FORT LAUDERDALE, FL, April 13, 2023—The American Red Cross, in collaboration with the City of Fort Lauderdale, will be opening an emergency shelter to assist those affected by the recent flooding in South Florida. Red Cross workers are prepared to provide warm meals, a safe place to sleep and emotional support for those with immediate, disaster-caused needs.
“The Red Cross is working closely with the entire response community –to coordinate relief and support efforts,” said Paula Prendergast, Executive Director of the American Red Cross Broward County Chapter. “The Red Cross is committed to helping all those affected and providing services until we are no longer needed.”
The Red Cross shelter is located at:
Holiday Park
1150 G. Martin Drive, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33304
The shelters offer residents assistance with essentials, such as temporary lodging, food, and personal care/health items.
"Please continue to stay off the roads as we are expecting more rain. Our primary concern are our neighbors and we will continue to work with the Red Cross to provide every necessary resource we can," said City of Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis.
The flooding throughout South Florida serves as a reminder of the importance of being prepared for disasters big and small. Your family can prepare by taking three simple actions:
GET A KIT. Your emergency kit should contain supplies for at least three days, including a gallon of water per person per day, non-perishable food, a flashlight, and extra batteries, a first aid kit, medications and copies of important documents. Don’t forget to grab items, such as diapers, for young children, and any supplies for family members with special medical needs. Learn more: redcross.org/kit.
MAKE A PLAN. Make sure to plan what to do in case you are separated from your family during an emergency and what to do if you must evacuate. Coordinate your plan with your child’s school, your work and your community’s emergency plan. Include your pets in your emergency plans. Remember, if you and your family need to evacuate, so does your pet. It’s important to plan to know which pet-friendly hotels are in your area, and where your pets can stay in an emergency situation. Find full details and easy-to-use plan templates here.
BE INFORMED. Be informed about what disasters or emergencies may occur where you live, work and play, and how to respond as safely as possible. Find out how local officials will contact you during a disaster and how you will get important information. Take a first aid, CPR and AED course, so you’ll know what to do in case help is delayed. Learn how to get fully informed about emergencies here.
For more information and preparedness tips, visit redcross.org/prepare.
DOWNLOAD RED CROSS EMERGENCY APP Have safety and first aid information at your fingertips. The emergency app features weather alerts, information on open Red Cross shelters, a toolkit with a flashlight, strobe light and alarm, and a one-touch “I’m Safe” button that lets you use social media outlets to let family and friends know you are okay. The apps include a Spanish language toggle switch and can be downloaded by visiting redcross.org/apps.
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org/SouthFlorida or visit us on Twitter at @SFLRedCross .