Local Red Cross Sees Double Digit Increase in Disaster Response

Fires. Explosions. Mudslides. Wildfires. Floods. The American Red Cross-Cascades Region saw a double digit increase in the number of disasters they have responded to this year compared to last.

With just days to go in the year, they have responded to 668 local disasters - 74 more than in 2015; a 12 percent increase. The organization has helped 2,410 people this year.

"We responded to an extraordinary number of disasters in 2016," said Amy Shlossman, Chief Executive Officer for the American Red Cross Cascades Region. "When families lost everything in a fire or a flood this past year, the Red Cross was there to help thanks to the generosity of our local community.

"With the support of our volunteers and donors, we will continue to be there to help people affected by disasters in the years to come."

In addition to responding to the local disasters, 177 volunteer responders deployed to 24 disaster relief operations throughout the nation. This was an increase from 2015 when 67 volunteers responded to 17 disasters.

Those disasters included floods in Louisiana, floods in Texas, floods in Mississippi, floods in West Virginia, wildfires in California, a hurricane in Florida, floods in Iowa, a hurricane on the Southern East Coast, and wildfires and tornadoes in Tennessee.

The organization also provided emergency assistance to members of the armed forces and their families 860 times in 2016.

They participated in 59 other military service and support events, including 18 reconnection workshops, which help members of the military reconnect with their families following deployment.

The Red Cross says they are a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of local donors to fulfill its mission.

- A donation of $250 provides a night of emergency shelter and meals for a family of five.

- A donation of $335 helps deploy an emergency response vehicle to provide assistance to a community in need.

- A donation of $500 provides comfort kits which include toiletry and other comfort items for 200 armed service members.

- A donation of $1,650 enables the Red Cross to deploy a volunteer to a relief operation for 11 days -- the average length of a disaster deployment.

People can help those who need it most through the Red Cross in four ways:

- Make a financial donation to the Red Cross at www.redcross.org/donate.

- Schedule an appointment to give blood at www.redcrossblood.org.

- Send cards to members of the Armed Forces through the Red Cross Holiday Mail for Heroes program at www.redcross.org/mailforheroes.

- Give the gift of time by becoming a Red Cross volunteer at www.redcross.org/volunteer.

Photo American Red Cross-Cascades Region