The American Red Cross Needs Your Help

The American Red Cross continues an immense disaster response effort that could last for weeks across multiple states, as the slow-moving Tropical Depression Isaac affects millions.
 
Aug. 31, 2012 - PRLog -- The American Red Cross continues an immense disaster response effort that could last for weeks across multiple states, as the slow-moving Tropical Depression Isaac (no longer a Hurricane, but nonetheless still causing damage) affects millions with flooding, heavy rain, levee breaches and coastal surges. Despite the downgrade, Isaac still brings a very high flooding threat to Louisiana and Mississippi.

At 5pm EDT, the center of Isaac was located about 35 miles west-northwest of Monroe, LA, which is near the border of Arkansas. Isaac is moving slowly to the north-northwest at 12 mph, and this slow speed is exacerbating the flooding issues. Maximum sustained winds are near 35 mph, with higher gusts. Isaac is expected to continue to weaken, and it is expected to become a post-tropical remnant low-pressure system by Saturday. Heavy rain is forecast to impact the Mississippi Valley and Midwest over the next several days.

Key Impacts:
• The Percy Quin Dam at Lake Tangipahoa is failing, causing the evacuation of approximately 60,000 people in low-lying areas along the Tangipahoa River.

• Plaquemines, Jefferson and parts of Orleans parishes in LA remain inaccessible.  It may still be 2 days before these areas are accessible for relief activities.

• 3,000 homes remain inaccessible due to flooding in FL.  Some local evacuations in place in AL, and some areas remain inaccessible.

• Parts of Southern MS were still unsafe to access as of Thursday morning.

• Hundreds of thousands of people are still without power in the Gulf region

American Red Cross Response

The Red Cross is in action throughout the Gulf region, providing shelter and help in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas.
 
Overall, the Red Cross has:

• Housed more than 4,700 people Wednesday night in as many as 80 Red Cross or Red Cross-supported shelters 7 states. On the evening of Thursday, August 30, these numbers seem to holding still.

• Served more than 22,000 meals and snacks

• Pre-positioned more than 300,000 ready-to-eat meals, along with kitchen support trailers, in the affected area.

• Deployed more than 3,000 disaster workers to the affected states.

• Pre-positioned nearly 200 Emergency Response Vehicles (ERVs) throughout the area.  Today, as areas become more accessible post impact, they are providing meals and snacks to affected areas.  More than 60 additional ERVs are on alert and prepared to deploy.

• Pre-positioned trailers of relief supplies in the area and sent thousands of additional supplies such as clean up and personal hygiene items, cots, blankets, coolers, shovels, tarps, gloves and masks.

• Continued to work closely with local, state and federal officials and community organizations to coordinate this multi-state relief response.

• Worked with more than 230 volunteers from partner organizations including AmeriCorps, Islamic Relief USA, NAACP, National Baptist Convention USA, Disaster Operations Volunteer Escapes, Labor Unions Medical Reserve Corps, and Southern Baptist Convention. to support sheltering, feeding, driving disaster vehicles and logistics.  The Red Cross has also received help from a number of companies including Spectrum Brands, Walgreens, Coca-Cola, Home Depot and Vision Services, who have provided items such as insect repellent, bottled water and snacks.


In Mississippi:
• Housed more than 1,500 residents in nearly 30 shelters Wednesday night
• Distributed more than 5,500 meals and snacks
• Assigned nearly 600 disaster responders to Mississippi.
• ERVs and responders are moving into South Mississippi as roads become safe for travel.

In Louisiana:
• Housed more than 3,100 residents in more than 35 shelters Wednesday night.
• Focused on getting hot meals to shelters.
• Assigned nearly 900 disaster responders to Louisiana
• Prepared to shelter people evacuated from the areas affected by the Lake Tangipahoa dam breach.
• Began consolidating shelters, particularly moving affected families from shelters without power.

In Alabama:
• Housed approximately 10 residents in 3 shelters Wednesday night.
• Distributed nearly 5,200 meals and snacks since the response began, including more than 850 on Wednesday.
• Delivered more than 225 relief items, including clean-up kits, comfort kits and bulk items
• Assigned more than 350 disaster responders to Alabama
• Disaster assessment teams are out today (as weather permits) in Southern AL.
• Today and over the weekend there are mobile feeding operations underway.
• Working with state and local officials to determine where to deploy ERVs and bulk feeding trucks.

In Florida:
• Housed more than 20 residents in 2 shelters Wednesday night.
• Distributed more than 11,500 meals and snacks since the response began, including more than 3,000 on Wednesday.
• Assigned more than 1,000 disaster responders to Florida
• Generally, Florida is experiencing a shift as people and items are moved from a Florida presence to LA and MS as they are able.

In Georgia:
• House approximately 12 residents in one shelter Wednesday night
• Deployed 66 disaster workers from Georgia to 4 states and at National Headquarters.
• Begun moving relief items and supplies pre-positioned in the Field Supply Center in Metro Atlanta into impacted areas of MS and LA.

In Texas:
• Housed approximately 40 residents in 4 shelters Wednesday night.
• Pre-positioned volunteers and equipment in Houston and Orange for deployment into affected areas   of South Louisiana today.

The response to this disaster is extensive and costly to the American Red Cross.  We ask everyone to consider supporting this effort to help us meet the needs of many communities suffering the resulting flooding and damager of Isaac.

The response to this disaster is extensive and costly to the American Red Cross.  We ask everyone to consider supporting this effort to help us meet the needs of many communities suffering the resulting flooding and damager of Isaac.  

Donors may make an online donation at www.redcross.org or they may make a credit card donation by calling the American Red Cross, Southeast Georgia Chapter (Savannah) at 912 651-5300.  Checks can be mailed to American Red Cross, PO Box 9987, Savannah, GA  31412.  

Thank you!
End
Source: » Follow
Email:***@savannahredcross.org Email Verified
Zip:31405
Tags:Isaac, Hurricane, Disaster, Red Cross, American
Industry:Non-profit
Location:Savannah - Georgia - United States
Account Email Address Verified     Account Phone Number Verified     Disclaimer     Report Abuse
American Red Cross of Southeast Georgia PRs
Trending News
Most Viewed
Top Daily News



Like PRLog?
9K2K1K
Click to Share