The American Red Cross has launched a wide-ranging relief effort to help people devastated by three historic, back-to-back hurricanes – Harvey, Irma, and Maria. The Red Cross is part of a large team of agencies and organizations responding to provide help to communities turned upside down by these three category 4 storms.
During the last four weeks, the American Red Cross New Jersey Region has deployed 128 disaster workers and four emergency response vehicles to help with hurricane relief efforts.
The most recent, Hurricane Maria, was the most intense hurricane to hit Puerto Rico in more than 80 years. The American Red Cross is working with government officials and disaster partners to help the hundreds of thousands of people impacted by this storm’s devastation in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
“The American Red Cross had employees and volunteers, including some of us from New Jersey, on the ground in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands since before Hurricane Irma made landfall,” said Ana Montero, CEO, American Red Cross New Jersey Region. “Now that Hurricane Maria has impacted the same area, we are continuing our efforts to bring relief to people on the islands working alongside Red Cross Societies from around the world.”
In Puerto Rico, the storm destroyed homes, bridges and roads, knocked out power for the entire island, damaged water infrastructure, critically cut cell phone service, and caused flooding and mudslides. It could be months until power is restored.
Getting relief supplies to the islands remains difficult, but the Red Cross is working with federal, corporate and community partners to get materials to the region by both sea and air. Nearly 400 Red Cross disaster workers are supporting relief efforts in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, including 13 from the New Jersey Region. The Red Cross has already sent 5,000 comfort kits, 5,000 blankets and 5,000 cleanup kits to support response efforts on the islands. In Puerto Rico, the Red Cross is mobilizing an additional 19,000 comfort kits, as well as several thousand tarps, flashlights, batteries, blankets, and hand sanitizers. The Red Cross is preparing to send similar relief supplies to the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Red Cross is also shipping additional generators, laptops, satellite phones and radios to help coordinate response efforts.
In Puerto Rico, Red Cross teams are looking to assess what communities need. Water was delivered to assisted living facilities in the San Juan area and relief supplies were distributed to Pueblo, Bo. Cañaboncito in Tao Baja and Jayuya. Health services were provided in Utuado and Juana Matos, along with home visits for several at-risk households. Mental health contacts were made in Yabucoa (Southeast Puerto Rico), Fajardo (Northeast Puerto Rico) and Cayey. Relief efforts will continue throughout Puerto Rico as additional areas become safe to access.
On the Virgin Islands, Red Cross workers will continue to operate and support emergency shelters. In Puerto Rico, shelters are managed by the government, and the Red Cross is preparing to support sheltering efforts if needed.
Recent disasters like Hurricane Maria have left many looking for their loved ones. The American Red Cross Safe and Well website is a free public reunification tool that allows individuals and organizations to register and post messages to indicate that they are safe, or to search for loved ones. The site is open to the public and it is available in Spanish. Registrations and searches can be done directly on the website:
- English – www.redcross.org/safeandwell
- Spanish – https://safeandwell-es.communityos.org/zf/safe/add
- Registrations can also be completed by texting SAFE to 78876. Messages exist in both Spanish and English. To speak with someone at the American Red Cross concerning a missing friend or relative, please call 1-800-RED-CROSS.
During and after large, devastating disasters such as Hurricane Maria, connectivity can be a challenge. Keep trying to make contact by calling during off-peak hours, and continue to send text messages and emails.
The Red Cross is mobilizing a multi-island response to this devastating storm and needs financial donations to be able to provide immediate disaster relief for those affected. Help people affected by Hurricane Maria by visiting redcross.org, calling 1-800-RED-CROSS or texting the word MARIA to 90999 to make a $10 donation.
HURRICANE IRMA
Two weeks after Hurricane Irma made landfall as a devastating Category 4 storm, the American Red Cross and a large team of partners are working together to continue the massive relief response to provide safe shelter, food and comfort to people in need. In Florida, more than 800 people remain in emergency shelters, where Red Cross workers are making sure that people get the help they need as they plan their next steps. Red Cross vehicles are also fanning out in affected neighborhoods to deliver meals and relief supplies as people work to clean up their homes.
Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands are facing widespread devastation after being impacted by Hurricanes Irma and Maria just days apart. After Irma’s landfall, disaster workers on the islands assisted hundreds of families with necessities such as clothing, food and medicine, and the Red Cross is continuing to mobilize volunteers and relief supplies to help those in need.
People are depending on the Red Cross now. Help people affected by Hurricane Irma by visiting redcross.org, calling 1- 800-RED-CROSS or texting the word IRMA to 90999 to make a $10 donation.
HURRICANE HARVEY
One month after Hurricane Harvey caused the largest flooding event in U.S. history, the Red Cross continues to provide shelter, food, relief supplies and other support to help people whose lives were turned upside down by this catastrophic storm. The Red Cross and its partners have provided more than 400,000 overnight shelter stays and served more than 3.1 million meals and snacks to date in Texas and Louisiana. As of September 25, the Red Cross has also authorized more than $109 million in direct financial assistance for more than 274,000 Texas households.
The Red Cross remains on the ground helping people impacted by Hurricane Harvey and will be there in the challenging weeks and months to come as people get back on their feet. Help people affected by Hurricane Harvey by visiting redcross.org, calling 1-800-RED-CROSS or texting the word HARVEY to 90999 to make a $10 donation.
For more information about Red Cross disaster relief efforts or to learn how you can help, visit redcross.org.
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 or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.
Tropical Storm Irma now threatens much of Southeast
Washington, D.C., September 11, 2017 — After engulfing the entire state of Florida, Irma is now a strong tropical storm as it makes its way out of the state. The American Red Cross is responding all over Florida and across the Southeast, alongside a huge team of partners working to provide safe refuge and support to people forced from their homes by the storm.
