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August 31, 2011 – American Red Cross disaster relief efforts continue, as thousands remain in shelters after Hurricane Irene caused flooding and even tornadoes along the East Coast.
In North Carolina, Red Cross volunteers have begun damage assessment, finding nearly 3,700 homes were destroyed. An additional 90,000 North Carolina homes suffered some level of damage from Hurricane Irene. Those numbers are expected to grow as assessment continues.
In the hours following the hurricane, Red Cross volunteers were on the ground in these hard hit areas, providing food, shelter and other emergency needs to these families. Last night, 335 residents stayed in one of eight shelters in North Carolina; 52 shelters were open in Eastern NC at the height of the storm.
The Red Cross has relief operations ongoing in more than a dozen states and thousands of disaster workers helping people from North Carolina to New England. Every Red Cross feeding truck east of the Rocky Mountains - more than 250 – are traveling into neighborhoods to deliver food, water and clean-up kits. Tens of thousands of pre-packaged meals are in position, and the Red Cross is working with its community partners to have feeding kitchens in place after the storm moves through.
If people would like to help, they can click or text to support American Red Cross Disaster Relief. Donations can be made by visiting www.redcross.org or texting the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Contributions can also be sent to your local Red Cross chapter or mailed to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013.
Irene has already caused the cancellation of more than 72 blood drives, adding up to a loss of approximately 2,400 blood donations along the East Coast. Because each donation can be made into as many as three blood products, this translates to approximately 7,200 blood products not being available for patients who need them. Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental permission within North Carolina), meet height and weight requirements (110 pounds or more, depending on their height), and who are generally in good health may be eligible to donate blood. To schedule an appointment, please call 1-800-RED CROSS or go to redcrossblood.org.
Those affected by the storm can let friends and family know where they are by registering on the Red Cross Safe and Well website at redcross.org. They can also call a family member or friend with internet access and ask them to do their registration.
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