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Red Cross and Partners Pass Halfway Mark in Race to Provide Emergency Shelter to Haiti’s Quake-Affected Population

Melissa Rangel — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 14:00:00 GMT

Tarpaulins, tents, ropes and toolkits continue to pour into Haiti.

Monday, March 08, 2010 — Less than two months after the earthquake that devastated southern Haiti and left an estimated 1.3 million homeless, the Red Cross and other humanitarian agencies have distributed emergency shelter materials to more than 650,000 people – the halfway mark.

Red Cross workers help Camzuehgean Peter with blankets, tarps, kitchen kits and hygiene kits distributed by the American Red Cross at Camp Simon, Le Betemont.

Talia Frenkel/American Red Cross

The Red Cross and its partners are on track to reach all 1.3 million people without shelter on or before the original target date of May 1. The Red Cross global network took over last month as coordinator for shelter under the inter-agency humanitarian “cluster” system.

Tens of thousands of tarpaulins, tents, ropes, timber uprights and toolkits continue to pour into Haiti, helping to put some shelter over people’s heads ahead of the rainy season, which peaks in May.

“Although we have a long way to go, we’ve reached a significant milestone,” said David Meltzer, senior vice president of International Services for the American Red Cross. “Later this week, I will accompany Gail McGovern, our president and CEO, to the region for another visit. We look forward to seeing how much progress we’ve made in such a short time as well as ways to speed relief efforts.”.

The arrival of aid in Haiti was hampered in the immediate aftermath of the quake by massive damage to the country’s infrastructure which saw the seaport closed, the airport clogged and roads blocked.

Much of the aid had to be flown into the neighboring Dominican Republic, and then trucked to the Haitian capital.

Agencies working with the Red Cross in the cluster system have reached more than 80,000 people a week on average since the quake on January 12.

Humanitarian organizations working in Haiti hope to reach about two thirds of those who lost their homes by April 1, which is considered by many to be the on-average start of the rainy season.

“Our goal is to provide all of those who lost their homes with emergency shelter as soon as possible. We will not let up until the job is done,” said Meltzer.

9-Mar-10 8:00 AM

American Red Cross Increases Chilean Earthquake Pledge to $250,000

Melissa Rangel — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 21:00:00 GMT

Tuesday, March 02, 2010 — The American Red Cross is responding to the strong 8.8 magnitude earthquake in Chile, increasing the initial pledge to $250,000 from its International Response Fund for relief operations.

The Chilean Red Cross distributes water to survivors following Saturday's 8.8 magnitude earthquake.

Courtesy of the Chilean Red Cross.

In addition, following a request for assistance for Chile, the American Red Cross is now accepting donations specifically for response and recovery in Chile. This includes Chile-designated donations through www.redcross.org, through calls to 1-800-REDCROSS, and by texting “Chile” to 90999. People can also call 1-800-257-7575 to make a donation in Spanish.

The International Federation of the Red Cross on Tuesday made preliminary emergency appeal of $6.4 million to all Red Cross and Red Crescent societies in order to assist the Chilean Red Cross. The American Red Cross is accepting donations in response to this appeal. Our hearts go out to the people of Chile as they cope with the immediate aftermath of this earthquake and the continuing aftershocks,” says David Meltzer, senior vice president of international services with the American Red Cross. “Thanks to the generosity of the American people who previously donated to our International Relief Fund, we’ve been able to release an initial pledge to help the Chilean people in their hour of need and we stand ready to provide additional assistance.”

A regional member of the Red Cross global network is now in Chile assessing the situation and a small team of other Red Cross emergency workers are also on the ground supporting the Chilean Red Cross.

The global Red Cross network plans to assist 15,000 families with shelter, emergency medical care, water and sanitation services. They will also provide the Chilean Red Cross with communications support. The Chilean Red Cross has mobilized 150 volunteers in Santiago while local Red Cross branches work throughout Chile.

Chilean Red Cross disaster teams are working in close coordination with the Chilean government, providing limited search and rescue services, administering first aid and distributing pre-positioned supplies. The Chilean Red Cross is a member of the government’s emergency response group, which is leading the emergency operations and has a great deal of experience and systems in place to manage response to major disasters.

Meanwhile, the American Red Cross and other Red Cross societies are continuing to support the relief operations in Haiti, where 1.9 million people have been helped since the January 12th earthquake in that country.

“As the largest humanitarian network in the world, the Red Cross has both the experience and the capacity to respond to multiple disasters at the same time,” Meltzer said. “We are supporting the Chilean Red Cross in their response to the earthquake while relief operations continue in Haiti.”

You can help the victims of countless crises, like the earthquakes in Chile and Haiti, around the world each year by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross International Response Fund, which will provide immediate relief and long-term support through supplies, technical assistance and other support to help those in need. The American 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 by either contacting 1-800-HELP NOW or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish), or mailing your donation with the designation to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, D.C. 20013 or to your local American Red Cross chapter. Internet users can make a secure online contribution by visiting www.redcross.org .

3-Mar-10 3:00 PM

March is American Red Cross Month

Melissa Rangel — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 17:00:00 GMT

Monday, March 01, 2010—President Barack Obama has proclaimed March as Red Cross Month across the United States, a tradition upheld by every U.S. President dating back to Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1943.

“The American Red Cross is there when people need us most. During March, we thank those whose support enables us to continue our work,” said Gail McGovern, president and CEO of the American Red Cross. “Their generosity helps us continue to serve those who need us every day – whether they are down the street, across the country, or around the world.”

