American Red Cross Tallies Costs of 2015 Disaster Response
The cost of the four largest Red Cross disaster responses in the United States this year is more than $30 million; these include flooding in Texas and South Carolina, wildfires in California, and Typhoon Soudelor.
Disaster workers from the American Red Cross have responded to 176 large disasters in the United States this year, a total that exceeds each of the previous three years, ARC reported Dec. 16. And it reported that the cost of the four largest Red Cross disaster responses in the United States is more than $30 million; these include flooding in Texas and South Carolina, wildfires in California, and Typhoon Soudelor, which caused damage on the island of Saipan in August 2015. Saipan is part of the U.S. Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
According to ARC's news release, the organization provided more than 34,000 overnight shelter stays, served more than 1.1 million meals and snacks, and distributed more than 800,000 relief items through Dec. 8, 2015. Its caseworkers provided recovery support to more than 19,000 households, and health and mental health workers provided more than 65,000 consultations after disasters.
"Whether a disaster affects just one family or thousands of families, the Red Cross is committed to helping people get back on their feet as quickly as possible, but we need your support now to continue providing help to families affected by disasters," said Brad Kieserman, vice president of disaster operations and logistics for the Red Cross.
The Red Cross depends on financial donations to provide services. To make a donation, visit www.redcross.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS, or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Contributions may be sent to your local Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013.