Red Cross: 20,000+ People In More Than 200 Shelters Overnight As Hurricane Florence Makes Landfall -09/14/18
Local Red Cross sends nearly 40 to help; Holds trainings to recruit new volunteers to deploy
EUGENE, Ore., September 14, 2018 — The American Red Cross is helping people in multiple states as Hurricane Florence pummels the Carolinas with strong winds, heavy rain and dangerous tidal surges. More than 20,000 people sought refuge in more than 200 Red Cross and community shelters Thursday night. As of midnight, 14,000 people were in 124 shelters in North Carolina, and 5,600 people in 59 shelters in South Carolina. An additional 430 people stayed in 23 shelters in Virginia, Georgia, Tennessee and Maryland.
Thirty-six local Red Cross Cascades Region (serving Oregon and Southwest Washington) disaster responders from Albany, Astoria, Beaverton, Bend, Clatskanie, Eugene, Florence, Gold Beach, Grants Pass, Happy Valley, Hillsboro, Junction City, Medford, Monmouth, Newberg, North Plains, Portland, Salem, and St. Helens, Oregon; and Lyle, Longview, and Vancouver, Washington, are already on the ground in Hawaii, North Carolina and South Carolina to assist with hurricane preparations.
RED CROSS RESPONSE About 2,000 Red Cross disaster workers from all over the country have been mobilized to help shelter, feed and support people affected by Florence. Working with partners, the Red Cross has served 47,000 meals and snacks in North Carolina and South Carolina. To bolster relief efforts, the Red Cross is mobilizing nearly 100 emergency response vehicles and more than 120 trailers of equipment and supplies, including 100,000 ready-to-eat meals and enough cots and blankets for more than 42,000 people.
In order to be ready to assist in the relief efforts related to these potential disasters, the local Red Cross is recruiting volunteer disaster responders. People interested in volunteering for the Red Cross as a disaster responder are encouraged to attend one of several training sessions taking place across the region next week.
Tuesday, September 18, 2018 – EUGENE/SPRINGFIELD
9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Riverbend Annex in the Rainer Conference Room
123 International Way
Springfield, OR 97477
Register: https://medfordredcrossorientation.eventbrite.com
Wednesday, September 19, 2018 – SALEM
9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Red Cross West Salem Office
675 Orchard Heights Rd. NW
Suite #200
Salem, OR 97304
Register: https://salemredcrossorientation2.eventbrite.com
Wednesday, September 19, 2018 – LA GRANDE
1 – 4 p.m.
Red Cross La Grande Office
1806 Cove Ave.
La Grande, OR 97850
Register: https://lagranderedcrossorientation.eventbrite.com
Friday, September 21, 2018 – PORTLAND
9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Red Cross Portland Office
3131 N Vancouver Ave.
Portland, OR 97227
Register: https://portlandredcrossorientation2.eventbrite.com
Friday, September 21, 2018 – ASTORIA
6 - 9 p.m.
Clatsop Community College
Astoria Campus
1651 Lexington Ave.
Astoria, OR 97103
Register: https://astoriaredcrossorientation.eventbrite.com
HOW YOU CAN HELP The Red Cross depends on financial donations to be able to provide disaster relief immediately. Help people affected by Hurricane Florence by visiting redcross.org, calling 1- 800-RED CROSS or texting the word FLORENCE to 90999 to make a $10 donation.
Donations enable the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from this disaster. The Red Cross honors donor intent. Donors can designate their donation to Hurricane Florence relief efforts by choosing that option when donating on redcross.org or on 1-800-RED CROSS.
The best way to ensure your donation will go to a specific disaster is to write the specific disaster name in the memo line of a check. We also recommend completing and mailing the donation form on redcross.org with your check.
PLEASE GIVE BLOOD More than 140 blood drives have been canceled through early next week due to Hurricane Florence, resulting in over 4,200 uncollected blood and platelet donations. Eligible donors in unaffected areas are urged to make an appointment now to give blood or platelets to help maintain the nation’s blood supply. There is a critical need to platelet and type O blood donations. Appointments can be made by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting redcrossblood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
MAKE A DONATION The Red Cross depends on donations to provide immediate relief. Help people
affected by Hurricane Matthew in the U.S. by visiting redcross.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS to make
a donation. Donations enable the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from this
disaster.
DOWNLOAD EMERGENCY APP Everyone should download the Red Cross Emergency App to have
safety information available on their mobile device, including emergency weather alerts, preparedness
information and shelter locations. Red Cross apps are available in smartphone app stores by searching
for the American Red Cross or going to redcross.org/apps.
About the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies
about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian
aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that
depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more
information, please visit redcross.org/Cascades or visit us on Twitter at @RedCrossCasc.