals and snacks to people evacuated by wildfires.
· More than 200 local Red Cross responders provided more than 870 overnight stays in 16 wildfire relief shelters.
CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES
· Since the fires began, the Red Cross, community and government partners have provided more than 27,700overnight stays in emergency shelters.
· With the help of partners, the Red Cross has served more than 144,000 meals and snacks for those affected.
· The Red Cross has distributed more than 109,000 emergency relief items such as masks, gloves, rakes, trash bags and comfort kits containing deodorant, toothbrushes, toothpaste and other hygiene items to people in need.
· More than 870 Red Cross disaster workers are on the ground now.
HURRICANE RESPONSE EFFORTS (HARVEY, IRMA AND MARIA)
· In the last eight weeks, the Red Cross, along with community and government partners, has provided 1.3 million (1,343,000) overnight stays in emergency shelters.
· With the help of our partners, the Red Cross has served more than 6.7 million (6,762,000) meals and snacks —that’s more food than the past 4 years combined.
· The Red Cross has distributed more than 4.7 million (4,723,000) emergency relief items to people in need.
· Red Cross volunteers have provided more than 196,700 mental health and health services to support and care for those affected.
· A total of more than 16,000 trained disaster workers, 91 percent of them volunteers, have been mobilized to support hurricane relief efforts. Many of these workers have supported multiple relief operations or deployed multiple times.
· Right now, more than 1,400 Red Cross disaster workers are on the ground. More than 100 Red Cross workers from around the world have deployed to the United States to help with hurricane relief efforts.
HOW TO HELP
The Red Cross has launched massive responses to these devastating hurricanes and needs financial donations to be able to provide immediate and ongoing disaster relief for those affected. Help people affected by visiting redcross.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS to make a donation.
Donations enable the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from these disasters. The Red Cross honors donor intent. Donors can designate their donation to hurricane relief efforts by choosing that option when donating on redcross.org or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS.
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. For more information, please visit redcross.org/Cascades or find us on Facebook at Facebook.com/RedCrossCascades, Twitter at @RedCrossCasc and find us on Instagram at @RedCrossCascades.
Monique Dugaw
Regional Director of Communications and Marketing
Phone: (503) 877-7121
Monique.dugaw@redcross.org
Cascades Region
Serving Oregon and SW Washington
3131 N. Vancouver Avenue
Portland, OR 97227
