In 2018, the Red Cross continues to help communities and families to recover

DISASTER

 FAST FACTS

February 1, 2018

In 2017, the American Red Cross launched wide-ranging relief efforts to help people devastated by three historic back-to-back hurricanes—Harvey, Irma, and Maria—followed closely by the deadliest week of wildfires in California history. Now in 2018, the Red Cross continues to help communities and families to recover. 

Northern California Wildfires

·         The Red Cross, community and government partners have provided more than 27,900 overnight stays in emergency shelters.

·         With the help of partners, the Red Cross has served more than 197,400 meals and snacks, and provided more than 16,500 mental health and health services to support and care for those affected.

·         The Red Cross has distributed more than 145,900 emergency relief items such as masks, gloves, rakes, trash bags and comfort kits containing deodorant, toothbrushes, toothpaste and other hygiene items to people in need.

·         To help people recover and get back on their feet, the Red Cross has opened more than 2,900 cases, reaching more than 7,700 Californians.

Hurricane Response Efforts (Harvey, Irma and Maria)

·         The Red Cross, along with community and government partners, has provided 1.3 million (1,342,200) overnight stays in emergency shelters. That’s more overnight shelter stays than the past 5 years combined. Shelters were opened in 8 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. This includes—

o   For Harvey, more than 414,800 overnight shelter stays in Texas and Louisiana.

o   For Irma, more than 555,300 overnight shelter stays across six states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

o   For Maria, more than 372,000 overnight stays in primarily government shelters across Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

·         With the help of partners, the Red Cross has served more than 17.5 million (17,579,400) meals and snacks—that’s more food than the past 4 years combined.

·         The Red Cross has distributed more than 8.5 million (8,519,500) emergency relief items to people in need.

·         Red Cross volunteers have provided more than 226,800 mental health and health services to support and care for those affected.

·         A total of more than 16,800 trained disaster workers, 91 percent of them volunteers, have been mobilized to support hurricane relief efforts. Many of these workers have supported multiple relief operations or deployed multiple times.

·         During 2017, more than 110 Red Cross workers from around the world deployed to the United States to help with hurricane relief efforts.

Hurricane Harvey

·         The Red Cross gave $400 to more than 573,000 households severely affected by Hurricane Harvey. That’s more than $229 million in direct financial assistance.

• Along with our partners, we have served more than 4.5 million (4,549,100) meals and snacks in Texas and Louisiana.
• Red Cross volunteers have provided more than 127,200 mental health and health services to support and care for people in Texas and Louisiana.
• We’ve distributed more than 1.6 million (1,660,400) relief items like diapers, bug spray, cleaning supplies, coolers, and comfort kits containing deodorant, toothbrushes, toothpaste and other hygiene items in Texas and Louisiana.

·         A total of more than 9,500 trained disaster workers have supported Harvey relief efforts. Many of these workers have responded to multiple relief operations or deployed multiple times.

Hurricane Irma (Continental U.S. Only)

• Along with our partners, we have served more than 1.5 million (1,591,300) meals and snacks across six states.
• We’ve distributed more than 1 million (1,074,500) relief items like diapers, bug spray, cleaning supplies, coolers, and comfort kits containing deodorant, toothbrushes, toothpaste and other hygiene items across six states.
• Red Cross volunteers have provided more than 52,600 mental health and health services to support and care for those affected across six states.

·         To help people recover and get back on their feet, the Red Cross has opened more than 11,400 cases, reaching more than 38,900 people across Florida.

·         A total of more than 7,000 trained disaster workers have supported Irma relief efforts. Many of these workers have responded to multiple relief operations or deployed multiple times.

Hurricanes Irma and Maria (Puerto Rico and USVI)

• Along with our partners, the Red Cross has served more than 11.4 million (11,439,000) meals and snacks across Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
• We’ve distributed 5.7 million (5,784,500) relief items across Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
• Red Cross volunteers have provided more than 46,800 mental health and health services to support and care for those affected.

·         Since Irma and Maria struck Puerto Rico, the Red Cross has served more than 11.3 million (11,356,300) meals and snacks, distributed more than 5 million (5,025,700) relief supplies, and provided more than 39,600 mental health and health services to people in need. About 130 Red Cross disaster workers are supporting relief efforts in Puerto Rico now. A total of more than 1,600 trained disaster workers have supported relief efforts in Puerto Rico. Many of these workers have deployed multiple times.

• Since Irma and Maria struck the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Red Cross has served more than 82,700 meals and snacks, handed out more than 758,700 relief items, and provided more than 7,100 mental health and health services to people in need.

·         More than 30 Red Cross disaster responders from around the globe deployed to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands to help deliver aid. These responders came from Red Cross societies in Colombia, Costa Rica, Finland, Mexico, Spain, and from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. 

3 things I learned about the Red Cross

Guest Blog Post by Pamela Gandy – Public Relations Student at Texas Tech University.    

