Red Cross responding to Helene disaster

Five days after landfall, millions of people are still reeling from the heartbreak left behind by Hurricane Helene. The American Red Cross has launched a massive response along the 500-mile path of destruction to ensure no one faces this challenging time alone.

More than 1,000 Red Cross disaster responders, alongside our partners, are working around the clock in multiple states to get help to those in need, including more than 20 volunteers from the Red Cross of the National Capital and Greater Chesapeake region. Right now, our focus is on providing safe shelter, meals, emotional support and relief supplies for people facing unimaginable destruction.

Sixty Red Cross emergency response vehicles – including four from our local region — are distributing meals, water and critical relief supplies in hardest-hit areas that are accessible. Sunday night, more than 2,600 people stayed in 69 emergency shelters supported by the Red Cross and partner organizations.

Helene could be the start of a series of back-to-back storms that threaten the U.S. as additional systems form in the Atlantic. The Red Cross is preparing for the potential of a new threat for the Gulf Coast as an area of low pressure could develop and move into the Gulf of Mexico by the end of the week.

This is the third time in just over a year that the Red Cross has mobilized volunteers and relief supplies to the Florida Panhandle to help after a major storm. Many of the same communities reeling after Helene this week were directly impacted by Hurricane Idalia one year ago.

Last week, the American Red Cross sent hundreds of blood products to Florida ahead of Helene to ensure blood remains available for hospital patients in areas impacted by the storm. Part of being prepared for disaster is to ensure an adequate blood supply is available year-round.

You can help by donating blood, joining the Red Cross as a volunteer or making a financial donation by visiting redcross.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767).

Financial donations for Hurricane Helene enable the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from this disaster. You can also text the word HELENE to 90999 to make a donation.