Generous Donors Allow Red Cross to Respond Swiftly and Effectively to California Wildfires
News Release: October 30, 2007
Contact: Janice Osborne, Director-Communications and Marketing; American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley (610) 865-4400, ext. 262; pager (610) 508-4378

Costs of Response Essentially Met but Donations Still Needed to Prepare for Future Disasters in the Greater Lehigh Valley and Across the Country

The American Red Cross yesterday (10/29) announced that it has met the expected costs of the California wildfires but still needs donations to its Disaster Relief Fund to ensure it can respond to the next disaster just as swiftly and effectively as it did in Southern California.

When the wildfires struck, the Red Cross opened 26 shelters in Southern California, providing a safe place to stay for approximately 6,000 evacuees at the peak of the fires. Some 5,000 Red Cross disaster relief workers - more than 90 percent of them volunteers from all 50 states - rushed to ensure that survivors had shelter, food, and comfort. Survivors are now receiving clean-up supplies, counseling, basic healthcare and family connecting services. In the coming weeks and months, the Red Cross will continue to work with community partners to identify resources that can aid in the long-term recovery of survivors.

This level of response would not have been possible without ongoing donations to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, the Red Cross has made investments to improve its response capabilities, such as pre-positioning cots and other supplies in strategic locations across the country. While the Red Cross believes that due to the extraordinary generosity of the American public, current financial donations and pledges will be sufficient to cover the estimated costs of the California wildfires, donations are still urgently needed for the Disaster Relief Fund.

The nation has not had a Katrina-like event in two years, however, the number of significant floods, wildfires and other disasters has risen dramatically, as well as the costs of responding to those events. The Red Cross also spends millions of dollars on costs it cannot recover, such as pre-positioning resources for Hurricane Dean, which fortunately missed our shores.

Many donations to the relief efforts remain in "pledge" form and, while not yet received by the Red Cross, have been incorporated into the estimate of funds raised for the California wildfire response. The cost of the Red Cross's relief operations is estimated not to exceed $12-15 million. It is important for supporters to fulfill their pledged gifts.

The Red Cross is committed to keeping donors and the public informed of how donations are being used to provide ongoing relief and has a standard practice of informing the public when sufficient funds have been raised to cover the costs associated with a Red Cross disaster response. The Red Cross will no longer initiate fundraising activities specifically for the California wildfires but will continue to urge the public to donate to the Disaster Relief Fund or to the American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley so the Red Cross can be there whenever and wherever people need us.

Last year, the Greater Lehigh Valley Red Cross responded to 137 disasters, providing emergency assistance to 771 men, women and children in Carbon, Lehigh and Northampton counties. This was a record high number of disaster responses for the local chapter.

In addition to making a financial contribution to the Disaster Relief Fund or the American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley, people can also help their neighbors through the American Red Cross by scheduling an appointment to donate blood by calling 1-800-GIVE-LIFE or volunteering to support the Red Cross mission by contacting Bob Duld, director of volunteer and community services for the Greater Lehigh Valley Red Cross chapter, at 610-865-4400 or duldr@usa.redcross.org.

For more information visit www.redcrosslv.org or www.redcross.org.

You can help the victims of thousands of disasters across the country each year, disasters like the California wildfires, by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. This Fund enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to victims of disasters. Donations can be made by calling 1-800-REDCROSS or going to www.redcrosslv.org or www.redcross.org to make a secure online contribution. Contributions to the Disaster Relief Fund may also 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. 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.

All American Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the American people. The Red Cross is not a government agency; it relies on voluntary donations of time, money, and blood to do its work.

The American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley serves more than 680,000 residents of Carbon, Lehigh and Northampton counties. Last year the Red Cross provided health and safety education training; Lifeline, a personal response service for seniors; and emergency relief to more than 23,000 Greater Lehigh Valley residents. For more information about the American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley or volunteer opportunities, call (610) 865-4400 or visit www.redcrosslv.org.