Frances Landfall Imminent, American Red Cross Ready to Respond
News Release: September 3, 2004
Contact: Janice Osborne, Director-Communications and Marketing
(610) 865-4400, ext. 262
With ferocious Hurricane Frances churning steadily toward land, many Floridians are filling shelters and evacuation routes, while others scurry to make last-minute preparations for the second massive storm to hit the state in three weeks. About 2.5 million residents were ordered to evacuate, the largest number in state history.
With winds slowing overnight to 115 mph, Frances is now a Category 3 storm but is still four times the width of its deadly predecessor, Hurricane Charley. Slow-moving Frances is now expected to hit Florida Saturday afternoon or evening, instead of early Saturday as had been earlier predicted.
As of Sept. 2, the American Red Cross opened 82 shelters in 23 counties, already providing refuge for more than 21,000 people. In continued anticipation of Hurricane Frances, Red Cross officials plan to open many more shelters tonight (9/3).
At 11 a.m. EDT, Hurricane Frances was crossing over the northwestern Bahaman islands at 9 mph, with its center located some 220 miles east-southeast of the lower Florida east coast. Hurricane-force winds extended up to 85 miles from its center.
With its imposing size and cloud cover about as big as the state of Texas, Frances has the potential to ravage the state because of its slow movement, even if its winds don't regain the 145 mph speed. Forecasters said the slower the storm moves across the ocean, the longer its winds and rain could linger, increasing the possibility of serious damage.
American Red Cross has pre-positioned disaster response volunteers and supplies such as water, shelter materials and other emergency items. Though massive response efforts to Hurricane Charley are ongoing, Red Cross disaster responders are on full alert, ready to shelter evacuees and provide emergency relief as soon as Frances strikes.
Locally, the American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley will staff a Hurricane Frances information line Saturday, Sept. 4, through Sunday, Sept. 6, to take calls regarding local family welfare inquiries and financial donations. Lehigh Valley residents can call Red Cross at (610) 865-4400, ext. 242, between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. During all other times those days, callers may leave a message with their name and telephone number and a Red Cross representative will return their call.
A number of local Red Cross volunteers and paid staff have made themselves available if called to assist in the national relief efforts over the course of the next few months. Local Red Cross volunteer Joan Steinmetz of Orefield has been in Florida since Aug. 21 assisting victims of Hurricane Charley. Steinmetz was due to return to the Lehigh Valley on Saturday, Sept. 4, but due to Hurricane Frances, will not be home until sometime next week.
To Make a Financial Donation: All Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the American people. You can help the victims of hurricanes Charley and Frances and thousands of other disasters across the country each year by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, which enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to those in need. Call 1-800-HELP NOW or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Contributions to the Disaster Relief Fund may be sent to the American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley, 2200 Avenue A, Bethlehem, PA 18017 or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. Internet users can make secure online credit card donations by visiting www.redcross.org. or www.redcrosslv.org.
