Red Cross Responds With Massive Relief Effort For Hurricane Frances

249 shelters opened housing 86,278 people

MEDIA NOTE: Red Cross experts are on the ground in Florida and are available to talk about disaster preparedness and response. Contact the Red Cross Public Affairs Desk at (202) 303-5551 to facilitate an interview.

WASHINGTON, Sunday, September 05, 2004 — With the wrath of nature revisiting Florida for a second time in only three weeks, the American Red Cross has mobilized its resources from across the country to rush relief to victims of Hurricane Frances. Last night (September 4th) the Red Cross opened 249 shelters that housed more than 86,000 people.

Funding Needs
This storm presents a significant challenge for the Red Cross as this is the largest pre-positioning and mobilization of resources for a natural disaster in Red Cross history.  “Before Hurricane Charley, the Red Cross had less than $850,000 in the Disaster Relief Fund,” said Joe Becker, Vice President of Response for the American Red Cross. “We estimated that Charley would cost the Red Cross $50 million and we are now responding to a disaster that will cost much more. To allow us to assist the disaster victims, we need the public to give a monetary contribution.”

Currently in Florida
Drawing from its nationwide network of more than 880 chapters, a full mobilization of Red Cross resources has been deployed to support this massive relief effort. The Red Cross already has 4,100 volunteers and staff from the local community and around the country helping with the relief effort. More material and staff resources are on standby if needed.

As the storm moves through, the Red Cross anticipates the needs of Floridians to be even greater than what has already been provided to those affected by Hurricane Charley. The Red Cross continues to respond to Hurricane Charley which so far has served more than 3 million meals and at its peak, opened more than 250 shelters housing in excess of 100,000 people, and served some 250,000 meals a day.

• If you are affected and need help call 1-866-GET-INFO
• To donate to the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund call 1-800-HELP-NOW or go to www.redcross.org

All American Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the American people. You can help the victims of thousands of disasters across the country each year by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, which enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to those in need. Call 1-800-HELP NOW or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Contributions to the Disaster Relief Fund may be sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P. O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. Internet users can make a secure online contribution by visiting www.redcross.org.