The American Red Cross is part of the world’s largest humanitarian network – 97 million volunteers helping in 186 countries. In this country, the Red Cross helps change lives seven days a week, 24 hours a day.

200 times a day, American Red Cross volunteers help a family who has lost everything in a house fire or other disaster.
475 times a day, the American Red Cross connects deployed service members with their families.
21,000 times a day, a patient receives blood through the American Red Cross blood program.
43,000 times a day, someone receives life-saving American Red Cross health, safety and preparedness training.

Through its network of 34,000 employees and more than 600,000 volunteers in more than 2,000 locations across the United States and more than 30 countries around the world, the Red Cross touches the lives of millions of people every year

The help of the American Red Cross extends around the world to those in need. In just a little over a month since the earthquake devastated Haiti, the Red Cross has helped more than one million people in the region. Relief efforts include providing clean water and sanitation, food and relief supplies, and health care. It will take many years for the people of Haiti to recover and the American Red Cross will work in close coordination with other organizations to support longer-term assistance projects.

During the month of March, Red Cross chapters across the country have numerous activities planned to celebrate this annual observance. Red Cross Month is a great time for people to get involved with the Red Cross – to give blood, take training in CPR and first aid, volunteer, or give a financial gift to help when the next disaster strikes. Contact your local Greater Houston Red Cross chapter to find out how you can help by calling
713-526-8300.

1-Mar-10 11:00 AM

American Red Cross Responds to Chile Earthquake with Initial $50,000 Pledge

Melissa Rangel — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 14:00:00 GMT

Sunday, February 28, 2010 - The American Red Cross is responding to the strong 8.8 magnitude earthquake in Chile, making an initial $50,000 pledge from its International Response Fund for relief operations.

The Chilean Red Cross distributes water to survivors following Saturday's 8.8 magnitude earthquake.

Courtesy of the Chilean Red Cross.

“Our hearts go out to the people of Chile as they cope with the immediate aftermath of this earthquake and the continuing aftershocks,” says David Meltzer, senior vice president of international services with the American Red Cross. “Thanks to the generosity of the American people who previously donated to our International Relief Fund, we’ve been able to release an initial pledge to help the Chilean people in their hour of need and we stand ready to provide additional assistance.”

In addition, the American Red Cross will continue to monitor the potential impacts of Saturday’s tsunami and is prepared to help the people of Hawaii and the U.S. territories in the Pacific, if there is a need. As of Saturday night, all tsunami warnings resulting from the devastating earthquake in Chile have been cancelled.

A regional member of the Red Cross global network is now in Chile assessing the situation and a small team of other Red Cross emergency workers, including one member from the American Red Cross, are enroute to Santiago.

In international disasters, the American Red Cross provides assistance at the request of the officials in that country, and the Chilean Red Cross has not requested any international assistance at this point. Because the level of help that the American Red Cross would provide is not known at this point, the American Red Cross has not activated a mobile giving $10 text donation program.

Meanwhile, the American Red Cross and other Red Cross societies are continuing to support the relief operations in Haiti, where 1.3 million people have been helped since the January 12th earthquake in that country.

About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies nearly half of the nation's blood; teaches lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; 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 mission. For more information, please visit www.redcross.org or join our blog at http://blog.redcross.org.

1-Mar-10 8:00 AM

Greater Houston Area Red Cross Recommends Winter Weather Preparedness & Caution For Residents

Melissa Rangel — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 20:00:00 GMT

February 22, 2010 - (Houston, Texas) - With the predicted snow, rain and expected freezing temperatures for the next couple of days, the American Red Cross recommends taking a few steps to help keep you and your family stay safe.

Stock up on non-perishable foods in case the power goes out. Make sure you have enough medications for family members, diapers, baby formula, pet food, extra batteries for flashlights, and hygiene items like toilet paper and tissues. During power outages, ATMs don’t work, so you may want to have some extra cash on hand.

Tips for Staying Safe at Home

Be careful with candles – do not use candles for lighting if the power goes out. Use flashlights only.
Don’t use a generator, grill, camp stove or other gasoline, propane, natural gas or charcoal-burning devices inside your home, basement or garage. When placing them outdoors, locate unit away from doors, windows and vents that could allow carbon monoxide to come indoors.
Wrap your pipes
Never use a stove or oven to heat your home.
If you plan on using a fireplace to stay warm, keep a glass or metal fire screen around the fireplace and never leave a lit fire unattended. If using a space heater, follow the manufacturer’s instructions on how to safely use the heater. Place it on a level, hard, nonflammable surface. Turn the space heater off when you leave the room or go to sleep. Keep children and pets away from your space heater and do not use it to dry wet clothing.
Don’t overload electrical outlets.
Bring your animals inside if possible. If they have to stay outside, provide shelter, warm blankets, food and water.

Tips for Protecting Yourself While Outdoors and Traveling

Walk carefully on snowy, icy sidewalks and stairs.
Dress in several layers of lightweight clothing, which will keep you warmer than a single heavy coat.
Mittens provide more warmth to your hands than gloves. Wear a hat, preferably one that covers your ears.
Wear waterproof, insulated boots to keep your feet warm and dry and to maintain your footing in ice and snow.
Avoid driving when conditions include sleet, freezing rain or drizzle, snow or dense fog.
If travel is necessary, keep a disaster supplies kit in your vehicle with extra food and blankets.
Winterize your vehicle and keep the gas tank full.
Seek medical attention immediately if you have symptoms of hypothermia including confusion, dizziness, exhaustion and severe shivering.

