The day after

Coming from the Midwest I have never been through a Hurricane.  I was astounded to see the devastation that a storm can do to so many.  Five Red Cross workers who braved the storm to stay behind and make sure a Biomedical Facility was secure, lost their lives when the building caved in.  I have only worked with the Red Cross for about five months, I cannot imagine how employees who have been with the organization for years must feel about such a terrible loss.

The Red Cross Works to Relieve Human Suffering

I arrived yesterday and I am touched by the kind and generous outporting from this community. This is truly an example of neighbor helping neighbor. This is what help is all about.

Damage massive, Shelters Open for those in need

Hurricane Harriet brings massive damge to the Richmond area. The Red Cross is on the scene and has shelters open at the following areas:

1234 Main Street
Richmond
…….

Red Cross Rolls Out Relief to Hurricane Harriet Victims

The American Red Cross continues full steam ahead, providing relief to hundreds of thousands of people throughout communities affected by Hurricane Harriet in North Carolina and Virginia. Within hours of landfall, Red Cross began delivering meals and emergency supplies as accessibility opens in neighborhoods slammed by Harriet’s high winds and heavy rain. “We roll ‘em in, load ‘em up and roll ‘em out,” said Kevin Titus, driver one of the fifty Red Cross trucks lined up at a former Sam’s Club warehouse in southeast Virginia. “We’re trying to reach as many people as we can today. The damage is tremendous but I can assure you the Red Cross is on the scene, helping people and making a difference in their lives. I’ve never been so proud to be a volunteer for the American Red Cross as I am today.”

Red Cross reaching Virginia flood victims

American Red Cross disaster responders are fanning out through the eastern counties of Virginia, where several communities were flooded in the wake of Hurricane Harriet. Red Cross mobile feeding vehicles have delivered more than 600,000 meals to residents as they struggle to claim waterlogged belongings and evaluate the condition of their homes.

Meanwhile, Red Cross caseworkers are meeting one-on-one with residents of the flooded areas, to find out what assistance they need immediately as they begin to recover from the devastation — the worst in Virginia history.

Eilene Guy

Harriet…without Ozzie?

Hurricane Harriet was making her way – without Ozzie- to the Eastern shore of Virginia when I last checked the hurricane watch websites. In the Richmond area, residents have already been asked to evacuate- and it’s always the recommendation of the American Red Cross to follow the orders of local authorities. Emergency vehicles that were initially headed to North Carolina made a quick 360 and are headed to northern Virginia- Alexandria to be exact. There are sixty evac shelters open in Virginia alone, so no excuses for those asked to LEAVE. Take a 3 day supply of STUFF and be prepared to batten down the hatches, folks- seriously. Baby girl needs a ton of stuff to evac, so I have to forage and gather to make sure she’s taken care of- and baby dog needs his stuff too! Be safe, be well and be prepared.

Ingrid Bailey

Red Cross Helps Before and After Harriet

Thousands of American Red Cross disaster response volunteers are flooding into hurricane-ravaged areas of coastal Virginia just hours after Hurricane Harriet slammed into that state.

An estimated 700,000 people heeded evacuation orders before the storm’s landfall. They found their way in land to Red Cross shelters, hotels, and family and friends.

American Red Cross volunteers are providing food, water, cots, blankets, and emotional support in more than 125 hurricane evacuation shelters in Virginia and North Carolina. Even more Red Cross volunteers are standing by at staging centers in Virginia and North Carolina awaiting the word to deliver relief supplies once the roads are deemed safe for emergency travel.

Check back soon for updated news on the American Red Cross response to Hurricane Harriet.

Robert Thompson
Volunteer
American Red Cross

Red Cross Shelters Provide Safe Haven for Hurricane Victims

Thousands of people are finding a safe place to ride out Hurricane Harriett at Red Cross shelters in Virginia and North Carolina. Red Cross volunteers are trained and dedicated to helping people get through disasters such as this. Thousands of people have registered themselves on the Safe and Well website on redcross.org. Red Cross encourages everyone impacted by the storm to do the same. You can contact a loved one out of the area to register you. That peace of mind brings great comfort to loved ones.

Red Cross On Site in VA, NC as Hurricane Harriet Approaches

As Hurricane Harriet bears down on coastal Virginia and North Carolina, the American Red Cross is ramping up support to feed and shelter evacuees. Currently the Red Cross has opened 60 hurricane evacuation shelters in Virginia and another 50 shelters in North Carolina with a total population of 65,000 evacuees. Supplies have been pre-positioned to help support hurricane evacuees including 1.25 million heater meals, and 125 mobile feeding trucks. In addition, more than 10,000 Red Cross disaster workers and volunteers have been recruited. Partner organizations including the Spirit of America and the Southern Baptists are supporting Red Cross feeding efforts. On a happy note, an evacuee at a Red Cross Shelter in Norfolk, Virginia gave birth to a healthy baby girl named fittingly, Harriet.  

Shelter Welcomes its Youngest and Newest Resident

As the hurricane-level winds swirled around Norfolk High School, residents who found their way to the Red Cross shelter were not huddled on their individual cots waiting out the storm, but crowded outside of a private area of the shelter. The residents were awaiting word on their latest, and youngest, roommate.

Abby Johnson, 28 of Richmond, Va. chose to evacuate from her home even though she was in the ninth month of her pregnancy. While the evacuation went well and she quickly found shelter at the Norfolk High School, she did not expect to need a room for two.

Five hours into her shelter-stay, Abby welcomed her first child Lucy Johnson. Luckily for Lucy, registered nurse Marie Williams also helped welcome her into the world. Mother and baby are safe and well as are the other shelter residents.   

Pop back for additional updates on Abby and Lucy.