Red Cross Moving Supplies and Volunteers as Hurricane Heads Toward East Coast
News Release: August 24, 2011
Contact: Janice Osborne, Regional Communication Officer
American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley
(610) 865-4400, ext. 262; pager (610) 830-9771


Hurricane Irene is expected to make landfall along the eastern shores later this week with winds gusting as high as 150 mph, and the American Red Cross is getting ready for a full East Coast response.

Trained Red Cross disaster relief workers are being mobilized to prepare shelters and relief supplies for a full East Coast response and more than 80 mobile feeding vehicles and trucks equipped with communications technology are already moving towards North Carolina, where Irene is predicted to make landfall.

"Red Cross work starts long before a hurricane makes landfall. In fact, we keep a variety of supplies and equipment on standby year round to be ready to help people in need," said Cordelia E. Miller, emergency services director for the American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley. "For example, we have 26 warehouses stocked with disaster relief supplies, more than 60,000 trained workers, and more than 320 mobile response vehicles ready to respond year round. If we didn't maintain these resources 24/7, we couldn't get help to people in a timely fashion."

Depending on the track of the hurricane and the need, Lehigh Valley Red Cross disaster relief workers may be deployed to other states to help with sheltering, feeding and emotional care.

"Over the years, our volunteers and staff have joined Red Cross colleagues from across the country to help with countless disasters, such as Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Ike; tornadoes and flooding in the Midwest; and wildfires in the Southwest," said Miller. "It's not easy leaving your home and family for a two- or three-week stretch and the work is exhausting. However, the fulfillment you get by providing a hot meal, comforting word or simply listening to someone who has been affected by a large disaster can't be overstated."

In an average year, the Red Cross spends about $450 million on disaster relief throughout the United States and around the world. This includes sheltering, feeding and relief supplies for the approximately 70,000 disasters the Red Cross responds to every year. This amount also includes the costs to be ready to respond to any disaster by maintaining those things that help the Red Cross to get assistance to people in need.

While the greater Lehigh Valley area is not likely to feel the force of the hurricane, the chapter is connected with area emergency management agencies and prepared to respond to any local flooding or other damage that might occur. Area residents are urged to be prepared by having an emergency preparedness kit available, making a plan and staying informed through local radio, TV or NOAA Weather Radio stations and channels.

Hurricane season comes on the heels of what was a busy spring for the Red Cross with 46 relief operations across 31 states helping people affected by devastating floods, tornadoes and wildfires. Work continues in North Dakota where thousands of homes were destroyed by floodwaters. Red Cross workers are ensuring that everyone has a safe place to stay and a warm meal as recovery efforts progress.

You can help people affected by disasters like floods and hurricanes, as well as countless crises at home and around the world, by making a donation to support American Red Cross Disaster Relief. Your gift enables the Red Cross to prepare for and provide shelter, food, emotional support and other assistance in response to disasters. Visit www.redcross.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Contributions 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 of the Greater Lehigh Valley serves residents of Carbon, Lehigh and Northampton counties. Last year the Red Cross helped more than 92,300 people through preparedness and training classes, military support, senior lifesaving programs and services, emergency relief, information and referral and other education and outreach programs. The Red Cross is a charitable organization - not a government agency - and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. 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.