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies nearly half of the nation's blood; teaches lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; 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 mission.

22-Feb-10 2:00 PM

Course: CPR Made Simple

Gidget Swift — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 14:00:00 GMT

Purpose

CPR Made Simple is a one-hour non-certification course designed for individuals who want to learn Adult CPR but do not need or desire certification. The course introduces individuals to Adult CPR/AEDand focuses on hands-on practice of Adult CPRAED skills.

Prerequisites

None

Learning Objectives

Demonstrate or describe the emergency action steps.
Demonstrate or describe how to check an unconscious adult.
Demonstrate or describe how to give CPR to an adult.
Demonstrate or describe how to care for an unconscious choknig adult.
Demonstrate or describe how to use an AED.

Length

Approximately 1 hour in length.

Instructor

A currently authorized American Red Cross Lay Responder First Aid and CPR/AED, Emergency Response, Lifeguarding or CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer

Certification Requirement

None (CPR Made Simple is a non-certification course)

Certification Issued and Validity Period

None. Participant may receive a "has attended" certificate.

Participant Products/Materials

Emergency Action Steps wallet card (656705) and/or First Aid and Preparedness booklet (658232)

CPR Made Simple ( NO CERTIFICATION)

This one hour non-certified Adult CPR/AED course is an overview of the critical skills needed to help save a life. There is minimal lecture and instead focuses on hands-on practice for those people who do not need to be certified.

March 6, 2009 9:00 a.m. -10:00 a.m.

March 18, 2009 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.

19-Feb-10 8:00 AM

Haiti: One Month Report

Melissa Ranel — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 21:00:00 GMT

A Historic Relief Effort

On January 12, 2010, a series of earthquakes ranging from magnitude 6.5 - 7.3 struck the island nation of Haiti, killing an estimated 200,000 people, and forcing 3 million Haitians to cope with the loss of loved ones, homes, schools and livelihoods. The earthquakes and their aftershocks, which repeatedly hit just outside the country’s capital city Port-au- Prince, reduced most buildings to rubble and left an estimated 1.2 million people instantly homeless. It is a monumental catastrophe, inflicting massive damage and suffering in Haiti—already the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. Once the first quake ended, the American Red Cross began working around the clock to provide emergency relief and assistance to survivors.

One month later,... (read the entire report [Pdf format])

12-Feb-10 3:00 PM

How the Red Cross is Helping: International Disaster Response - Earthquake in Haiti

Melissa Rangel — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 15:00:00 GMT

American Red Cross Funds Spent/Committed for Haiti Earthquake Response [PDF]

In an operation that has involved more emergency response teams than any other single-country disaster in global Red Cross history, the American Red Cross has so far spent or committed nearly $78 million to meet the most urgent needs of earthquake survivors in Haiti.

The American Red Cross is currently focusing on three areas through its emergency responders and partners:

Sending food to those in need, including 3 million pre-packaged meals and funding for World Food Program efforts that will enable them to feed up to 1 million people for a month.
Providing clean drinking water, including 3.5 million liters distributed to date in 68 settlements. Each day, the Red Cross is distributing enough water for 100,000 people.
Distributing shelter items, such as blankets, tarps, sleeping mats and tents, to families who have been left homeless.

The Red Cross is also meeting the health needs of Haitian survivors and providing support to Haitian families in Haiti and the US. This includes providing relief supplies, shipment of blood products, family linking services and providing Red Cross volunteers to the USNS Comfort, which have been in Haiti for one week.

4-Feb-10 9:00 AM

Why I Help - Bishop Shelton Bady, Greater Houston Area Chapter, Houston, TX

Melissa Rangel — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 14:00:00 GMT

Bishop Shelton Bady, American Red Cross, Greater Houston Area Chapter, Houston, TX

Wednesday, February 03, 2010 — Bishop Shelton Bady is an active member of the American Red Cross Diversity Advisory Council. He also leads his congregation at the Houston Harvest Time Church (HTC) in participating in Red Cross disaster relief efforts.

Bishop Shelton Bady, a constant source of inspiration to others, leads the Harvest Time Church congregation in helping with relief effort projects in conjunction with the American Red Cross Greater Houston Area Chapter.

If you ask him why he and the people in his congregation wholeheartedly align themselves with Red Cross disaster relief efforts, Bady will respond that "the purpose of our existence is to help one another." His weekly teachings emphasize that there is no greater deed that one personally can do than sacrifice oneself for a friend. And, according to him, a friend is anyone in need of help.

Bady's preachings of brotherly love are more than just pretty words, he is a man of action and his "love thy neighbor" philosophical viewpoint continually inspires others in his congregation to commit selfless acts as well.

For example, when Hurricane Ike devastated parts of Texas, and left the Houston area without electricity, members in Bady's congregation gathered food from their own refrigerators, cooked it and distributed it to the less fortunate victims of the storm. HTC members walked for miles knocking on doors and letting folks know that hot cooked meals were available to ease the sudden hardships brought by the storm. Though the food supplies were initially kickstarted by local donations, soon more food supplies arrived from Texas state agencies, and yet more supplies poured into the Houston storm-stricken area from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Bady and his group have spearheaded many disaster relief projects with the American Red Cross similar to the one described above since 2001.

