In recent weeks, the American Red Cross has had their work cut out for them, with some 1,180 individuals trying to escape the wildfires, excruciating heat, and floods,Saturday at over 55 different shelters – stretching from the east coast all the way to California.

Charlie Shimanski, senior vice president of Red Cross Disaster Services commented:

“The Red Cross is helping people who ahve no power during this dangerous heat wave while continuing to feed and shelter people impacted by the wildfires out west and flooding in Florida. We urge people to stay safe and follow the direction of local officials during these emergencies.”

After Friday’s heavy-duty storms, millions of people are still living without power in their homes, and according to officials, they will probably go without electricity for at least another couple of days. The Red Cross reported over 900 people taking shelter in their facilities on Saturday, due to the power outages.

Currently, The Red Cross is offering services, such as cooling centers and shelters, in the following areas:

  • Ohio
  • Kentucky
  • Indiana
  • Maryland
  • New Jersey
  • Virginia
  • West Virginia
  • Washington D.C and the surrounding areas

The Red Cross had been urging people without power to stick to the safety tips they have been told. These include:

  • Making sure pets have a place to rest in the shade and ample amounts of water to drink
  • Connecting power machinery to generator outlets, not the home’s electrical system
  • Checking up on friends/neighbors who live alone
  • Keeping fridges and freezers closed to make sure food stays preserved as long as possible (A freezer full of food can stay as cold as it originally was before a power outage should the door stay closed)
  • Unplugging appliances, with the exception of one light, in order to know when the power is back
  • Avoiding travel as much possible because the roads may not be safe, due to the lack of working traffic lights

Due to the ongoing wildfires that have been hitting the west coast states, 12 Red Cross shelters in Utah, Montana and Colorado housed over 200 people on Saturday. Red Cross volunteers are working endlessly to help the people who are being affected by these horrible fires to have food, shelter, and counseling due to the inevitable mental and emotional problems some of the people will be facing, on top of everything else, because of damaged homes and belongings.

In Florida, close to 75 people are still living in shelters run by Red Cross, until their neighborhoods have recovered from the aftermath of the tropical storm Debby. Hundreds of disaster experts have been diligently working to make sure the people affected by the storm have food, shelter and necessary supplies, such as rakes, shovels, flashlights, gloves and tarps, to repair the damages.

To make a donation to the Red Cross and the victims of these disasters, find a shelter, or receive more information about how to avoid dangerous situations during these tough times, click here.

Written by Christine Kearney