Hurricane Irene and other disasters

The Hurricane Irene relief effort is winding down, leaving behind staggering numbers to match the terrible destruction caused by the storm that made landfall along the N.C. Outer Banks Aug. 27. In eastern North Carolina, the American Red Cross:
 + Opened 56 shelters for evacuees; as of Sunday, three shelters remained open.
 + Recorded 7,745 overnight stays in shelters (as of Sept. 4).
 + Opened five kitchens and served 145,129 meals and 208,669 snacks.
 + Scrambled 67 Emergency Response Vehicles to provide food and supplies to hurricane victims.
 + Provided 2,879 health services contacts and 833 mental health contacts to hurricane victims.
 + Distributed 28,086 bulk items, such as comfort kits and cleanup kits.

Hurricane Irene was not an isolated event. After leaving North Carolina, Irene continued northward, eventually crossing into Canada after causing the worst flooding in a generation in Vermont. Flooding was also severe in New Jersey, and states all along the eastern seaboard felt Irene's fury. Nationwide, the Red Cross:
 + Served more than 1.2 million meals and snacks.
 + Provided about 56,000 overnight stays in shelters from North Carolina to New England.
 + Mobilized more than 5,600 Red Cross workers who worked with community partners to provide relief to many thousands of hurricane victims.

The Red Cross estimates its total cost for the Hurricane Irene relief operation will be $10 million to $15 million. Because it is not a government agency and does not receive federal funding, the Red Cross has to raise every dollar spent on hurricane relief. Donations may be made to the local chapter or to the national disaster relief fund at P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. Donations may be made online at www.redcross.org or by phone at 1-800-REDCROSS. Mobile phone users may make a $10 donation by texting REDCROSS to 90999.

Although Irene garnered most of the national media's attention over the past week, it is not the only disaster the Red Cross is responding to. Tropical Storm Lee has inundated the Gulf Coast with heavy rains, causing severe flooding in several areas. Red Cross volunteers are still helping flood victims in Minot, N.D., where thousands of homes were destroyed by June floods. Also, wildfires in California and Texas have forced evacuations and brought Red Cross response. Altogether, the Red Cross responds to about 70,000 disasters each year, most of them single-family fires, and relies on the generosity of donors to provide relief for these disaster victims.

Natural disasters such as Hurricane Irene also disrupt the blood supply. Irene forced the cancellation of 84 Red Cross blood drives, resulting in a shortfall of nearly 3,000 blood donations. Eligible donors (17 years old and weighing 110 pounds or more, depending on height) are urged to donate blood in order to replenish the supply of life-giving blood. Donors may schedule an appointment by calling 1-800-REDCROSS or by going to www.redcrossblood.org.