Red Cross Responding to Hurricane Sandy Across Multiple States
By: Stephen Crews
Updated: October 29, 2012
The
American Red Cross is responding across multiple states as Hurricane
Sandy bears down on the East Coast. The Alabama Region has sent five (5)
Emergency Response Vehicles (ERVs) to help with mobile feeding and bulk
distribution of relief supplies, with
three more leaving today or tomorrow. So far, 16 volunteers from Alabama
have been deployed to assist with Hurricane Sandy response efforts,
with more on standby.
The large and powerful storm could affect as many as 60 million people in the Mid-Atlantic and
Northeast, and the Red Cross has workers and relief supplies in place to provide help to people in the path of Sandy.
Hundreds of people have already sought shelter at Red Cross shelters along the East Coast. Red Cross workers are preparing
to open and support more shelters today as the storm moves northward.
"This
storm is dangerous and it's critical to follow the advice of local
emergency officials. If people are told to evacuate,
they need to do it," said Charley Shimanski, senior vice president of
Disaster Services for the Red Cross. "The Red Cross has shelters open
and will be opening more throughout the day. Hundreds of disaster
workers are ready with relief supplies and emergency
vehicles in place to help."
To find a shelter, people can download the Red
Cross Hurricane app, visit the Red
Cross web site, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767), or check local media outlets. They should also register on the Red
Cross Safe and Well website,
a secure and easy-to-use online tool that helps families connect during
emergencies. To register, visit www.redcross.org or call
1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767). This
site also connects with the Twitter and Facebook accounts of users.
Almost
100 Red Cross emergency vehicles are mobilizing to distribute meals and
relief supplies after the storm passes. Thousands of ready-to-eat meals
and relief supplies such as cots and blankets are also being sent into
the region.
HOW
TO HELP "This will be a large, costly relief response and
we need help now," Shimanski said. "People can help by making a donation to support American Red Cross Disaster Relief online, by text or by phone."
Donations help the Red Cross provide shelter, food, emotional support and other assistance to those affected
by disasters like Hurricane Sandy. To donate, people can visit www.redcross.org,
call 1-800-RED-CROSS, or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Contributions may also be sent to someone's
local Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013.
PLEASE
GIVE BLOOD The
storm has already caused the cancellation of Red Cross blood
drives in the region, and more cancellations are expected. This has
resulted in the loss of several hundred units of blood and platelets so
far. The Red Cross has shipped blood products to hospitals in the
affected area in advance of the storm as patients will
still need blood and platelets despite the weather. If anyone is
eligible, especially in places not affected by the storm, they are asked
to please schedule a blood donation now.
To
schedule a blood donation or get more information about giving blood, people can visit redcrossblood.org
or call 1-800-RED CROSS
(1-800-733-2767). To give blood, someone must be at least 17
years of age, meet weight and height requirements and be in general good
health. Donors should bring their Red Cross blood donor card or other
form of positive ID with them. Some states allow 16-year-olds to give
with parental consent.
RED
CROSS APPS People should download the free
Red
Cross Hurricane and First Aid apps for mobile devices to have emergency
information at their fingertips. The Hurricane App keeps people up to
date on the situation with weather alerts, locations of Red Cross
shelters, and features a toolkit with a flashlight,
strobe light and alarm. The "I'm Safe" button lets someone use social
media sites to tell family and friends they are okay. And it's available
in Spanish by changing the language setting on someone's smart phone to
Spanish before downloading. The First Aid
app includes expert advice for everyday emergencies. The apps can be found in the Apple
App Store and the
Google Play Store
for Android by searching for American Red Cross.