Irma is still a powerful storm with strong winds, and surge warnings for as high as 6 feet. There is a possibility of tornadoes and as much as 15 inches of rainfall for some areas. Today, Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina are areas that could see heavy rain. In Florida, more than 6.3 million people have been asked to evacuate and another six million people are without electricity. Utility companies are working to restore power and many communities are under strict curfews. People should not attempt to go home until officials say it is safe to do so.
Disasters like Irma create more needs than any one organization can meet alone. The Red Cross is working very closely with the entire response community – government agencies, other non-profit groups, faith-based organizations, area businesses and others – to coordinate emergency relief efforts and get help to people as quickly as possible.
In close collaboration with partners, the Red Cross has a massive relief effort underway to provide safe shelter and help to those in need.
• Overnight, an estimated 208,000 people sought refuge from Hurricane Irma in as many as 680 government and Red Cross evacuation centers across 6 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. This includes:
In Florida, an estimated 200,000 people in 587 evacuation centers.
In Georgia, more than 6,500 people in over 40 evacuation centers.
In Alabama, about 40 people in 16 evacuation centers.
In South Carolina, about 660 people in 23 evacuation centers.
On the U.S. Virgin Islands, almost 380 people in 6 evacuation centers.
In Puerto Rico, 154 people in 6 evacuation centers.
In Tennessee, 131 people in 4 evacuation centers.
In North Carolina, 33 people in 4 evacuation centers.
• To date, evacuation centers have provided more than 377,000 overnight stays to people needing a safe place to go.
• More than 1,800 Red Cross workers are responding to Irma now with 400 more volunteers on the way.
• Almost 100 emergency response vehicles have been activated to help deliver meals and relief supplies.
• More than 55 million hurricane and flood alerts have been issued through Red Cross mobile apps for Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. The apps provide shelter locations and real-time information so people can help protect themselves and their loved-ones.
Irma Cancels Blood Drives in Southeast
Hurricane Irma forced the cancellation of approximately 55 American Red Cross blood drives in Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina, resulting in more than 1,300 uncollected blood and platelet donations. Additional blood drive cancellations and lower donor turnout are expected in and around affected areas due to poor weather conditions over the coming days. Ahead of the storm, the Red Cross sent additional blood products to areas of the Southeast including Puerto Rico likely to be impacted by the storm and we are prepared to send more to ensure patient needs continue to be met.
The Red Cross encourages eligible donors in parts of the country unaffected by Hurricane Irma to give blood or platelets to help ensure a sufficient blood supply. Platelet and type O blood donations are especially needed right now. The Red Cross depends on generous volunteer blood donors to provide lifesaving blood for those in need – each and every day – not only during times of disaster. Appointments can be made by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting redcrossblood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
How to Help
The Red Cross depends on financial donations to be able to provide disaster relief immediately. Help people affected by Hurricane Irma by visiting redcross.org, calling 1- 800-RED CROSS or texting the word IRMA to 90999 to make a $10 donation.
CORPORATIONS HELP The generous donations from members of the Red Cross Annual Disaster Giving Program (ADGP) and the Disaster Responder Program enable the American Red Cross to prepare communities for disasters big and small, respond whenever and wherever disasters occur and help families during the recovery process.
ADGP $1 Million members are: American Airlines; Anheuser-Busch Foundation; Anthem Foundation; Bank of America; Caterpillar Foundation; The Clorox Company; Costco Wholesale; Delta Air Lines; Disney; Enterprise Rent-A-Car Foundation; FedEx; General Motors Foundation; Grainger; The Home Depot Foundation; LDS Charities; Lowe’s Companies, Inc.; Mazda North American Operations; Microsoft Corp.; Nationwide Foundation; PepsiCo Foundation; State Farm; Target; UPS; VSP Global; Walmart and the Walmart Foundation; and The Wawa Foundation.
ADGP $500,000 members are: Altria Group; American Express; Aon; Boise Paper; Capital One; Cisco Foundation; Citi Foundation; Darden Restaurants, Inc. Foundation; Discover; Edison International; Farmers Insurance; Ford Motor Company; Humble Bundle; International Paper; John Deere Foundation; Johnson Controls; McDonald’s Corporation; Medtronic Foundation; Meijer; Merck Foundation; Mondelēz International Foundation; Procter & Gamble Company; Reynolds American Foundation; Ryder; Southwest Airlines; Sunoco; TD Ameritrade; The TJX Companies, Inc.; United Airlines; and Wells Fargo.
Disaster Responder Program members are: Adobe; Alcoa; Alliance Data; Astellas USA Foundation; AT&T; AvalonBay Communities, Inc.; AXA; The Ball Foundation; BMW of North America; BNY Mellon; CarMax; Cox Automotive; Duke Energy; Entergy Corporation; Harbor Freight Tools Foundation; Hewlett Packard Enterprise Foundation; HP Foundation; IBM Corporation; IHG Foundation; Ingersoll Rand Foundation; The J.M. Smucker Company; Land O’Lakes, Inc.; Mastercard; Morgan Stanley; Neiman Marcus Group; New Balance Foundation; Northrop Grumman Corporation; Northwestern Mutual and the Northwestern Mutual Foundation; Prudential Foundation; SC Johnson; SERVPRO; Southeastern Grocers Home of BI-LO Harveys Winn Dixie; Standard Textile; Toyota; U-Haul International; United Technologies Corporation; The USAA Foundation; U.S. Bank; and Visa.
