How you can help storm victims through Red Cross

RALEIGH, NC (Press Release) — A week after Hurricane Florence made landfall, thousands of people in North Carolina still face immediate danger from river flooding.

The American Red Cross is working around the clock to provide safe shelter, warm meals and comfort for families affected by Florence. Our response covers some 60,000 square miles of the southeast, and with the support of our partners, the Red Cross is working around the clock to get help to where it is needed most. In North Carolina, the Red Cross has sheltered more than 19,000 people from the storm; provided more than 252,000 meals and snacks; and has more than 100 emergency response vehicles delivering food and water in communities.

Thousands of Red Cross volunteers are on the ground now helping to operate shelters, assess the damage, deliver food, distribute relief supplies, support disaster health needs and provide emotional support. More workers are standing by to help in the coming weeks as the situation evolves.

GIVE BLOOD In addition to disaster recovery, more than 200 blood drives have been forced to cancel through this week due to Hurricane Florence, resulting in over 5,400 uncollected blood and platelet donations. The Red Cross urges people in unaffected areas to make an appointment to give platelets or blood to care for patients in the Southeast and throughout the country. Appointments can be made by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting redcrossblood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

HOW YOU CAN HELP The Red Cross has launched a massive response to this disaster and depends on financial donations to be able to provide disaster relief immediately. Help people affected by Hurricane Florence by visiting redcross.org, calling 1- 800-RED CROSS or texting the word FLORENCE to 90999 to make a $10 donation.