Red Cross Shelters Thousands as Gustav Pounds Gulf Coast

Amanda Christopher

Monday, September 01, 2008 — Nearly 45,000 people woke up in 334 Red Cross shelters this morning, spread out over 8 states. Many are faced with the unknowns that are sadly all too familiar, realizing that it could be days before they know how their property or possessions were affected by Gustav. Thankfully, these residents do know that they are safe and will be well taken care of by the Red Cross while they wait for the storm to pass.

Stephanie Nickerson with her daughter Shaquell, age 1 year old, and her nephew Edward Jr., age 1 year old at the Dallas Conventions Center Red Cross shelter after evacuation from New Orleans for Hurricane Gustav. Courtesy Virginia Hart/American Red Cross.

Food, shelter and emotional support - providing these basic life-saving necessities to residents is the top priority of the Red Cross in the early days of this storm. The Red Cross is committed to keeping people are comfortable as possible until they are able to return home.

The Red Cross urges residents not to attempt to return home until officials tell you it is safe for you to go back. Even if the storm has passed through your area, there is still a danger. Flooded roads, downed power lines, debris - all are major hazards

If you or a loved has evacuated, or is in a potentially affected area, register yourself on the Red Cross Safe and Well Website at www.redcross.org, or call a loved one and ask them to register you. The Red Cross provides this online tool to help families and individuals notify loved ones that they are safe during an emergency, which can help bring peace of mind in challenging times.

You can help people affected by thousands of disasters across the country each year, disasters like the Hurricanes of 2008, by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. We use this fund to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to victims of disasters who need our help.

Donors can go online to www.redcross.org or call 1-800-REDCROSS. You can also use your cell phone to donate $5 to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund by text messaging the keyword "GIVE" to "2HELP" (24357). Donations will appear on monthly bills or be debited from a prepaid account balance. All applicable text rates apply. If you wish to designate your donation to a specific disaster, you should call 1-800-REDCROSS.

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 Hurricanes of 2008, 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, DC20013. Internet users can make a secure online contribution by visiting www.redcross.org.