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Red Cross launches disaster relief drive |
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| With an extremely active hurricane season looming and local disasters such as floods and home fires, the American Red Cross South Florida Region is launching today a new disaster relief fundraising drive.
“The Red Cross spends about $450 million a year responding to nearly 70,000 disasters across the country – floods, wildfires, tornados and home fires,” said Sam Tidwell, CEO at the South Florida Region. “We’re asking people to click or call to support Red Cross disaster relief.”
People who want to make a contribution to the disaster response efforts of the American Red Cross can CLICK HERE, text "REDCROSS" to 90999 or call 1-800-REDCROSS.
Red Cross chapters across the state and country are taking part in the new disaster response fundraising drive, kicked off just before the height of the hurricane season in August and September. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicts between 3 to 7 major hurricanes this year. Major hurricanes are those Category 3, 4 and 5 storms that do the most damage—such as Hurricanes Andrew, Katrina, Rita and Wilma—with winds in excess of 100 miles per hour.
These predictions bear an eerie resemblance to the 2004 and 2005 hurricane seasons, when multiple major hurricanes, including Katrina, struck the U.S. More than 35 million people live in regions vulnerable to Atlantic hurricanes, and many in the Gulf coast region are already experiencing hardship as a result of the oil spill.
“We’ve all seen the predictions for this year’s hurricane season, and it’s worrisome,” stated Tidwell.
Contributions for disaster relief will support response to the 70,000 disasters the Red Cross responds to every year, whether they are hurricanes that affect millions of people here or abroad, floods that affect thousands, or a house fire that drives one family from its home.
“We’ll be asking South Florida residents for donations to help support Red Cross disaster relief, and we hope people will respond,” said Tidwell. “Every single donation brings hope to people in need.”
Readiness is a big part of disaster relief. The Red Cross already has pre-positioned equipment and materials near areas that could be hit by hurricanes. In addition, the Red Cross frequently moves supplies and people closer to an area threatened by a hurricane so they can be ready to respond quickly. These preparations cost money, and those funds have to be available long before a storm strikes.
Donate online
CLICK HERE NOW
Donate by text
Text REDCROSS to 90999
Donate by phone
Call 1-800-RED-CROSS
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