SOUTH CAROLINA (September 30, 2022) – As Hurricane Ian makes landfall in South Carolina with impacts expected statewide, the American Red Cross of South Carolina has initiated several preparedness actions including opening several shelters.
WHAT TO PACK IN SHELTERS:
· Bedding
· Clothing
· Medications
· Your child’s stuffed
animal, blanket or other “lovey”
· Your emergency kit
DON’T BRING:
· Alcoholic beverages
· Illegal drugs
· Weapons
FIND A SHELTER
You can find information on open Red Cross shelters on redcross.org, the free Red Cross Emergency app or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767). Download the app by searching “American Red Cross” in your app store or by going to redcross.org/apps.
· You can also find shelters at www.scemd.org, follow your local county and city officials on social media or monitor local news for information on where to find emergency shelter.
· Everyone is welcome at a Red Cross shelter and all disaster assistance is free. We provide aid to all those in need, regardless of race, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation or citizenship status. We don’t require people to show any kind of identification
to enter a Red Cross shelter, just their name and where they were living before
the disaster.
· All Red Cross shelters are
accessible to people with disabilities. Your service animal is also welcome. Please speak with a shelter worker if your service animal is in need of food or
supplies.
It will be days before we know the full scope of the damage that Ian left behind — and the danger isn’t over. Be safe and listen to the advice of emergency officials. If you need help, reach out to trained professionals by calling 911. Connect with your loved ones to let them know where you are
RED CROSS RESOURCES
Download the free Red Cross Emergency App for real-time weather alerts, open shelters, and expert advice on emergency situations. Search “American Red Cross” in app stores or go to redcross.org/apps. You can also enable the Red Cross Hurricane Alert skill on Amazon Alexa-enabled devices to receive warnings about an approaching hurricane and preparedness information.
For more preparedness and safety resources, visit redcross.org/prepare.
Tips also available in Spanish.
YOU CAN HELP people affected by disasters like storms and countless other crises by making a gift to Red Cross Disaster Relief. Your gift is a commitment to helping people in need, and every single donation matters. Donations enable the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from disasters big and small. Visit redcross.org, call 800-RED-CROSS, or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to
make a $10 donation today.
PLEASE GIVE BLOOD The Red Cross is sending hundreds of Type O blood products to Florida to ensure blood remains available for patients in areas expected to be impacted by the storm. In unaffected areas, individuals are urged to make and keep their blood and platelet donation appointments. Blood can take up to three days to be tested, processed and made available for patients, so it’s the blood already on the shelves that helps save lives in an emergency.
While the Red Cross does not typically service hospitals in Florida, we are actively working as a member of the AABB Task Force for Disaster Response which has offered assistance to impacted blood centers. We stand ready to assist with additional blood needs as requested from other blood providers or hospitals. TypeO positive blood is the most transfused blood type. Type O negative is the universal blood type and can be transfused to patients of any other blood type. It is routinely in short supply. It’s important to remember that blood is perishable and cannot be stockpiled. With a short shelf life of just 42 days for blood and just five days for platelets, the supply must be continuously replenished.
Please schedule an appointment to give blood or platelets 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:
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 visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.
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