American Red Cross Tops $1 Billion in Hurricane Response

More Than $1 Billion Still Needed To Carry Out Relief Efforts

WASHINGTON, Friday, September 30, 2005 — In the wake of a natural disaster of unprecedented scope, the American Red Cross is setting records in the quantity and agility of its response. This all-out effort to meet the emergency needs of more than two million survivors directly affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita comes at a cost: The Red Cross has spent or committed more than $1.21 billion to date and expects the operation to top the $2 billion mark.

The Red Cross is spending nearly $35 million a day just on financial assistance to meet the emergency needs of families. As of today, the Red Cross has raised $1.125 billion in gifts and pledges, of which approximately $856 million has been received. The Red Cross is at the point where money is being spent faster than donations are coming in.

“We are incredibly grateful for the outpouring of support from our donors. In the face of unimaginable devastation, we were able to provide unprecedented levels of immediate emergency services, thanks to the public's generosity,” said Marsha J. Evans, President and CEO of the American Red Cross. “But we still have a long road ahead. The next 30 days will be just as critical as the past 30 days.

“The Red Cross has been planning for and responding to disasters for 125 years, and the damage done by these hurricanes eclipses even the most dire scenarios. More than one month after Hurricane Katrina first hit, amplified by Hurricane Rita, hundreds of thousands of people still need help,” she said. “No one could have anticipated the monumental need and additional funding is vital to continue to provide critical emergency services to hurricane survivors. We are relying on our corporate partners, foundations and the American people to help their neighbors in need through the Red Cross.”

In the largest sheltering operation in its history, the Red Cross has provided nearly 3 million overnight stays in more than 1,150 shelters across 27 states and the District of Columbia, in addition to housing nearly 400,000 survivors in hotels in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. In comparison, during all of the 2004 hurricane season, the Red Cross provided 427,000 overnight stays for evacuees. Furthermore, Katrina alone impacted 15 times the number of families needing assistance after all four hurricanes in 2004. And Rita, which mercifully did not live up to the worst projections, was still bigger than any one of those 2004 hurricanes.

Partnering with the Southern Baptists and others, the Red Cross has doubled its capacity to feed survivors. Since Katrina first made landfall, more than 15 million hot meals have been provided along with 10 million snacks. On one day, more than one million meals were served – four times the previous record of 276,000 meals in one day during last year's hurricane aftermath.

This record-setting meal service was accomplished despite daunting challenges posed by power outages, water system disruptions and impassable roads. Logistics continue to be a challenge in this operation, as Red Cross workers are driven by a desire to get more relief to more people in more places faster than ever before.

Financial assistance to more than 721,000 families (approximately 2.3 million people) has been the most expensive part of the relief operation thus far. More than 35,000 families per day are receiving cash in hand, at an average of approximately $1,000 per family. A total of $715 million has been spent or committed already to allow survivors to buy items essential to begin their recovery.

To date, the Red Cross has mobilized more than 174,000 disaster relief volunteers and staff in this monumental humanitarian relief effort. Local chapters across the country have geared up to train the wave of new volunteers who have come forth to help their neighbors at this critical time.

All American Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the American people. You can help the victims of thousands of disasters across the country each year, disasters like the Midwest ice storms, by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, which enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to victims of disaster. 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. Call 1-800-REDCROSS or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Contributions to the Disaster Relief Fund may be sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P. O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. Internet users can make a secure online contribution by visiting www.redcross.org.