2011: Year of Disasters and Red Cross Relief

As 2011 speeds to a close, millions of Americans will remember it as a disastrous year. It was a year in which 46 of the 50 states experienced a major disaster of one form or another. Wildfires in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Florida and Oklahoma; tornadoes in 18 states; flooding in 20 states; a hurricane that swamped most of the East Coast from the Carolinas to Maine -- these are the events for which 2011 will be remembered.

Overseas, an earthquake and tsunami turned into the worst disaster in Japan since World War II. American Red Cross has provided assistance to the Japanese Red Cross, even as America continues to help with the earthquake recovery in Haiti, now almost two years old.

In eastern North Carolina, the April tornadoes, which claimed two dozen lives, and Hurricane Irene, which brought powerful winds, heavy flooding, power outages and widespread misery, defined this year. It was a year of disaster, but also a year of disaster relief. A total of 759 Red Cross staff and volunteers responded to help victims of Hurricane Irene.They opened 57 shelters, served 164,753 meals and provided overnight accommodations in shelters 8,038 times as eastern North Carolina residents fled the hurricane's winds, flooding and power outages. It was the largest sheltering operation in North Carolina since Hurricane Floyd in 1999.

Everyone hopes 2012 will be a safer, quieter year in terms of natural disasters, if not in terms of politics. But no one can predict how many hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes or wildfires we might have in the next 12 months. We can only predict that the Red Cross will be needed and will have to be ready when the call comes.

To make sure the Red Cross is ready and is able to deliver the services the public needs, volunteer in 2012 for your local Red Cross chapter, or give generously to support the Red Cross through your monetary donation. Give at your local chapter office, online at www.redcross.org, by calling 1-800-RED CROSS or by sending a check to P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013.