The American Red Cross helps disaster victims, but now the organization needs your help.
It's the responsibility of the American Red Cross to be first responders following a disaster, like all the flooding going on in Wisconsin. Spokesperson Jane Richardson says the organization is making sure flood victims' emergency needs are met.
“We made sure that everybody had a safe place to stay, and that's when we set up shelters, provided food, water, that sort of thing.”
After providing the basics, they next do an assessment of the area. In this case, that means 30 of our 72 counties, determining whether folks need household and medical supplies, or counseling.
Now, Richardson says, the Red Cross needs a little help , too. “The estimate is that it's going to cost just the Red Cross alone for that direct one-on-one personal assistance, probably in the neighborhood of $3-million for the state of Wisconsin. And so we appeal to the generosity of the American public to help us out here because we are not a government agency.”
Richardson says there are about 600 trained Red Cross workers from around the country working right here in Wisconsin.
“We need funds; we need volunteers; but also remember to give blood. Many blood donors are now caught up with this disaster. The need for blood throughout the country doesn't stop just because of a disaster.”
To see how you can help, can call 1-800-RedCross, or call your local 2-1-1 call center.