Hurricane Irene is headed toward the East Coast and the American Red Cross is mobilizing disaster workers and equipment along much of the eastern seaboard to help those in the path of this powerful storm.
Hurricane Irene is predicted to be the largest storm to hit the East Coast in more than 70 years, and could threaten several big population centers. The Red Cross is opening shelters as the evacuation orders go into effect. In addition, more than 200 Red Cross mobile feeding vehicles are heading towards the coast to help people in the path of the storm.
Locally, the following volunteers from the St. Joseph County (Ind.) Chapter will be deploying within the next 24 hours to assist with the Red Cross preparedness and relief efforts: Austin Shultz and Mary Nagy will be assisting with sheltering in Massachusetts; Rich Mah will be an emergency response vehicle driver and will assist with distribution of supplies in Massachusetts; Hank Parakowski will assist with warehousing in New York. Al Zima left Friday morning to assist with logistics and supply in North Carolina.
An additional five volunteers from the Elkhart County Chapter will also be deploying in the next 24 hours. The Red Cross anticipates additional trained volunteers from the Northern Indiana Region will be deployed over the weekend.
To help support American Red Cross Disaster Relief, click, text or call to donate. Visit www.redcross.org, call (800) RED CROSS or text the word “REDCROSS” to 90999 to make a $10 donation.
For the latest information, visit www.stjoe-redcross.org or find it on Facebook at American Red Cross-South Bend.
“The Red Cross is moving volunteers, vehicles and supplies, getting ready for a response effort that spans nearly the entire East Coast,” said Gail McGovern, president and CEO of the American Red Cross. “While we’re getting ready at the Red Cross, we want everyone in the storm’s path to get ready as well by getting a disaster kit, making a family emergency plan, and listening to local officials regarding evacuations.”
Dozens of shelters are being prepared all along the East Coast. People can find open Red Cross shelters by viewing an interactive Google map at www.redcross.org or by downloading the free Red Cross shelter app for their iPhone from the iTunes store. A mobile-friendly version of the Hurricane Safety Checklist is now available for smart phone users to download at www.redcross.org/mobile.
Hurricane Irene has caused significant damage in the southern Bahamas and the Bahamas Red Cross is managing shelters and helping people displaced by the storm. A regional disaster management expert is headed to the Bahamas today to assist with disaster assessment and response. In the Turks and Caicos Islands, the Red Cross is mobilizing volunteers as flooding, damage to homes and impassable roads are left in the storm’s wake. The United Nations is reporting hundreds of homes have been damaged and it is difficult to communicate with many localities.
In addition, Irene could affect blood collections along the East Coast at a time when the nation’s blood supply is already low. The Red Cross is urging those who are eligible to give blood prior to the storm’s arrival. Donating blood now, before the storm, will help ensure blood is available in the aftermath of Irene should conditions prohibit people from traveling to blood collections.
Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental permission in some states), meet height and weight requirements (110 pounds or more, depending on their height), and who are generally in good health may be eligible to donate blood. To schedule an appointment, call (800) RED CROSS or visit www.redcrossblood.org.