Thank You

This is the final post for the Central US Floods and Tornadoes Online Newsroom. While this is the last post, the recovery and relief efforts will continue. We would like to thank the hard working Red Crossers in the field who made this disaster operation, as well as this website, successful. To all those in the affected areas, we wish you a swift and complete recovery.

National media contacts: Please contact (202) 303-5551 for additional public affairs information.

Local media contacts: Please contact your local chapter for additional public affairs information.

For Red Cross assistance or for any other inquiries, please contact 1-800-RED-CROSS.

Fast Facts: West Virginia 7.7.08

(Effective July 7, 2008; 8:00 am EST)

Consolidated relief information for West Virginia:

• 527 Meals served
• 468 Snacks served
• 4 Emergency Response Vehicles deployed
• 390 Clean up kits distributed
• 160 Comfort kits distributed
• 8 Mental health contacts involved
• 9 Health services contacts involved
• 260 Red Cross workers involved

Term Definitions

* indicates a correction to yesterday’s numbers

Fast Facts: The American Red Cross Response

(Effective July 7, 2008; 8:00 am EST)

Consolidated relief information for Iowa, Indiana, Wisconsin, Kansas, Illinois/Missouri, Nebraska, and West Virginia:

• 113 Shelters opened*
• 12,738 Shelter overnight stays
• 382,826 Meals served
• 630,726 Snacks served
• 125 Emergency Response Vehicles deployed
• 52,474 Clean up kits distributed
• 17,705 Comfort kits distributed
• 17,718 Mental health contacts involved
• 14,842 Health services contacts involved
• 4,689 Red Cross Workers involved

Term Definitions

* indicates a correction to yesterday’s numbers

Fast Facts: West Virginia 6.27.08

(Effective June 27, 2008; 8:00 am EST)

Consolidated relief information for West Virginia:

• 0 Shelters opened
• 0 Shelter overnight stays
• 527 Meals served
• 468 Snacks served
• 4 Emergency Response Vehicles deployed
• 179 Total Cases
• 390 Clean up kits distributed
• 160 Comfort kits distributed
• 8 Mental health contacts
• 9 Health services contacts
• 260 Red Cross workers deployed

Term Definitions

* indicates a correction to yesterday’s numbers

Fast Facts: The American Red Cross Response 6.27.08

(Effective June 27, 2008; 8:00 am EST)

Consolidated relief information for Iowa, Indiana, Wisconsin, Kansas, West Virginia, Illinois and Missouri:

• 125* Shelters opened
• 12,538 Shelter overnight stays
• 320,084 Meals served
• 497,002 Snacks served
• 131 Emergency Response Vehicles deployed
• 8,946 Total Cases
• 46,382 Clean up kits distributed
• 16,439 Comfort kits distributed
• 14,256 Mental health contacts
• 11,675 Health services contacts
• 5,232* Red Cross workers deployed

Term Definitions

* indicates a correction to yesterday’s numbers

Press Release: National 6.20.08

Generous Donations Help Replenish American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund

Help still needed as relief efforts continue in Central U.S.

Contact: American Red Cross Public Affairs at (202) 303-5551

Washington, June 20, 2008 – With an estimated cost of at least $15 million for the relief efforts in the Central United States, the American Red Cross continues to seek donations for its Disaster Relief Fund. The relief organization is extremely grateful for the approximately $8 million that has been pledged and received for disaster relief to date from generous donors across the country. This update comes one week after the Red Cross announced that the fund had been depleted. The challenges with the Disaster Relief Fund have not adversely affected the level of service that is being provided.

In response to the extreme weather and flooding, the Red Cross has opened more than 100 shelters and deployed an estimated 3,000 volunteers to help serve nearly 500,000 meals and snacks, and distribute the thousands of clean-up kits to families returning to their flood ravaged homes. As flooding continues along the Mississippi River, the Red Cross encourages those who may be affected by the swelling waters to review the flooding preparedness tips that can be found on http://www.RedCross.org.

The Disaster Relief Fund allows the Red Cross to provide desperately needed immediate emergency assistance to victims of all disasters, small and large. The fund provides for free assistance not only to victims of major disasters like the recent floods, but also to smaller local disasters, like house fires. Since the American Red Cross is not a government agency, it relies on the donations of private individuals and organizations to provide assistance to those affected by disasters.

The best way to help the Red Cross continue to provide food, shelter, counseling and other assistance to victims of disasters is to make a financial contribution to the Disaster Relief Fund. For example, a $25 donation can provide five blankets at an emergency shelter; a $350 donation can provide emergency food and shelter for up to 25 people for one day.

Donors can contribute via the internet at http://www.RedCross.org , by phone at 1-800-HELP-NOW (1-800-435-7669) or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish) or by mail: American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243 , Washington, D.C. 20013. The Red Cross honors donor intent. If you wish to designate your donation to a specific disaster, please do so at the time of your donation.