I cannot remember a time before I knew about the Red Cross. In 2010 when a catastrophic 7.0 magnitude earthquake hit Haiti, I was in seventh grade. In the weeks following the earthquake, my school held a fundraising competition between all the homeroom classes. Students, teachers, and staff donated their money to try to provide some relief for those affected (and to win bragging rights over the other classes).  I can remember watching the news at school, seeing dozens of volunteers wearing the Red Cross logo as they brought relief items to the people of Haiti.

Eight years later, I am beginning an internship at the Texas South Plains Chapter of the Red Cross. My perception of the organization has changed significantly since seventh grade.  In my brief time with the nonprofit, I have learned that the Red Cross does far more than send supplies to victims of natural disasters.

1.      Before Texas Tech

Established in 1881, the Red Cross has a very long history. Even more impressively, the South Plains chapter, located in Lubbock, has existed for 100 years. In 1917, Lubbock was barely large enough to be considered a town. Lubbock’s pride and joy, Texas Tech, did not even exist yet. The fact that the chapter, Lubbock, and the surrounding towns of the Texas South plains, have grown so much in those 100 years, is truly amazing.

2.      The Red Cross Reconnects Families

Despite all the media coverage of volunteers working to help those affected by natural disasters, emergency relief is only one component of what the Red Cross does. Much of the work the Red Cross does will never be shown on CNN during primetime. I was very surprised to learn that one of the services the Red Cross offers, was reconnecting families separated by wars and extreme weather events. The Red Cross works with people in Washington D.C. and all around the globe to help bring families back together. People impacted by the recent hurricanes along the Gulf Coast were able to be reconnected with their loved ones because of the Red Cross.

3.      The nurses in white uniforms.

Since the first World War, the organization has taken military assistance very seriously. The methods of helping service members, however, have come a long way since the time of nurses wearing white uniforms. Volunteering at veterans’ hospitals, supporting veterans acclimate to civilian life, and providing emergency and financial support, are just a few of the ways the nonprofit works to help military families. Domestic and abroad, in times of peace and war, the Red Cross strives to help service men and women in any way possible.

The Red Cross is a network of people who are dedicated to the mission of preventing and alleviating human suffering. In my short time with the nonprofit, I have been so impressed by the volunteers who work to improve the lives of others. Like most things, the Red Cross cannot be accurately represented or defined in a 45 second television news story. It is an organization made up of many components and countless volunteers. I look forward to spending more time with the Red Cross, learning all that it has to offer. 

Internship Update: Home Fire Safety

Home Fire Safety 

As my time as an intern for the American Red Cross is coming to a close, I wanted to share one of my favorite experiences. Two weeks ago, I was sending out our yearly newsletters when Laura informed me that a camera crew would be there in an hour for an interview. She then asked me which part I wanted to say on camera and I froze. I had never been on camera before and the thought terrified me, but I was also very eager to try!

Together, we were informing Lubbock residents about the Home Fire Campaign and the importance of installing smoke alarms. The goal of this Campaign is to reduce home fire deaths and injuries by 25 percent. I gave some tips about home fire safety and wanted to share those here as well:

• Stay in the kitchen when cooking

• Keep anything that could catch fire more than 3 feet away from a heat source

• Never smoke in bed

• Plug appliances directly into wall outlets

• Keep matches and lighters safely stored away from children

• Create and practice an escape plan twice a year

• Change smoke alarm batteries every year

• Replace smoke alarms every ten years

A component of the Campaign is Sound the Alarm. Red Cross volunteers and partners help install free smoke alarms, replace batteries and help families create escape plans. In Lubbock alone, we have installed over 1,500 smoke alarms.

With home fires being the largest type of disaster that the American Red Cross responds to, I couldn’t think of a better message to share in our community. I’ve definitely learned new things from this Campaign and hope to share that knowledge. “Together, we can Sound the Alarm about fire safety and help save lives.”

HURRICANE MARIA

Situation Update

Three weeks after Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, the American Red Cross is working alongside government officials and disaster partners to help the hundreds of thousands of people on both island territories who are suffering right now. Most people on the islands are living with no power and high temperatures, and no cell service, and many are without drinking water. Thousands of homes have been affected.

Across both Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands more than 680 Red Cross workers are supporting relief efforts by:

·         Serving more than 1 million meals and snacks

·         Distributing more than 788,000 relief items

·         Providing more than 14,300 mental health and health services to people in need

Red Cross Response - Puerto Rico

On Puerto Rico after Irma and Maria, hundreds of Red Cross workers are helping to reconnect families and distribute critical relief supplies, including food and water. This includes:

·         Serving more than 540,000 meals and snacks

·         Distributing more than 534,000 relief supplies

·         Providing more than 10,400 mental health and health services to people in need

Red Cross Response - U.S. Virgin Islands

On the U.S. Virgin Islands after Irma and Maria, the Red Cross is supporting shelters, serving meals and snacks, and distributing relief supplies. This includes:

·         Serving more than 128,200 meals and snacks

·         Distributing more than 253,700 relief items

·         Providing more than 3,900 mental health and health services to people in need