As Hurricane Ike grows in size and strength in the Gulf of Mexico, the National Hurricane Center predicts it will enter Texas late Friday/early Saturday. As of this morning, 34 Oregonians have been deployed to assist with Hurricane Ike, bringing the total number of Oregonians assisting with American Red Cross hurricane response efforts to more than 100.
Here's the current breakdown:
Hurricane Ike - 34
Hurricane Gustav - 64
Hurricane Hanna - 2
Tropical Storm Fay - 1
More than 300,000 shelf stable meals are already in place in Texas, along with 1500 Red Cross workers. Another 600 Red Cross workers are being sent into the state to supplement those already in place. In addition, more than 100 Emergency Response Vehicles are en route to Texas.
Hurricane Ike is the most recent storm in an active hurricane season. Though there's a perception that a "bullet was dodged" after Hurricane Gustav and Tropical Storm Hanna hit land, the American Red Cross is still at work feeding and sheltering those who have returned home. Approximately 4,000 people remain in Red Cross shelters after evacuating for Hurricane Gustav, and more than 600,000 have returned to homes without power. The Red Cross is still providing approximately 400,000 meals per day, as well as snacks, clean-up kits and more.
Since January 2008, Red Cross volunteers have responded to thousands of house fires and more than 60 large-scale disasters — including a record number of tornadoes, the worst flooding in the Midwest in 15 years, and early wildfire season and an active hurricane season that is not over yet. Expenses for Hurricane Gustav alone are estimated in the $40M - $70M dollar range for the Red Cross and the organization has only raised a fraction of what is needed to support affected families.
As the Red Cross continues helping individuals and families battered by the 2008 storms and hurricanes, a national fundraising campaign has been launched to raise an initial $100 million to fill a Disaster Relief Fund depleted after an active year of disasters. This fund allows the Red Cross to provide emergency assistance to help victims meet their immediate needs for food, shelter, counseling and other critical services.
To make a donation to the national Disaster Relief Fund or to support the local chapter as we train and deploy volunteers to help, go to www.oregonredcross.org and click on "Donate Now."
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In Oregon, the American Red Cross shelters, feeds and counsels victims of disaster every 36 hours; provides 97 percent of Oregon's blood supply; teaches thousands of Oregonians lifesaving skills; provides transportation to seniors and the disabled; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization – not a government agency – and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its humanitarian mission. For more information, please visit www.oregonredcross.org or join the conversation on our blog at www.oregonredcross.org/blog.
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