More Hawai‘i Red Cross Volunteers Deploy for Irma & Harvey

Hurricane Irma, Sept. 4, 2017. NWS/NOAA.

As of today, Sunday, Sept. 4, 2017, a total of 24 Hawai‘i Red Cross volunteers have either deployed or will be deployed to assist with the Red Cross response to Harvey: nine volunteers from the Big Island, four volunteers from Maui, one volunteer from Moloka‘i and 10 volunteers from O‘ahu are in Texas or Louisiana, or on the way over there, to assist in relief efforts ranging from damage assessment, bulk distribution, sheltering, community partnerships, finance, feeding and disaster mental health.

Now that the rain has finally stopped falling in Texas and Louisiana, some people are cleaning up their flooded homes, while others are still facing catastrophic flooding and evacuations, Red Cross Hawai‘i officials said.

Rivers and bayous in the region remain at record flooding levels and flooding is expected to continue for days.

Officials estimate as many as 135,000 homes may be impacted in Texas with more than 22,000 homes receiving major damage.

Texas officials report damages from Harvey could reach as high as $180 billion, more than hurricanes Katrina or Sandy.

The Red Cross is closely monitoring Hurricane Irma, now a powerful hurricane in the Atlantic, and beginning to prepare in case the U.S. is threatened. Two Red Cross volunteers from Oahu and one from Kauai have been assigned to deploy to Orlando, a staging site for Hurricane Irma.

Red Cross disaster workers are also responding out west to the numerous wildfires in Oregon, Montana, California and Washington State, where almost 80 people spent the night in shelters.

There are as many as 130 wildfires burning according to the USDA Forest Service.

Harvey remnant, Hurricane Irma formation, Aug. 30, 2017. NWS/NOAA.

The American Red Cross continues to work around the clock to provide shelter, food, comfort and other emergency support to victims of Hurricane Harvey.

• Sunday night, at least 33,000 people sought refuge in 284 Red Cross and partner shelters across Texas overnight. The Red Cross is also assisting the Louisiana state government with emergency shelters which hosted nearly 1,300 people last night.
• More than 3,000 Red Cross disaster workers are on the ground, with an additional 450 are on the way.
• Shelter supplies to support more than 85,000 people are on the ground.
• Along with our partners, we have served more than 690,000 meals and snacks since the storm began.
•The Red Cross has trailers of kitchen supplies on the ground to support 16 kitchens, each able to produce 10,000 meals a day.
• The Red Cross also has about 150,000 ready-to-eat meals currently on the ground.
• More than 215 emergency response vehicles have been activated to help deliver meals and relief supplies.
• Mental health and health services professionals have provided some 21,000 contacts to provide support and care to evacuees.
• We’ve distributed more than 30,000 relief items like diapers and comfort kits that contain deodorant, toothbrushes, toothpaste and other hygiene items for people forced from their homes. Cleaning and relief supplies to support more than 35,000 homes are on the ground, with an additional 5,000 on the way.
• More than 23 million hurricane and flood alerts have been issued through Red Cross mobile apps since August 23, well surpassing the 6 million issued for Superstorm Sandy. The apps provide shelter locations and real-time information so people can help protect themselves and their loved-ones.

How to Help. Help people affected by Hurricane Harvey by visiting redcross.org, calling 1- 800-RED CROSS or texting the word HARVEY to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Donations enable the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from this disaster.

About the American Red Cross
The Red Cross is not a government agency and depends on public contributions to help others. All Red Cross assistance to disaster victims is free. Your gift supports the lifesaving mission of the American Red Cross in your community, across the country and around the world. To send a contribution, mail your check to American Red Cross of Hawaii4155 Diamond Head Road, Honolulu, HI  96816 

Make a secure online donation at www.redcross.org/hawaii or call  (808) 739-8109.