In the last seven weeks, the American Red Cross has launched wide-ranging relief efforts to help people devastated by three historic, back-to-back hurricanes—Harvey, Irma, and Maria. And now, the Red Cross is helping thousands of families affected by the deadliest week of wildfires in California history. The Red Cross is on the ground, part of a large team of agencies and organizations responding to provide help to communities turned upside down.
166 volunteers from the Western and Central New York Region have deployed to support these efforts, as well as the response to the tragic shootings in Las Vegas.
“We are so grateful for our volunteers who are willing to leave their homes and their families in support of Red Cross relief efforts for these disasters,” said Rosie Taravella, Regional Chief Executive Officer, American Red Cross, Western and Central New York Region. “Our volunteers travel across the country to help people they have never met before to provide comfort and support to those in need.”
For more information on how you can help, visit redcross.org.
Red Cross Response update:
California Wildfires
- Overnight, more than 715 people sought refuge from wildfires in 21 Red Cross and community shelters across the state.
- Since the fires began, the Red Cross, community and government partners have provided more than 26,000 overnight stays in emergency shelters.
- With the help of partners, the Red Cross has served more than 54,000 meals and snacks, and provided more than 4,500mental health and health services to support and care for those affected.
- More than 1,080 Red Cross disaster workers are on the ground in California now, with an additional 145 on the way.
Hurricane Response Efforts (Harvey, Irma and Maria)
- In the last seven weeks, the Red Cross, along with community and government partners, has provided 1.3 million(1,326,000) 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—
- For Harvey, more than 434,000 overnight shelter stays in Texas and Louisiana.
- For Irma, more than 648,900 overnight shelter stays across six states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
- For Maria, more than 243,000 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 6.7 million (6,734,395) meals and snacks — that’s more food than the past 4 years combined.
- The Red Cross has distributed 3.6 million (3,640,000) emergency relief items to people in need.
- Red Cross volunteers have provided more than 191,600 mental health and health services to support and care for those affected.
- A total of nearly 16,000 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.
- Right now, more than 1,900 Red Cross disaster workers are on the ground. More than 100 Red Cross workers from around the world have deployed to the United States to help with hurricane relief efforts.
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, visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.