American Red Cross disaster-trained volunteers are helping dozens of families after last week’s severe flooding in portions of Eastern North Carolina.
The Red Cross, along with its partners, are working to identify areas that were impacted and those that will assistance. Currently, the Red Cross is assisting thirty-four (34) families including 109 people in Edgecombe, Nash, New Hanover, Robeson, and Vance Counties. The Red Cross is helping by providing assistance for food, clothing, lodging and other essentials. In addition, the Red Cross can provide health, mental health, and spiritual care to support their recovery.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone that was impacting by the flooding,” said Barry Porter, Regional CEO of the American Red Cross Serving Eastern North Carolina. “It’s a painful reminder that even during a pandemic, emergencies and disasters do not stop.”
The Red Cross continues to provide services for people who have experienced disasters and home fires, though responses may be supported virtually and by remote casework where there are government directed social distancing or shelter-in-place measures in effect. Our physical presence may not be the same, but the emergency help we provide continues, including financial assistance as well as other resources like health and mental health services, which may be provided over the phone.
NEED HELP? If you are in immediate need of help, please contact your local Red Cross.
HOW TO HELPHelp people affected by disasters and countless other crises by making a gift to American Red Cross Disaster Relief. Your gift enables the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from disasters big and small.People can donate by visiting redcross.org, calling 1-800-RED-CROSS, or texting the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.
BECOME A VOLUNTEER To join us, visit redcross.org today to learn more about volunteer opportunities and how to submit a volunteer application.
PREPARE FOR EMERGENCIES: Knowing what hazards can affect your community and learning what to do before, during, and after each one will help you stay safe, and strengthen your ability to adapt, so that you can recover or ‘bounce back’ quickly. There are actions that you can take to prepare while still protecting yourself from COVID-19 during a disaster. Learn steps to take to prepare at redcross.org/prepare.
DOWNLOAD EMERGENCY APPPeople can download the free Red Cross Emergency App now to be ready in case of a disaster in their community. They can use the app’s “I’m Safe” button to connect with their loved ones. The Emergency App can be found in the app store for someone’s mobile device by searching for “American Red Cross” or by going to redcross.org/apps.
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 http://www.redcross.org/
