Red Cross volunteers and members of Vibrant Hawaii at the Hawaii Acres Resilience distribution site on Hawai'i Island.
Shannon Carley/American Red Cross
In preparation for the potential impact of Hurricane Nolo, the Hawai‘i Red Cross had pre-positioned enough food, water and emergency supplies to support approximately 800 people for three days, 2,400 people in total, on Hawaiʻi Island.
Luckily, Nolo’s direction shifted and Hawai‘i Island was spared severe weather impacts. As such, shelters that had been opened pre-landfall were not needed to the extent previously planned for post-landfall. The next step for the Red Cross was to assess the supplies that had been gathered and to make a plan for distribution that would benefit the community. Working with local community partners, we were able to ensure those resources could still serve residents. Rather than allowing prepared supplies to go unused, the Red Cross redistributed them to organizations supporting communities across the island.
On Sunday, Sept. 27, perishable bread products were provided to The Salvation Army for use in their community feeding mission that day. The remaining supplies, which included bottled water, nonperishable food, hygiene items, bedding and emergency equipment, were distributed the following day to two identified local community organizations.
Both Vibrant Hawaiʻi and The Guardian Foundation work to support the community on the Big Island. Vibrant Hawaiʻi was provided a mix of food, water and emergency supplies that they dispersed across three distribution sites they had established. These sites were the Hawaiian Acres Resilience Hub, the Pāhoa Resilience Hub/Kanaka Haʻaheo and Ocean View.
The Guardian Foundation received the remaining supplies, including cases of bottled water, nonperishable food, lanterns and batteries, cleaning and hygiene products, bedding, fans and other essential items. Within a half hour they had teams mobilized that were ready and available to lend a helping hand to get supplies to their neighbors that needed it most.
The Red Cross prepares for every threat that heads towards the Hawaiian Islands. This effort reflects the Red Cross’s commitment to preparedness while making sure resources positioned for an emergency can continue to benefit communities when they are no longer needed for their original purpose.
“Being prepared means having resources ready before a disaster strikes. But it also means finding ways to put those resources to good use when circumstances change,” said Molly Schmidt, CEO, Red Cross Pacific Islands Region. “By working with community partners to identify unmet needs, we were able to redirect these supplies to organizations already serving residents and helping strengthen community resilience.”
Through collaboration with local organizations, the Red Cross was able to extend our reach and support the vital work of community partners that are embedded in Hawaiʻi Island communities. Through this process we could make sure supplies helped the community where they needed it most by learning from, listening to, and partnering with local organizations.
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports 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/hawaii or follow us on social media.
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