Bady says it is all worth it when he hears a disaster victim say, "I don't know what I would have done without your help." Or sometimes there are no words exchanged with the victim of a storm-ravaged area—the person quietly takes what is offered, and then bursts into tears.

For the Haiti relief effort, Bady’s congregation sent a check to the Diversity Advisory Council to aid relief efforts there; and the church joined an entity formed by a group of pastors and sent even more money to the Red Cross relief fund.

Bady intends to keep doing good works of charity. He attributes the ability to help others to a partnership with the American Red Cross Greater Houston Area Chapter, as well as the HTC elders and all members of his congregation. Together they make it possible to keep performing these large-scale charitable endeavors.

4-Feb-10 8:00 AM

Fraudulent solicitation for American Red Cross Haiti relief

Melissa Rangel — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

February 1, 2010 - 6:00 pm - It has come to our attention that there is a fraudulent solicitation for American Red Cross Haiti relief spreading across the internet. It appears to originate from the Greater Houston Area Red Cross Chapter. The public can identify that it is fraudulent by the following items contained in the email:

It says the email is from the American National Red Cross Society
It says cash donations can be made to Western Union
It says the Red Cross is accepting donations of goods
It contains two bogus web addresses: houstonredcross@hawaiiintel.net and houstonredcross@redcross.org

The above items are all false. There are many legitimate organizations supporting the relief work in Haiti. Those wishing to make a financial donation to the American Red Cross for Haiti relief may do so in one of these ways:

Visit www.redcross.org
Call 1-800-RedCross
Text “Haiti” to 90999

We are so grateful for the generosity and outpouring of support from the public for survivors of the Haiti earthquake. It’s disappointing that people will try to take advantage of this tragedy for their own financial benefit. If there is ever any question as to the legitimacy of a solicitation on behalf of the Red Cross, please feel free to call our Development Department at 713-313-1637.

1-Feb-10 6:00 PM

From piggybanks to prize heifers, Americans support Red Cross relief efforts in Haiti

Melissa Rangel — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 21:00:00 GMT

Friday, January 29, 2010 -

Whether it's a bake sale, money from a piggybank, the sale of a prize heifer or a boy’s donation of the dollar the tooth fairy left him, people of all ages from across the United States have been extraordinarily generous in their support of American Red Cross relief operations in Haiti.

Their donations have enabled the Red Cross to focus on feeding people in Haiti, on providing clean drinking water, and on distributing shelter items.

“We are very grateful to everyone who has supported our efforts in Haiti,” said Jerry DeFrancisco, President, American Red Cross Humanitarian Services. “The American Red Cross has been working in Haiti with our fellow Red Cross/Red Crescent national societies from around the globe. This generosity allows the Red Cross to not only offer Haiti immediate relief, but to also take part in planning to help the people of Haiti recover and rebuild in the coming years.”

Touching stories have emerged about some of those who made donations to help the people in Haiti. For instance, in New Orleans, five-year-old Yahzarah and her mom came to the Southeast Louisiana Red Cross Chapter in New Orleans with the child’s piggybank and donated its contents - $44.70

In Detroit, a man appeared at the Southeastern Michigan Red Cross Chapter in Detroit and donated a crisp $100 bill to help the people in Haiti. His coat was duct-taped, his shoes had holes, and he had to take the bus to the Red Cross office.

Thirty-nine people gathered together in New York City to give to the American Red Cross Haiti Relief and Development Fund by texting the word “Haiti” to 90999. The group raised $390 to help the people in Haiti and recorded their efforts. Nearly 3 million donors have followed suit around the country and made a text donation to support Red Cross efforts in Haiti.

In Bluffton, S.C., three young sisters raised $133 by holding a bake sale to raise money for the American Red Cross relief efforts in Haiti following a kindergarten class assignment to collect 100 of any item they wanted. They decided to hold a bake sale and try to collect 100 dollar bills.

In Spring Creek, FL, ten-year-old Austin won a contest among local fifth graders for an essay he wrote on the Transcontinental Railroad. His prize was $30, which he donated to the American Red Cross for Haiti. His family members matched his donation. Four-year-old Max lives in Denver, CO, and had $37 in his Tzedakah, or charity box, from an allowance he gets for picking up his toys and making his bed. He wanted his money to go to the American Red Cross.

An eight-year-old resident of Williamstown, NJ, sent this letter to American Red Cross Headquarters in Washington, DC. “Dear American Red Cross: I heard Haiti had an earthquake. This dollar is for them. It is from the tooth fairy.”

And perhaps the most unusual - a ranch in North Dakota donated five bred heifers for the American Red Cross relief efforts in Haiti. The heifers were to be auctioned off at the stock yards in Aberdeen, proceeds of which went to the Red Cross International Relief Fund.

People all over the United States are helping with events such as concerts, food sales and raffles. One school is trying to come up with a “Mile of Quarters”. Another is making chains of $1 paper hearts and having different classes compete to make the longest chain. Touched by the plight of the people in Haiti, they are doing what they can to raise funds for the Red Cross relief efforts in the ravaged Caribbean country.

The American Red Cross is sending 3 million pre-packaged meals, which are scheduled to arrive over the weekend. Family-sized tents with tarps, ropes, and tools to construct them are already being distributed.

Red Cross responders are also distributing hygiene kits, water purification tablets and blankets. Creole-speaking American Red Cross volunteers are onboard the hospital ship, the USNS Comfort, to serve as interpreters for Haitian patients receiving medical care from the U.S. military. The Red Cross is also meeting the health needs of Haitian survivors and providing support to Haitian families in Haiti and the US. This includes the shipment of blood products, family linking services and providing Red Cross volunteers to the USNS Comfort, which have been in Haiti for one week.

