(Portland, OR) September 30, 2024 — Hurricane Helene has left a wake of disaster across 5 states and left thousands dealing with the devastation and concern about what they’ll do next. American Red Cross disaster workers are with them, providing comfort, support and relief.

Millions of people are still without power across impacted states. Some communities are completely surrounded by water and rescue teams are having a difficult time reaching them.  

Sunday night, more than 2,600 people stayed in 69 emergency shelters supported by the Red Cross and other community organizations. So far, the Red Cross and our partners have provided some 18,000 overnight stays for Helene.

RED CROSS RESPONSE:

As deadly flooding continues and threatens additional communities, even more people will urgently need our support. Red Cross volunteers and staff are working closely with community partners and state and local officials to ensure help is available where needed.

Hundreds of Red Crossers from across the country are on the ground helping and more are on their way. The Red Cross has also deployed 45 emergency response vehicles to go into communities to assess the damage, distribute meals and relief supplies. We are also providing reunification services for those who can’t find their loved ones.

The Cascades Region in Oregon and SW Washington has sent 20 volunteers already with more on standby ready to go. 

CANCELED BLOOD DRIVES Helene has canceled blood drives throughout Georgia and the Carolinas causing more than 1,500 blood donations to go uncollected, and this number is growing.

As communities feel the effects of Helene, patients are fighting their own battle. Some of these patients urgently need closely matched blood donations to weather their health crises. If you're in a safe area, you have the power to be a lifeline.

Please schedule a blood donation appointment now by visiting RedCrossBlood.org, using the Blood Donor App or calling 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767) to help restock the shelves.

CLIMATE CRISIS Helene could be the start of a series of back-to-back storms that threaten the U.S. as additional systems form in the Atlantic. Experts report Hurricane Helene was able to grow and become more destructive because of hotter-than-average ocean temperatures caused by the climate crisis, which is bringing more frequent and intense disasters that upend lives. In response, the Red Cross is providing food, shelter and recovery support on a nearly continual basis.

Find safety steps for different emergencies including hurricanes and power outages ꟷ here.

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow us on social media.