MEDIA ADVISORY
- More than 1,400 people took refuge from the Hurricane Harvey Friday night in 24 Red Cross and community shelters.
- The Red Cross is working in close collaboration with government officials and community partners in both Texas and Louisiana to coordinate potential response efforts.
- Shelters are on stand-by in Arkansas for people who may evacuate into the state and the Red Cross is working with officials there to coordinate any response that may be needed.
- There are hundreds of Red Cross volunteers from across the country on the ground now to support our shelters, and thousands more will be asked to deploy in the weeks to come as people begin to recover from the storm.
- The Red Cross has tractor-trailer loads of relief supplies in the region – enough to support more than 20,000 people for weeks. The supplies include cots, blankets, ready-to-eat meals, comfort kits and cleaning supplies.
- The Red Cross is also mobilizing its disaster partners to support feeding, child care, disaster assessment and other disaster services.
- More than 125 Red Cross Emergency Response vehicles are activated with 232 additional en route.
Shelter locations
The American Red Cross continues to manage urgent response preparations for Hurricane Harvey. For a list of open shelters, please see:
http://www.redcross.org/get-help/disaster-relief-and-recovery-services/find-an-open-shelter
This information will evolve throughout the day so you may wish to check back as you are able.
How You Can Help
Volunteer: The Red Cross is greatly in need of volunteers to help with warehousing, shelter management, supply distribution and administrative support. Those interested in volunteering can register at redcross.org/volunteer.
Donate: The Red Cross depends on financial donations to be able to provide disaster relief immediately. Help people affected by Hurricane Harvey by visiting redcross.org calling 1- 800-RED CROSS or texting the word HARVEY to 90999 to make a $10 donation.
Debra Murphy-Luera
Regional Chief Operating Officer
Executive Director, Coastal Bend Texas
American Red Cross
Texas Gulf Coast Region
Tel (361) 887-9991 x5512
Cell (361) 438-2636
debra.murphy-luera@redcross.org
www.redcross.org