If you would like to help, mobile donors can text “Haiti” to 90999 to make a $10 contribution. You can also help by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross International Response Fund by calling 1-800-REDCROSS or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish) or online at houstonredcross.org or www.redcross.org.

You can help the victims of countless crises, like the recent earthquake in Haiti, around the world each year by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross International Response Fund, which will provide immediate relief and long-term support through supplies, technical assistance and other support to help those in need. The American 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 by mailing your donation with the designation to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, D.C. 20013 or to your local American Red Cross chapter. Donations to the International Response Fund can be made by phone at 1-800-REDCROSS or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish) or online at www.redcross.org.

29-Jan-10 3:00 PM

Haiti Relief Operation a Global Red Cross Effort

Melissa Rangel — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 20:00:00 GMT

Monday, January 25, 2010 — The scope and abilities of the global Red Cross and Red Crescent network are on display as never before in Haiti.

More than 430 Red Cross and Red Crescent workers from at least 30 countries are in the country supporting thousands of local volunteers. Of them, more than 100 represent the American Red Cross, including a group of Creole interpreters on board the USNS Comfort.

The relief operation in Haiti is already the largest single-country personnel deployment in global Red Cross history. The number of emergency response teams in or en route to Haiti equals those that responded to the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami—a disaster that spanned 14 countries.

Each Red Cross team has its own roles and expertise, and they are working together to form a powerful engine for relief.

Red Cross responders from eight countries are treating approximately 500 people each day at medical facilities throughout the capital city. An additional 100-bed Red Cross field hospital arrived this weekend and has been set up in the Carrefour soccer stadium.

Other Red Cross teams are focused on purifying the water supply and are delivering clean drinking water to 400,000 people each day. So far, more than 2 million liters of water has been distributed.

Local Haitian Red Cross volunteers are providing first aid as well as emotional support for traumatized survivors. A special area has been established at each medical center where volunteers are comforting children, many of whom are too young to even understand what happened.

Relief Supplies
Although bottlenecks still remain, relief supplies are arriving more frequently and in larger quantities now.

So far, more than 38 flights carrying Red Cross aid have arrived in Haiti. Additional planes, ships and trucks carrying Red Cross humanitarian assistance are expected every day.

Together with relief partners like the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the Red Cross is helping to meet temporary shelter needs, whether in camps or in spontaneous settlements, and is working to provide support for host families sheltering the displaced. This immediate relief includes providing family-sized tents and kits with tarps, ropes and tools to construct shelter. At the same time, the Red Cross is developing a strategy to meet long-term housing reconstruction needs.

The American Red Cross and its partners are also distributing other relief items—such as hygiene kits, blankets and water containers—for up to 1,000 families (6,000 people) each day.

Worldwide Public Support
Last Friday’s “Hope for Haiti Now” telethon, broadcast in the United States and internationally, raised $58 million, which will be split evenly among seven charities: the American Red Cross, the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund, Oxfam America, Partners in Health, UNICEF, the United Nations World Food Programme and the Yele Haiti Foundation.

If you missed the broadcast and would still like to help, individual audio performances are available for purchase and download for 99 cents each on iTunes. The entire “Hope for Haiti Now” digital album is also available for $7.99. Apple, the record labels and the artists are donating their share of the proceeds to the Haiti relief funds managed by “Hope for Haiti Now.”

Because of the generosity of donors, people in Haiti will receive more than immediate relief— they will receive resources, support and training from the Red Cross that will help them thrive for years to come.

The American Red Cross is applying experience gained following the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. For the past five years, the organization has been constructing water and sanitation systems, providing emotional support and healthcare, building shelters, restoring livelihoods and preparing communities for the next disaster. The American Red Cross plans to offer a similar level of support in close collaboration with Red Cross partners and other international and local aid organizations in Haiti.

26-Jan-10 2:00 PM

How a Donor’s Gift can Impact the Haiti Relief Effort

Melissa Rangel — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 19:00:00 GMT

To download pdf file of this document, click here.

Q What could my gift actually buy?

§ $5
provides a water container to store clean drinking water

§ $10
provides a blanket that is appropriate to the climate and culture of the disaster-affected area

§ $25
provides a family of 5 with a kitchen set giving them the ability to cook and serve food (a disaster can destroy even the most basic family possessions and restoring family’s self-sufficiency is essential). This includes two cooking pots, a frying pan, bowls, plates, cups, and utensils.

§ $30
provides essential hygiene materials to 5 people for one month (ensuring adequate hygiene after a disaster is essential in promoting the health of those affected). This includes items like a toothbrush and toothpaste, shampoo, body soap, laundry soap, toilet paper, sanitary pads, a razor and a towel.

§ $60
provides tarps, rope, wood and tools for a family of five to build a temporary shelter. (2 tarps, rope, hoe, machete, tin snips, handsaw, roofing nails, shovel, long nails, tie wire, claw hammer)

§ $100
provides a cooking set, hygiene pack, blankets, and water containers for one family of five following a disaster.

