American Red Cross Responds to Wildfires

Thursday, June 09, 2011-In the past couple of months, the American Red Cross has been assisting many families to get back on their feet, which were affected by floods and tornadoes across the US. In addition to these two natural disasters, the third one, equally dangerous and deadly is about to create a new set of challengers. Wildfires are breaking out in different parts of Arizona and Texas forcing more then 100 families to move out from their homes. American Red Cross is ready to add wildfires to growing list of disaster relief operations.

According to Charley Shimanski, senior vice president of Red Cross Disaster Services, “These disasters have brought so much destruction and heartbreak to our country. But they’ve also shown us how extraordinary the American people are, generously giving of themselves to help a neighbor or a stranger hundreds of miles away.”

Since March 31, the Red Cross has initiated 42 disaster relief operations in 29 states. Statistically speaking, the Red Cross has:

-served more then 2.8 million meals
-opened more then 260 shelters and provided 29,000 overnight stays
-deployed more then 12,000 trained disaster relief workers

The Red Cross depends on financial donations to help in times of disaster. Visit www.redcross.org or call 1-800-RED-CROSS; people can also text the word “REDCROSS” to 90999 to make a $10 donation.