NORTH COAST, Calif. – The American Red Cross continues to provide food, shelter, relief supplies and comfort to many people still struggling in the wake of Hurricane Sandy.
Given the extensive scope of the damage, this is likely to be the most massive Red Cross response in the U.S. in the past five years, Red Cross officials said.
More than 5,800 Red Cross workers from all 50 states are supporting shelters, providing food and water, and driving through neighborhoods to distribute meals and supplies.
About 90 percent of these workers are volunteers. Residents’ needs are far from over, as discouraged and frustrated people clean out their homes and struggle with housing and emotional issues.
Locally, the Red Cross has deployed 33 volunteers so far, including Regional CEO Tim Miller. Some volunteers are extending their standard two-week volunteer period, because it is so important to them to ease the suffering of those affected by the storm.
In partnership with the Southern Baptist Convention, the Red Cross has served 5.6 million meals and snacks from kitchens and feeding sites in New York and New Jersey. Last night, the Red Cross and other organizations housed about 1,800 people in 16 shelters.
The Red Cross has distributed water, food and relief supplies in more than 300 Red Cross feeding trucks as well as rental cars, trucks and other vehicles. This includes two emergency response vehicles from Sonoma and Lake counties.
The organization also has provided more than 57,000 health services and emotional support contacts, handed out more than 1.7 million relief items, helped people in 10 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, and worked with more than 50 national partner organizations and more than 1,300 partner volunteers.
The Red Cross needs the public’s help now. To donate, the public can:
- Visit www.redcross.org or (local site) www.arcsm.org ;
- Call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767);
- Text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation;
- Send or hand-deliver financial donation to American Red Cross, Sonoma, Mendocino, & Lake Counties, 5297 Aero Drive, Santa Rosa, CA 95403;
- Send to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013.
The Red Cross is unable to accept items such as diapers, blankets, or food. Goodwill or The Salvation Army may be able to accept such items.
If someone needs to find a shelter, they 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.
People can let their loved ones know how they are by using the “I’m Safe” button on the Red Cross Hurricane App which can be found in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store for Android by searching for American Red Cross.
People can also register on the Red Cross Safe and Well website to let loved ones know they are OK.
To register, visit www.redcross.org or call 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767).