Visit www.RedCross.org to find out the latest information and learn how you can help.

Fast Facts: West Virginia 6.20.08

(Effective June 20, 2008; 8:00 am EST)

Consolidated relief information for West Virginia:

• 0 Shelters opened
• 0 Shelter overnight stays
• 527 Meals served
• 468 Snacks served
• 4 Emergency Response Vehicles deployed
• 390 Clean up kits distributed
• 160 Comfort kits distributed
• 8 Mental health contacts
• 9 Health services contacts
• 255 Red Cross workers deployed

Term Definitions

* indicates a correction to yesterday’s numbers

Fast Facts: West Virginia 6.19.08

(Effective June 19, 2008; 8:00 am EST)

Consolidated relief information for West Virginia:

• 527 Meals served
• 468 Snacks served
• 4 Emergency Response Vehicles deployed
• 389 Clean up kits distributed
• 160 Comfort kits distributed
• 8 Mental health contacts
• 9 Health services contacts
• 255 Red Cross workers deployed

Term Definitions

* indicates a correction to yesterday’s numbers

Fast Facts: West Virginia 6.18.08

(Effective June 18, 2008; 8:00 am EST)

Consolidated relief information for West Virginia:

• 527 Meals served
• 468 Snacks served
• 4 Emergency Response Vehicles deployed
• 389 Clean up kits distributed
• 160 Comfort kits distributed
• 8 Mental health contacts deployed
• 9 Health services contacts deployed
• 255 Red Cross workers deployed

Term Definitions

* indicates a correction to yesterday’s numbers

Fast Facts: The American Red Cross Response 6.18.08

(Effective June 18, 2008; 8:00 am EST)

Consolidated relief information for Iowa, Indiana, Wisconsin, Kansas, California (Three Rivers Wildfire), Illinois, Missouri, Nebraska and West Virginia:

• 97 Shelters opened
• 9,144 Shelter overnight stays
• 134,973* Meals served
• 230,710 Snacks served
• 121 Emergency Response Vehicles deployed
• 12,760* Clean up kits distributed
• 8,907* Comfort kits distributed
• 7,005 Mental health contacts deployed
• 4,710 Health services contacts deployed
• 3,256 Red Cross workers deployed

Term Definitions

* indicates a correction to yesterday’s numbers

Fast Facts: West Virginia 6.17.08

(Effective June 17, 2008; 8:00 am EST)

Consolidated relief information for Kansas:

• 527 Meals served
• 468 Snacks served
• 4 Emergency Response Vehicles deployed
• 389 Clean up kits distributed
• 160 Comfort kits distributed
• 8 Mental health contacts deployed
• 9 Health services contacts deployed
• 255 Red Cross workers deployed

Term Definitions

* indicates a correction to yesterday’s numbers

Fast Facts: The American Red Cross Response 6.17.08

(Effective June 17, 2008; 8:00 am EST)

Consolidated relief information for Iowa, Indiana, Wisconsin, Kansas, California (Three Rivers Wildfire), Illinois, Nebraska and West Virginia:

• 114 Shelters opened
• 8,646 Shelter overnight stays
• 116,048 Meals served
• 201,367 Snacks served
• 103 Emergency Response Vehicles deployed
• 10,440 Clean up kits distributed
• 8,205* Comfort kits distributed
• 6,283 Mental health contacts deployed
• 4,022* Health services contacts deployed
• 2,990 Red Cross workers deployed

Term Definitions

* indicates a correction to yesterday’s numbers

Fast Facts: West Virginia 6.16.08

(Effective June 16, 2008; 8:00 am EST)

Consolidated relief information for West Virginia:

• 527 Meals served
• 468 Snacks served
• 4 Emergency Response Vehicles deployed
• 389 Clean up kits distributed
• 160 Comfort kits distributed
• 8 Mental health contacts deployed
• 9 Health services contacts deployed
• 255 Red Cross workers deployed

Term Definitions

* indicates a correction to yesterday’s numbers

Fast Facts: The American Red Cross Response 6.16.08

(Effective June 16, 2008; 8:00 am EST)

Consolidated relief information for Iowa, Indiana, Wisconsin, Kansas, California (Three Rivers Wildfire), Illinois, Nebraska, West Virginia:

• 90 Shelters opened*
• 8,054 Shelter overnight stays
• 107,316 Meals served*
• 177,957 Snacks served*
• 96 Emergency Response Vehicles deployed
• 8,644 Clean up kits distributed*
• 5,446  Comfort kits distributed*
• 5,770 Mental health contacts deployed
• 3,184 Health services contacts deployed
• 2,586 Red Cross workers deployed

Term Definitions

* indicates a correction to yesterday’s numbers

Fast Facts: West Virginia 6.15.08

(Effective June 15, 2008; 8:00 am EST)