§ $500
provides a family tent for a family of 5

January 2010

22-Jan-10 1:00 PM

American Red Cross Relief Efforts Ongoing in Haiti

Melissa Rangel — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 20:00:00 GMT

Wednesday, January 20, 2010 - More than a week after a catastrophic earthquake shattered the Port-au-Prince region and surrounding areas in Haiti, the American Red Cross, with the help of the generosity of the American public, is delivering relief; through first aid posts, hospitals, relief distribution sites, water trucking programs and family linking stations—and helping to make life better for those affected. The Red Cross has now been able to reach survivors outside the capital city, providing first aid in camps and prioritizing the need for food, water and other basic supplies. Teams are focused on purifying the water supply available in the country and expect to deliver clean drinking water to 200,000 to 400,000 people each day by truck.

So far, approximately 100 tons of Red Cross aid has arrived in Haiti. Planes and trucks carrying additional assistance are arriving in the region every day.

In partnership with the World Food Program in Haiti, approximately 3 million pre-packaged meals will be provided to those in need. The 100 truckloads of meals are expected to arrive by the weekend. In the days ahead, the Red Cross will also provide tents and shelter supplies for an initial 20,000 families.

There are more than 400 Red Cross workers from around the world in Haiti, as well as thousands of local volunteers. Responders from seven countries are treating injuries and performing surgery at hospitals and medical centers throughout the capital city. More than 70 Creole-speaking Red Cross volunteers have been trained and will soon join the USNS Comfort offshore in Haiti to translate for patients receiving medical care from the U.S. military.

American Red Cross President and CEO Gail McGovern traveled to Haiti yesterday to visit relief operations and help coordinate the distribution of aid. “This is an enormous relief operation now, and will be a massive long-term recovery effort. The Red Cross will be there every step of the way,” McGovern stated.

People can donate in support of the relief effort in Haiti at www.houstonredcross.org or www.redcross.org or by calling 1-800-REDCROSS. Mobile donors can text “Haiti” to 90999 to make a $10 contribution. A $10 donation made through mobile giving can provide a family with two water cans to store clean drinking water, a blanket appropriate to the climate or other supplies to give people the ability to cook for their families.

Join our blog at http://blog.redcross.org.

20-Jan-10 2:00 PM

American Red Cross President Witnesses Haiti’s Need Firsthand

Melissa Rangel — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 19:00:00 GMT

Tuesday, January 19, 2010 —

American Red Cross President and CEO Gail McGovern traveled to Haiti today to visit relief operations and help coordinate the distribution of aid.

McGovern is meeting with Dr. Michaële Amédée Gedeon, president of the Haitian Red Cross, and will visit a first aid post outside the damaged American Red Cross headquarters. This is just one of 11 mobile posts where volunteers are working to treat wounded survivors. She will also visit a Red Cross relief distribution center where family kits, water and shelter supplies are being organized and given to survivors.

McGovern will meet with the Haitian government later today as a follow-up to a meeting held in the Dominican Republic on Monday, where Red Cross and government leaders from around the world gathered to organize a global response to unprecedented need in Haiti.

There are more than 400 Red Cross workers from around the world in Haiti, as well as thousands of local volunteers. In addition to the first aid posts, outreach teams are also aiding the injured in nearby camps. Red Cross responders from six countries are treating injuries and triaging people for surgery at hospitals and medical centers in Port-au-Prince, Carrefour and Jacmel.

Planes and trucks carrying Red Cross humanitarian assistance are arriving in the region every day, delivering much needed materials such as medical supplies, tarps, blankets, hygiene items, buckets, shelter supplies and kitchen sets. So far, more than 500 tons of Red Cross aid have been mobilized.

20-Jan-10 1:00 PM

American Red Cross Provides First Aid, Supplies in Croix Deprez

Melissa Rangel — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 14:00:00 GMT

President & CEO Gail McGovern to travel to Port-au-Prince Tuesday

WASHINGTON, Monday, January 18, 2010 — Outside the damaged American Red Cross office in Croix Deprez, volunteers from Haiti and around the world are working side-by-side to clean and stitch wounds amidst the earthquake’s rubble. Outreach teams are also traveling through the neighborhood camps today, providing basic relief items, such as tarps, blankets, jerry cans for water and hygiene supplies.

“Groups of Haitian Red Cross youth volunteers will comb the worst-hit neighborhoods, street by street, promoting safe hygiene practices and encouraging people to come to the first aid posts,” said Winnie Romeril, a volunteer with the American Red Cross in Haiti.

American Red Cross President & CEO Gail McGovern is in the Dominican Republic, meeting with other Red Cross and government leaders today to help coordinate a global response to unprecedented need in Haiti. On Tuesday, she will travel to Haiti to visit American Red Cross relief distribution points.

President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama visited American Red Cross workers this afternoon in the disaster operations center at Red Cross headquarters in Washington, D.C.

The President showed gratitude to the employees and volunteers, and said, “tip-top operation, thank you and keep it up; you make us very proud.”

Over the weekend, planes and trucks carrying Red Cross humanitarian assistance arrived in the region, delivering a field hospital and much needed materials such as tarps, blankets, hygiene items, buckets, shelter supplies and kitchen sets. Three additional shipments of relief items should arrive on Monday and Tuesday in the Dominican Republic before being trucked into Haiti.

Red Cross teams from around the world spent the weekend coordinating and delivering clean drinking water to survivors gathering in six different communities as well as hospitals and makeshift medical facilities.

In the days ahead, the Red Cross will begin to provide supplies for temporary shelters in Haiti. Kits, containing tarps, rope and tools, as well as tents and blankets, will be made available for an initial 20,000 families.

