NEWS/ PUBLICATIONS

Thousands Turn to Red Cross for Help Following Recent Georgia Flooding

Red Cross

October 29, 2009

ATLANTA, October 26, 2009 - As Georgians impacted by the recent 100-Year Flood move forward with their recovery, the American Red Cross is transitioning its month-long, emergency relief operation to community chapters for continued monitoring of clients and their needs. “We’ll continue to work with these families on a case-by-case basis to evaluate their disaster-caused needs and to make referrals to government and community resources that can also help,” said Nancy Brockway, Chief Emergency Officer for the Metro Atlanta Red Cross. “Our ultimate goal is to ensure that all Red Cross clients displaced by the floods have a working recovery plan.”

Within 24 hours of the storms and in the weeks that followed the September 21 floods, the American Red Cross:

opened eight shelters that provided a safe haven with health and emotional support, cots and blankets, clothing and shoes, hygiene items and other necessities for nearly 500 people
served more than 44,000 meals and 58,000 snacks through mobile outreach into hard-hit areas and at fixed feeding sites
enlisted the help of more than 800 Red Cross volunteers to aid families devastated by the floods, among them 16 Emergency Response Vehicle (ERV) teams and 20 outreach teams of caseworkers, nurses, and mental health professionals who made 3,400 contacts in flood-drenched neighborhoods.
fielded more than 5,700 calls for help
provided emergency financial assistance for more than 1,700 people
partnered with dozens of government and community organizations in northern Georgia to help meet the needs of thousands of flood clients, including the bulk distribution of more that 142,000 items such as water, clean-up supplies, personal hygiene products and other necessities

“The needs of disaster clients are great and no one organization can meet them all,” said Tim English, CEO of the Atlanta Red Cross. “We’re grateful to every dedicated volunteer, community partner and financial donor who made the flood relief effort possible.”

Floods are among the most costly natural disasters in terms of human hardship and economic loss, says English. While the final tally for providing Red Cross flood relief in Georgia has not yet been determined, estimates exceed $4 million. To date, the Red Cross has received $2.1 million in pledges and donations for the Disaster Relief Fund.

“The cost of preparing for and providing relief for disaster clients during large operations like this is enormous,” said English. “Though our community has already been very generous, we still need their financial support for this and future disasters.”

The American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund makes it possible for the Red Cross to respond immediately when a disaster occurs, in local communities and around the world, such as the 2008 Atlanta tornado and Hurricane Gustav evacuations, and the recent Georgia flooding and tsunami in American Samoa.

How YOU Can Help

Anyone can help the victims of thousands of disasters across the country each year, disasters like the recent Georgia flooding, by making a gift to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund today.

Secure Online donations can be made at www.atlantaredcross.org
Checks can be sent to American Red Cross, Metro Atlanta Chapter, P.O. Box 101508, Atlanta, Georgia, 30392
Donors can call1-800-HelpNow or 1-800-REDCROSS or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish)

Help people affected by disasters like the current floods by donating to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. On those rare occasions when donations exceed Red Cross expenses for a specific disaster, contributions are used to prepare for and serve victims of other disasters. Your gift enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to victims of all disasters. Call 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767) 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.

Thousands Turn to Red Cross for Help Following Recent Georgia Flooding addthis_pub = 'chicagoredcross';

Thousands Turn to Red Cross for Help Following Recent Georgia Flooding