American Red Cross Providing Relief to
Thousands of Hurricane Rita Evacuees
News Release: September 26, 2005
Contact: Janice Osborne, Director-Communications and Marketing
(610) 865-4400, ext. 262
More than 74,000 people sought safe shelter from Hurricane Rita in more than 246 American Red Cross shelters Sunday (9/25) night. There people are receiving hot meals, emotional counseling and a safe place to stay until allowed back into their homes. As with other disasters, Red Cross pre-positioned more than 2,000 Red Cross workers, and supplies such as heater meals, cots, kitchens and kitchen food.
“Although Rita pales in comparison to the devastation from Hurricane Katrina, it is still a significant storm requiring a significant response,” said John Hughes, executive director of the American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley. “Red Cross is assessing the impact of Rita’s damage and getting a clearer picture of people’s needs. We know that it will require a Red Cross response on the scale of Hurricane Charley – estimated to be in excess of $30 million – the most expensive of the four hurricanes that ravaged Florida last year.”
As the waters recede, the Red Cross will also determine the best way to provide financial assistance to those with emergency needs. This assistance is a bridge of assistance until federal and state resources are available.
Additional Red Cross workers and volunteers will be sent to assist with Rita and Katrina. Locally, four Lehigh Valley residents are on standby.
The Red Cross continues to deliver assistance to people affected by Hurricane Katrina. Red Cross has reached one-half million families – more than half of those affected – with financial assistance. In the Lehigh Valley, the local Red Cross has provided assistance to 193 people from Mississippi and Louisiana who have come to the Lehigh Valley to be closer to family and friends.
“We continue to work with FEMA to shelter nearly 300,000 people displaced by Katrina in hotel rooms across the country,” Hughes said. “This is in addition to the 902 shelters and nearly 2.5 million people sheltered by the Red Cross.”
It is estimated – before Rita – that the needs resulting from Hurricane Katrina would require more than $2 billion and the Red Cross is less than half way there.
To bridge the gap between money received and money spent on relief services, the Red Cross must borrow money to meet these immense needs. “We’re in a situation where the Red Cross is spending more money than it has in hand. Money donated by the American people will help us determine the level of financial assistance we are able to provide. We’re proceeding ahead, trusting that money will come in.”
American 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 the recent hurricanes 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 a secure online contribution by visiting www.redcross.org. The American Red Cross honors donor intent. If you wish to designate your donation to a specific disaster please do so at the time of your donation.
