State Farm Insurance Presents $10,000 Check to American Red Cross for Disaster Relief Fund
News Release: October 11, 2011
Contact: Janice Osborne, Regional Communication Officer
American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley
(610) 865-4400, ext. 262; pager (610) 830-9771


State Farm Insurance (Lehigh Valley) presented a $10,000 check to the American Red Cross to support disaster relief efforts in Pennsylvania following historic flooding caused by Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee last month.

"State Farm's support of the Disaster Relief Fund enables the American Red Cross to be prepared to provide assistance to victims of disasters like last month's flooding and other disasters year-round," said Red Cross Regional Executive John R. Hughes. "The back-to-back weather events hit Pennsylvania extremely hard, causing historic flooding. The Northeast and South Central areas of the state, in particular, were hammered by floodwaters.

"In response, the Red Cross set up shelters for evacuees, worked with its partners to provide hot meals to those affected, distributed much-needed water and cleanup items, and offered emotional counseling. This assistance is provided for free, thanks to the generosity of the general public, including corporations like State Farm."

Durng the check presentation, Richard Sundstrom, State Farm's agency field executive for the Lehigh Valley, commented on the agency's longstanding partnership with the Red Cross. "When disasters happen, we are right behind you. We understand how vital your services are to State Farm customers down the street and across the country, and we thank you for all you do."

In Pennsylvania, the Red Cross has provided more than 8,658 overnight stays in 100 shelters since the onset of the September flooding. The Red Cross sent 98 emergency response vehicles into the state and more than 1,600 Red Cross workers traveled to Pennsylvania, where they have served more than 400,200 meals and snacks and distributed more than 155,000 clean-up and comfort kits, and other items such as rakes, shovels, work gloves and bottled water.

Fires, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes and earthquakes have led to 93 Red Cross disaster relief operations over the last six months in 42 different states and territories.

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.