American Red Cross response to hurricane Katrina
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SEPTEMBER 13, 2005
By Happynews Staff

Courtesy of www.redcross.org & compiled by HappyNews staff.
September 13, 2005 - The American Red Cross is responding to an unprecedented natural catastrophe and devoting every resource to this humanitarian relief effort. The American people can be confident the Red Cross will spare no effort to meet the needs of hundreds of thousands of Hurricane Katrina survivors.
Sheltering Operations -
Since Hurricane Katrina made landfall, the Red Cross has housed more than 207,000 survivors providing nearly 1.94 million overnight stays in 709 shelters across 24 states and the District of Columbia. On Sunday, Sept. 11, the Red Cross housed nearly 75,000 survivors in 445 shelters across 19 states and the District of Columbia.
Relief Workers -
Nearly 74,000 Red Cross workers from all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands have responded to Katrina. During this effort, the Red Cross has trained an additional 63,000 people in specialized disaster relief skills.
Feeding Operations -
The Red Cross, in coordination with the Southern Baptist Convention, has served more than 7.6 million hot meals and more than 6.6 million snacks to survivors of Hurricane Katrina.
Financial Assistance -
The Red Cross is expanding its efforts to provide financial assistance to upwards of three quarters of a million survivors dispersed across the nation. Assistance is provided in a variety of ways, including client assistance cards, vouchers, checks and cash. Survivors can register for emergency financial assistance, 24 hours a day, by calling toll-free 1-800-975-7585. Due to the large number of survivors, phone lines may be overwhelmed in the first few days.
Reuniting Families -
Persons looking for loved ones can call 1-877-LOVED 1S (1-877-568-3317), or go to www.redcross.org and click on "Family Links Registry" to:
- Register yourself
- Register a loved one, or
- View the existing list of registrants
Family Links Registrants -
More than 182,600 have been registered online and more than 110,000 have called the hotline.
Health & Preventative Care -
Visit www.redcross.org or www.cdc.gov for information about health strategies and preventative measures for those in affected areas.
Disaster Mental Health -
To date, more than 91,000 people have received Red Cross Disaster Mental Health services.
HOW TO HELP:
To Volunteer -
Contact your local Red Cross chapter to become a volunteer. Well-meaning individuals are urged not to report directly to the affected areas.
Funds Received -
As of Sept. 12, 2005, it has received $609.7 million in gifts and pledges for the hurricane relief effort, of which an estimate $313 million has been received online.
To Donate -
Making a financial contribution is the best way to help, to donate:
- Call 1-800-HELP NOW or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish)
- Make at secure, online donation at www.redcross.org
- Visit an Official Red Cross (Cash) Donation Site
- Contact your local Red Cross chapter
The Red Cross has a four-star rating from Charity Navigator for its effective use of donations. At least 91 cents of every dollar donated to the American Red Cross goes directly to assist disaster victims.
Additional Resources & Information - To learn more about the coordination of efforts among the many organizations and agencies helping hurricane survivors and for additional resources, visit www.usafreedomcorps.gov.