Generous Donors Allow Red Cross to Respond Swiftly and Effectively to Southeastern Virginia...( Costs of Response Essentially Met...),Health

Costs of Response Essentially Met but Donations Still Needed to Prepare for Future Disasters Especially on the Eve of Hurricane Season

WASHINGTON, May 5 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Red Cross today announced that it has met the expected costs of the Southeastern Virginia tornadoes but donations to its Disaster Relief Fund are still needed to ensure it can respond to the next disaster, particularly with the beginning of hurricane season starting in less than a month.

After the tornadoes struck, the American Red Cross immediately deployed feeding vehicles, supplies and volunteers into the storm stricken area. Hundreds of homes and businesses sustained major damage, and the American Red Cross responded by providing supplies to the shelter setup by the City of Suffolk. Additional assistance, including mental health workers, moved into place to ensure that local residents have all of the help they need. The American Red Cross is also partnering with the local public health department to make sure enough nurses are available to those affected by the storms. In the coming weeks and months, the Red Cross will continue to work with community partners to identify resources that can aid in the long-term recovery of survivors.

This level of response would not have been possible without ongoing donations to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. In the wake of Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma, the Red Cross made investments to improve and augment its response capabilities, such as pre-positioning relief supplies in strategic locations across the country. While the Red Cross believes that current financial donations and pledges will be sufficient to cover the estimated costs of the Southeastern Virginia tornadoes, donations are still urgently needed for the Disaster Relief Fund as we move into a potentially busy disaster season.

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