Generosity of American Red Cross Financial Supporters Ensures Hurricane Relief Operation Costs Will Be Met

Red Cross Has Adequate Funds for Response to Hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne; Still Needs Donations for Disaster Relief Fund for Future Disasters

WASHINGTON, Thursday, October 21, 2004 — Due to extraordinary generosity from across the country, the American Red Cross believes that current contributions and pledges, when received, will be sufficient to cover the estimated costs of the Red Cross response to Hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne. However, the American Red Cross still needs contributions to its local Red Cross chapters and to the Disaster Relief Fund. The Disaster Relief Fund ensures, just as it did in areas affected by the hurricanes, that help is immediately available in every community across the United States.

"In the past two months, the American Red Cross has put forth a massive relief effort in response to the hurricanes and the subsequent storms and flooding," said Joe Becker, Vice President of Response for the American Red Cross. "The generous outpouring of support from the American people has enabled the Red Cross to reach out and help people in their most desperate hours when it seems all hope has been lost."

Although the final cost of any relief operation cannot be fully realized until the operation has concluded, based on preliminary estimates, the American Red Cross predicts costs for its overall combined hurricane response efforts to Hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne, including the multitude of resulting storms and tornadoes, will be approximately $92 million. As of October 18, nearly $78.6 million had been pledged or received for the hurricane response and the Disaster Relief Fund. Based on public, foundation and corporate financial support and the federal appropriation available for these disasters, the Red Cross believes that it will have sufficient funds to respond to the disaster-related needs of those affected by these four devastating hurricanes. Therefore, the Red Cross has decided to ask Americans to direct future financial support to their local Red Cross chapter or the Disaster Relief Fund. Many donations remain in "pledge" form and, while not yet received by the Red Cross, have been incorporated into funds deemed available for the relief effort. It is important for supporters to fulfill their pledged gifts.

According to Red Cross policy, the organization implements a fundraising transition in any disaster where it appears that contributions made around the time of the disaster seem to be sufficient to meet the cost of the anticipated disaster assistance the organization provides.

Since August 11, 2004, the Red Cross has responded to 16 different major disasters in 14 U.S. states and territories, including wildfires in California and typhoons in Guam. This is in addition to hurricane relief operations up and down the East Coast. With these concurrent major disasters throughout the United States, the cost of providing relief to other current and future disaster victims will continue to increase.

The American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund ensures that wherever and whenever disasters strike, no matter how big or how small, the American people will receive help from their Red Cross. The Disaster Relief Fund is America’s way to make sure that their neighbors will always have a warm, safe place to go, food to eat, and a friendly ear to listen whenever or wherever disaster strikes. The resources in the Disaster Relief Fund must be replenished to meet the needs of future disasters such as the seasonal wildfires that have already begun and the “silent disasters,” such as house fires that occur every day without making headlines.

"Monies in the Disaster Relief Fund can be used by any Red Cross chapter throughout the country when a major disaster outstrips a community's ability to respond," said Skip Seitz, Senior Vice President for Growth and Integrated Development of the American Red Cross. "We still urge people to invest in the safety of every community by donating to their local Red Cross chapter or the Disaster Relief Fund."

To date, since the first hurricane hit Florida in mid-August, the Red Cross has opened more than 1,800 shelters and evacuation centers, provided shelter to more than 425,000 evacuees, served more than 11 million meals and snacks to victims and emergency responders, and started casework with more than 59,000 families affected by the hurricanes.

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.