19-Jan-10 8:00 AM

American Red Cross Releases $10 Million to Help Haiti

Thu, 14 Jan 2010 20:00:00 GMT

Priority needs are food, water, shelter, medical help

WASHINGTON, Thursday, January 14, 2010 — With estimates that as many as three million people may be affected by the catastrophic earthquake which hit Haiti Tuesday, the American Red Cross is releasing an additional $9 million for earthquake relief, bringing its total commitment so far to $10 million to support relief efforts in Haiti.

Priority needs in Haiti are food, water, temporary shelter, medical services and emotional support. Thousands of local Red Cross volunteers are aiding their fellow Haitians. American Red Cross Disaster management specialists are scheduled to arrive today from the United States, Peru and Mexico to join local Red Cross staff already on the ground in the disaster zone. As soon as airports begin accepting relief shipments, tarps, hygiene items and cooking sets for approximately 5,000 families will come from the Red Cross warehouse in Panama.

The American Red Cross is also helping the injured who may need blood. Blood and blood products were shipped to the U.S. Naval Air Station in Jacksonville, Florida, and then on to Guantanamo Bay to help Haitian evacuees and patients.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has a plane full of mostly medical items on the way to Haiti from Geneva. ICRC staff, including engineers, a surgeon and family linking specialists are expected to arrive in Port-au-Prince this morning. Other Red Cross partners have deployed a mobile hospital, medical teams, and 40 staff to help with sheltering, providing water, sanitation, and telecommunications.

ICRC is helping reconnect separated families in Haiti through a special web site which enables people in Haiti and outside the country to search for and register the names of relatives missing since the earthquake. In the first twenty-four hours, more than 6,000 people have been registered.

We are not accepting volunteers to travel to Haiti. If you would like to volunteer in your own community for the American Red Cross, please contact your Houston Red Cross at 713-526-8300.
For inquiries about relatives living and who have citizenship in Haiti, please be patient and call repeatedly until the lines clear or contact other family members who live nearby. Telephone, Internet and other communication lines are often disrupted in times of disaster.
People trying to locate U.S. citizens living or traveling in Haiti should contact the U.S. Department of State, Office of Overseas Citizens Services, at 1-888-407-4747 or (202) 647-5225.

Countless requests have come from people wanting to help. The best way to do that is to make a donation to the American Red Cross International Response Fund at redcross.org or by calling 1-800-RED-CROSS. Donors can designate their gifts to Haiti relief. Donations to the International Response Fund allows the American Red Cross to respond to global emergencies and disasters.

In addition, several hundred thousand people have chosen to make a mobile donation. Donors can text "Haiti" to 90999 on their cell phone to send a $10 donation to support Red Cross relief efforts in Haiti. The mobile giving effort raised more than $3 million by Thursday morning, and all money raised goes to support Red Cross relief efforts in Haiti.

About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies nearly half of the nation's blood; teaches lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; 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 mission. For more information, please visit www.houstonredcross or www.redcross.org or join our blog at http://blog.redcross.org.

14-Jan-10 2:00 PM

American Red Cross Provides People, Money and Supplies to Help Victims of Haiti Earthquake

Melissa Rangel — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 14:00:00 GMT

Thursday, January 14, 2010 - The American Red Cross has pledged an initial $1million to assist communities impacted by the earthquake in Haiti, and is prepared to take further action as local responders assess the situation.

Initial estimates are that up to 3 million people may be affected. Government offices, including the Presidential palace, have collapsed. Hospitals and the local Red Cross office have sustained major damage. Many areas remain inaccessible as roads are covered with debris and bridges have collapsed. Telephone lines and electricity are still out in many places. The next 48 hours are critical for life-saving operations such as search and rescue and first aid.

The American Red Cross has made available all of the relief supplies from its warehouse in Panama to provide for basic needs for approximately 5,000 families. Items include blankets, cooking sets and water containers. In addition, it is deploying a disaster management specialist to Haiti, and has additional disaster specialists on standby if needed.

The American Red Cross has an extensive partnership with the Haitian Red Cross, which is expected to lead the Red Cross response to the earthquake.

The American Red Cross has three people in Haiti, who live there and provide ongoing HIV/AIDS prevention and disaster preparedness programs. All of them are safe. The American Red Cross is also sending in a Disaster Specialist.

The Haitian Red Cross was founded in 1932 and is one of the primary organizations in the country responding to disasters. Although earthquakes are less common, Haiti is frequently impacted by hurricanes including those in 2008, and the Haiti Red Cross has developed experience in disaster response due those disasters.

How to Help

Welfare Inquiries:

*Inquiries regarding US Citizens living or traveling in Haiti should be referred to the U.S. Department of State, Office of Overseas Citizens services, at 1-888-407-4747 or 202-647-5225.

*Inquiries regarding non-US Citizens in Haiti: At this time inquiries to search for loved ones missing in Haiti are not being accepted.

*The Red Cross family linking response in Haiti will focus on allowing people in the earthquake affected areas to contact their relatives abroad.

*The International Committee of the Red Cross has also established a family linking Website enabling persons in Haiti and abroad to search for and register the names of relatives missing since the earthquake. www.icrc.org/familylinks

*For inquiries about relatives who have citizenship in Haiti, please be patient and call repeatedly until the lines clear or contact other family members who live nearby. Telephone, Internet and other communication lines are often disrupted in times of disaster.

