Increasing frequency of extreme disasters like Hurricane Helene are driving high demand; donate or volunteer to support disaster relief efforts at redcross.org

KENTUCKY, OCTOBER 1, 2024 — The American Red Cross Kentucky Region is issuing an appeal for financial donations, blood donations, and for volunteers who are willing to travel this fall to support emergency shelters for major national disaster relief efforts.

Ways people can help:
• DONATE FINANCIALLY: Financial donations are the quickest and fastest way to get help to people who need it. Visit redcross.org, call 1-800-RED-CROSS or text the word HELENE to 90999 to make a donation to help people affected by disasters like Hurricane Helene. Donations enable the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from disaster. 

• BLOOD: Hurricane Helene has caused more than 1,500 blood donations to go uncollected in the Southeast — yet the need for blood remains constant for patients in need. Those outside the affected areas are encouraged to schedule a blood donation appointment now by visiting RedCrossBlood.org or using the Blood Donor App to help restock the shelves.

• VOLUNTEER: Interested volunteers are urged to sign up today at redcross.org/volunteer. All candidates must complete necessary training and be able to commit to a two-week deployment. Applicants who don’t have disaster experience, but have supervision, management or organization skills; a strong desire to help others; and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment, are encouraged to apply.

‘THIS IS SAFE’: HELENE FAMILY SHARES WHAT SHELTER MEANS TO THEM In emergency shelters, Red Cross disaster volunteers provide people with a safe place to stay, necessities like food and water, and critical services like mental health support and basic health services such as replacing lost medications or medical equipment. 
Over the weekend in Perry, Florida, Amber Barteau and her family sought refuge at a Red Cross shelter after discovering that Hurricane Helene devastated their home — which marked the third time they’ve survived a hurricane in just over a year. “As soon as I pulled up to the shelter, it made me feel good,” Amber said. “I thought to myself, this is safe, and I’m going to be OK.”

RED CROSS MOBILIZES MASSIVE RESPONSE TO HELENE As of Monday, more than 1,000 Red Cross disasters responders, over a dozen are from Kentucky, are on the ground across 10 states devastated by Hurricane Helene in the Southeast, including hard-hit North Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia and Florida. 

On Sunday night, more than 2,600 people stayed in 69 emergency shelters supported by the Red Cross and other community organizations. That overnight total jumped by some 600 people in just one day — and as storm-ravaged communities like those in North Carolina become more accessible, the Red Cross expects the need will continue to grow. While disaster assessments are still underway in hard-to-reach areas, emergency officials are planning for shelter operations to last at least several weeks, based on the storm’s initial widespread destruction.

In Kentucky severe storms swept through over the weekend. Five trained Red Cross disaster workers are helping close to 100 people across the state whose homes were impacted. The Red Cross worked with community partner, God's Pantry, and assisted with the distribution of no prep meals in Boyle County. In addition, the Red Cross loaned 80 cots and provided toiletry items and blankets to the Pine Knot Job Corps program in Pine Knot, KY (McCreary County), for job corps members evacuating from North Carolina.   

The Red Cross Kentucky Region is grateful to those who have provided financial support for disaster relief, such as Bill and Jill Howard; Commonwealth Credit Union; Dean Dorton, Frost Brown Todd Attorneys; GE Appliances; Samtec; UofL Health; Valvoline Instant Oil Change and to the Red Cross Annual Disaster Giving Parter, Yum! Brands.

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow us on social media.