Red Cross prepares for massive relief response post Hurricane Michael
The American Red Cross is preparing for a large relief effort across Florida, Alabama, Georgia and the Carolinas as Hurricane Michael ends its furious trek through the Gulf Coast. Part of that region is still recovering from Hurricane Florence. The American Red Cross is there along the Gulf Coast to provide refuge and support. The focus is on working with partners to provide safe shelter for evacuees.
The Red Cross isn’t a federal agency, but is coordinating closely with government partners and other nonprofits to respond.
Approximately 4,000 people stayed in nearly 70 Red Cross and community evacuation centers across Florida, Georgia and Alabama. There are more than 500 trained disaster workers on their way to the region to join Red Cross volunteers already in place.
The last remnants of Michael are expected to impact weather in this region through the weekend. Local Red Cross disaster worker teams are being assembled, trained and standing by. Relief supplies, feeding stations and other equipment - like emergency response vehicles - are being re-stocked and prepared to head south as needed.
The Red Cross depends on financial donations to be able to provide disaster relief immediately. Help people affected by Hurricane Michael at www.redcross.org, call 1- 800-RED CROSS or text the word MICHAEL to 90999 to make a $10 donation.
Donations enable the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from this disaster.
Hurricane Michael has already forced the cancellation of more than a dozen blood drives, causing hundreds of units of blood to go uncollected in Alabama and Georgia. More cancellations are expected in the Southeast. The Red Cross asks individuals unaffected by the storm to give blood. Appointments can be made by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, at www.redcross.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS.
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 cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.
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The American Red Cross, 431 18th St NW, Washington, DC 20006 United States