Financial Donations:

*Donate online www.houstonredcross.org. Go to the home page, upper right hand corner. Click on the picture of little boy. On the donation page, click International Response Fund

*Donate by phone: 713-313-1753

*Donors may text HAITI to "90999" and a donation $10;American Red Cross to help with relief efforts; the donation is an automatic $10 donation

The American Red Cross is not accepting donations of goods:

*Transporting goods is costly

*Financial donations allow affected communities to get the goods and services they need most to assist survivors and help them recover

*Financial donations allow goods and services to be purchased close to the affected communities. This saves money on transportation costs, supports their local economies and helps them recover faster.

13-Jan-10 8:00 AM

Don’t Let the Flu Get to You

Melissa Rangel — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 21:00:00 GMT

Monday, January 11, 2010- The H1N1 (swine) flu virus is still prevalent across the nation and the American Red Cross encourages everyone to get vaccinated against the virus, now that the vaccine is widely available. National Influenza Vaccination Week, which is January 10-16, serves as an opportunity for people to learn how to prevent the spread of the flu and to encourage people and their loved ones to get vaccinated against both H1N1 and seasonal flu. To find out where vaccinations are offered, visit flu.gov for a list of locations by Zip Code.

“The H1N1 flu continues to be a health threat, so this is no time to be complacent,” said Sharon Stanley, chief nurse and director, Red Cross Disaster Health and Mental Health Services. “The supply for the vaccine is no longer an issue, and we don’t know whether another wave of H1N1 will occur. The best way to protect yourself and your loved ones is by being vaccinated.”

In the fall of 2009, the supply of H1N1 vaccine was limited, but now the vaccine is readily available. The vaccine was developed in the same manner as the seasonal flu vaccine, manufactured using the same standards and quality control measures and is considered safe.

Even though the number of people getting the flu is decreasing, the H1N1 virus is still a threat. In the past, seasonal flu usually peaked in January or February and occurred as late as May. H1N1 first appeared in the spring of 2009, and reoccurred in the fall. Officials for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention caution that they still don’t know what seasonal flu outbreaks will be like this year, and if there will be additional waves of H1N1.

Besides vaccination, there are also other simple steps to take to help prevent the spread of the flu:

Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or sleeve – cough into the elbow area, not hands.
Wash hands often, especially after coughing or sneezing. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
Stay home if sick.

The Red Cross has educational tools available to help households, schools and workplaces be well informed and promote healthy habits that help reduce the spread of the flu. Visit RedCross.org or contact your local chapter for more information.

About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies nearly half of the nation's blood; teaches lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; 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 mission. For more information, please visit www.houstonredcross or www.redcross.org or join our blog at http://blog.redcross.org.

11-Jan-10 3:00 PM

Houston Area Red Cross Identifies Stand-by Warming Centers in the Houston, Beaumont & Orange Areas

Melissa Rangel — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 21:00:00 GMT

Houston, Texas ( January 6, 2010) – As the temperatures begin to drop, the Greater Houston Area Red Cross has identified 14 stand-by warming centers in the Houston, Beaumont & Orange areas. If needed, Emergency Management Officials will notify the Red Cross to open the centers for people who may not have heat.

For those trying to heat their homes, the Red Cross encourages everyone to be safe and prepare as much as possible. “Many fires this time of year are due to candles and space heaters. The Red Cross safety tips below will help keep you and your family safe and warm and reduce heating costs.” said Steve Vetrano, CEO, Houston Red Cross.

HEAT YOUR HOME SAFELY

All heaters need space! Keep things that can burn, such as paper, bedding or furniture, at least 3 feet away from heating equipment, fireplaces and stoves.
Place portable space heaters on a hard, level, nonflammable surface. Do not put space heaters on rugs or carpets, near bedding or drapes, and keep children and pets away. Look for a model that shuts off automatically if the space heater tips over. Do not use heating equipment to dry wet clothing.
Never use the stove or oven to heat your home.
Never leave portable heaters, wood burning stoves or fireplaces unattended. Turn them off before leaving or going to bed.
Keep the fire in the fireplace by using a glass or metal screen large enough to catch sparks and rolling logs.
Make sure you have working smoke alarms, with fresh batteries, near the bedrooms.

CUT DOWN ON YOUR HEATING BILLS

Eliminate drafts. Use either insulating tape or caulking strips to surround windows and door moldings. Cover your windows with plastic sheeting. If you have storm windows or storm doors, get them up to keep the cold out.
Make sure heat vents aren’t blocked by furniture.
Turn down the thermostat and dress warmly.
Close off any rooms that aren’t in use and close heat vents or turn off radiators in those rooms.
Insulate your light switch and outlet plates with foam pads. Cold air can seep into the house through them.
Use heavy curtains to keep cold air out. Open them during the day to let the sun help warm your home and close them at night. Use fabric snakes or old carpets in front of windows and doors to help eliminate drafts.
Turn off vent fans in the kitchen and bathroom when they are no longer needed.
Set ceiling fans to blow air down.

DON’T FORGET FIDO AND YOUR NEIGHBOR

Dress in several layers of lightweight clothing. Don’t forget gloves or mittens, and a hat, preferably one that covers your ears.
Wear waterproof, insulated boots to keep feet warm and dry and to maintain footing in icy weather.
Don’t forget pets – bring them indoors. If that’s not possible, provide adequate shelter to keep them warm and make sure they have food and water that’s not frozen.
Check on people who require special assistance such as elderly people living alone, people with disabilities and children.

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6-Jan-10 3:00 PM