Media contact: Keith Paul
Regional Communications Director
keith.paul@redcross.org | 702-400-7680
SALT LAKE CITY (April 22, 2023) — This Earth Day, the American Red Cross of Utah is appealing for more disaster volunteers as the number and intensity of extreme weather disasters continues to increase, driven by climate change.
“We know there have been more Category 4 and 5 hurricanes in the last five years than in the previous 50 combined,” said Heidi Ruster, Chief Executive Officer of the American Red Cross Utah/Nevada Region. “This year, we have responded to nearly twice as many relief efforts for major disasters as we did a decade ago, causing a jump in the need for trained disaster volunteers.”
So far in this year, 204 Red Cross Utah/Nevada region volunteers have deployed to severe weather-related disasters across the country, compared to 160 total in 2022. “Helping people prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters has been at the heart of the Red Cross mission since our founding,” Ruster said. “Climate change is causing a need for emergency deployments on a level we’ve never seen before, and large disaster relief efforts this year have already strained our volunteer population.”
Nationally the Red Cross deployed more than 1,400 trained volunteers to hurricanes and storms in the South and Midwest; more than 1,800 volunteers to the California storms; and dedicated local volunteers have responded to people affected by flooding in Utah.
“Earth Day was created to encourage all of us to get involved in the health and safety of our planet and our neighbors,” Ruster said. “The Red Cross is on the frontlines of the climate crisis, supporting communities across the country facing more frequent and intense disasters. And we need more volunteers to help.”
Trained Red Cross disaster volunteers provide shelter, food, emotional support, access to financial assistance, medical and mental health services, and valuable information to help families begin to recover. “More volunteers are needed now to ensure there are enough of us available to answer the call when disasters strike,” Ruster said.
Join the Red Cross disaster response team
After initial training, volunteers can take shifts that may include responding to emergencies within two hours, night or day, rain or shine, either on the scene or coordinating remotely to provide immediate compassion and care. With experience and further training, volunteers can take on leadership and coordination roles to have a wider impact and be eligible for deployment to large scale emergencies/disasters in Utah and other parts of the country.
Earth Day is Saturday, April 22
The annual event was created to raise awareness about environmental issues and promote environmental protection. The first Earth Day was celebrated in 1970 and was organized by Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin, who was concerned about the environmental impact of industrial development. Since then, Earth Day has become a global phenomenon, with more than 190 countries participating in various activities and events to promote environmental awareness and sustainability.
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.