Gulf Coast Residents Seek Safety in Red Cross Shelters in 10 States
News Release: September 2, 2008
Contact: Janice Osborne, Director-Communications and Marketing; American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley (610) 865-4400, ext. 262; pager (610) 508-4378

While Gustav may not have created quite the punch as predicted, the American Red Cross estimates it will cost $20-$35 million to support the people of the Gulf Coast area. That number is expected to rise as flooding continues and damage to residential property is assessed.

The Red Cross has 343 shelters open in 10 states, housing a population of nearly 60,000 people. Its many workers are providing evacuees with food, shelter and emotional support, and are prepared to do so until it is safe for people to go home. The Red Cross is also preparing to move into storm-hit areas in order to provide services to returning residents.

“Over the next several days, our priority is to provide people with food, shelter and emotional support,” said Joe Becker, senior vice president of disaster services at the national Red Cross. “Our job is to ensure that until people can go back to their homes, we want to make them as comfortable as possible in our shelters.”

The Red Cross is working closely with several partner groups to help expand its reach to potentially underserved communities. The agency is working closely with the state presidents of the NAACP in the Gulf Coast states and with groups like the Southern Baptist Convention, Catholic Charities and Boat People SOS.

It’s anticipated that it will be a matter of days before people can return home. If people return to their area and can’t stay in their homes, Red Cross will open shelters for those residents.

Local Red Cross volunteer Robert Gordon of Jim Thorpe left for Louisiana last Saturday to join nearly 4,000 Red Cross disaster workers in the Gulf Coast area. Three additional Greater Lehigh Valley Red Cross disaster workers are ready to leave this week, if called.

In addition to Gustav, there are a number of other storms stacked up which could affect the United States. They are Tropical Storm Hanna, which poses a threat to the East Coast; and tropical storms Ike and Josephine.

How You Can Help:

All 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 thousands of disasters across the country each year, disasters like the Hurricanes of 2008, 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 victims of disaster. 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. Call 1-800-REDCROSS 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 at 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 or www.redcrosslv.org

The American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley serves more than 690,000 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.