Consolidated relief information for West Virginia:

• 7 Shelters opened*
• 37 Shelter overnight stays*
• 527 Meals served
• 468 Snacks served
• 4 Emergency Response Vehicles deployed
• 389 Clean up kits distributed
• 160 Comfort kits distributed
• 8 Mental health contacts deployed
• 9 Health services contacts deployed
• 255 Red Cross workers deployed

Term Definitions

* indicates a correction to yesterday’s numbers

Fast Facts: The American Red Cross Response 6.15.08

(Effective June 15, 2008; 8:00 am EST)

Consolidated relief information for Iowa, Indiana, Wisconsin, Kansas, California (Three Rivers Wildfire), Illinois, Nebraska and West Virginia:

• 74 Shelters opened*
• 7,447 Shelter overnight stays*
• 98,878 Meals served*
• 169,375 Snacks served*
• 77 Emergency Response vehicles deployed
• 4,796 Clean up kits distributed
• 2,086 Comfort kits distributed
• 5,136 Mental health contacts deployed
• 2,773 Health services contacts deployed*
• 2,088 Red Cross workers deployed

Term Definitions

* indicates a correction to yesterday’s numbers

Fast Facts: The American Red Cross Response

(Effective June 14, 2008; 8:00 am EST)

Consolidated relief information for Iowa, Indiana, Nebraska, Wisconsin, West Virginia and California (Three Rivers wildfires):

• 51 Shelters opened
• 6,841 Shelter overnight stays
• 84,569 Meals served
• 144,323 Snacks served
• 72 Emergency Response Vehicles deployed
• 3,727 Clean up kits distributed
• 1,684 Comfort kits distributed
• 4,785 Mental health contacts deployed
• 2,381 Health services contacts deployed
• 1,809 Red Cross workers deployed

Term Definitions

* indicates a correction to yesterday’s numbers

Press Release: National

AMERICAN RED CROSS ISSUES APPEAL FOR DISASTER RELIEF FUND

Anticipates spending in excess of $15 Million for recent disasters

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: American Red Cross Public Affairs at (202) 303-5551

Washington, June 13, 2008 – The American Red Cross anticipates spending millions as it moves forward with relief efforts for the victims of flooding and tornadoes across seven states, an enormous geographic area. From Kansas to West Virginia, the Red Cross is present with vast amounts of clean up supplies, dozens of shelters and tens of thousands of meals.

Already, more than 1,400 Red Cross workers are assisting people in the affected area, and the organization is gearing up to provide additional relief. The current relief operations follow two extremely busy months for the Red Cross, with 27 disaster operations in April and May. These operations will cost the Red Cross millions of dollars and the help of the American public is needed to meet the growing needs.

“Our first priority in flooding is to provide shelter and food for people in the immediate area until the waters recede and recovery can begin,” said Joe Becker, senior vice president, Disaster Services for the American Red Cross. “But the help we give depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public.”

Over the past days, the Red Cross has responded to tornados in Kansas, and floods in Iowa, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Indiana and West Virginia. Thousands of people are staying in more than 41 shelters and more than 115,000 meals and snacks have been served. This spring, the American Red Cross responded to more than 30 large scale disasters due to severe weather.

The Red Cross is coordinating with local emergency officials, community organizations and faith-based groups to pre-position relief supplies, such as cots, blankets and comfort kits, and is preparing to open additional shelters if needed.

“We are concerned for the more than 500,000 people who live within five miles of this stretch of the Mississippi River as the floods move south,” Becker said. “Red Cross chapters along the river are monitoring the situation, and are prepared to mobilize resources to respond.”

The Red Cross encourages those affected to register their status on the Safe and Well Web site on www.redcross.org so loved ones can know they are safe.

It is anticipated that relief efforts will cost tens of millions of dollars. In order to quickly respond to anyone with disaster-caused needs, the Red Cross must have money available immediately. This emergency resource is provided by the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund.

Visit http://www.redcross.org to find out the latest information and learn how you can help; you can also visit https://redcrossmidwestflooding.wordpress.com/maps/ to view an interactive map for the current Red Cross response.

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and counsels victims of disasters; provides nearly half of the nation’s blood supply; teaches lifesaving skills; 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.redcross.org or join our blog at www.redcrosschat.org.

Fast Facts: West Virginia

(Effective June 13, 2008; 8:00 am EST)

Consolidated relief information for West Virginia:

• 527 Meals served
• 468 Snacks served
• 4 Emergency Response Vehicles deployed
• 389 Clean up kits distributed
• 160 Comfort kits distributed
• 8 Mental health contacts deployed
• 9 Health services contacts deployed
• 251 Red Cross workers deployed

Term Definitions

* indicates a correction to yesterday’s numbers

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