American Red Cross - One More Hawaii Volunteer Deploying for Superstorm Sandy - Kaimuki

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American Red Cross - One More Hawaii Volunteer Deploying for Superstorm Sandy
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Red Cross Response to Superstorm Sandy
People Can Support Response by Giving To Red Cross Disaster Relief

Honolulu, HI (November 1, 2012) – Thousands of American Red Cross disaster workers are providing aid and comfort to people affected by Superstorm Sandy. Shelters are open across multiple states and feeding operations are ramping up as communities become accessible. The Red Cross is doing everything possible to get help quickly to those affected and are providing aid and comfort to people right now. The focus today is on ramping up a massive feeding operation to get hot meals to people in places such as Long Island, Manhattan, Staten Island and New Jersey.

More than 7,000 people spent Wednesday night in 115 Red Cross shelters in nine states – New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Maryland, Delaware, West Virginia, Ohio, and the District of Columbia. Red Cross disaster workers have already served nearly 164,700 meals. More than 334,000 ready to eat meals are in the area and 12 mobile kitchens capable of making 198,000 meals a day have been deployed.

Roads and airports are opening and more disaster workers, vehicles and relief supplies will be arriving in the affected areas. The Red Cross has mobilized more than 3,300 disaster workers and more than two-thirds of the entire Red Cross fleet of response vehicles is beginning to distribute meals, water and snacks in some areas. Trailers full of relief supplies have also been deployed to help people as they begin to clean up their homes.

The Mexican Red Cross is deploying 10 delegates to support American Red Cross health services activities in New York in the wake of Superstorm Sandy. The delegates will focus on providing health care and first aid services and referrals for clients in Red Cross shelters and emergency aid stations.

This is not the first time the Mexican Red Cross has supported disaster operations, having deployed volunteers for Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the San Diego Wildfires in 2007, Hurricane Ike in 2008, and most recently Hurricane Isaac in September 2012.

“We have reached out to our own trained disaster Red Cross volunteers for deployment for Hurricane Sandy,” said Coralie Chun Matayoshi, CEO, American Red Cross, Hawaii State Chapter. “Thirty volunteers are standing by. Ten are scheduled to fly out tonight to White Plains, New York: 1 from Maui, 1 from Kauai, 3 from the Big Island, and 5 from Oahu, for a 2-3 week disaster assignments. Nine will be working in shelters and 1 in health services. At least two others are expected to leave tomorrow. They will gain valuable experience to bring back to our State so that we will be better prepared when the next major disaster strikes Hawaii.”

“The storm has left devastation in its wake and we will be helping people for weeks to come,” said Ms. Matayoshi. “This will be very costly and the Red Cross needs help now. We ask everyone to support us as we help people recover from this massive storm.”

HOW TO HELP

· To donate, visit www.redcross.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.

· Your gift enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, emotional support and other assistance to those affected.

· Contributions may also be sent to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013 or to the American Red Cross - Hawaii State Chapter, 4155 Diamond Head Road, Honolulu, HI 96816.

If you have friends or relatives in the affected areas, urge them to register on the Red Cross Safe and Well website, a secure and easy-to-use online tool that helps families connect during emergencies. To register, visit www.redcross.org or call 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767). This site also connects with the Twitter and Facebook accounts of users. You can also tell them where to find a Red Cross shelter and how to download the Red Cross Hurricane App, by going to www.redcross or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).”

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or join our blog at http://blog.redcross.org.

About American Red Cross, Hawaii State Chapter

HOURS - Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

MISSION
The American Red Cross, a humanitarian organization led by volunteers and guided by its Congressional Charter and the fundamental principles of the International Red Cross Movement, will provide relief to victims of disaster and help people prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies. It accomplishes this mission through services that are consistent with its Congressional Charter and the Fundamental Principles of the International Red Cross movement.

The Hawaii State Chapter responds continually to large and small disasters throughout the State of Hawaii. The Red Cross is the only volunteer organization charged, by federal Congressional Charter, with responding during disasters to provide for the immediate emergency needs of families and individuals. In addition, the Chapter prepares individuals and businesses to be more prepared for emergencies and to initiate appropriate action to ensure the health and safety of those around them and themselves.

The American Red Cross is not a government agency. We depend on the aloha spirit of giving from our community to help others in need.

STATEWIDE PRESENCE
The Hawaii State Chapter consists of the Chapter headquarters, four branch offices (East Hawaii, West Hawaii, Kauai and Maui) and four military service centers (Hickam Air Force Base, Schofield Barracks, Kaneohe Marine Corp Base and Tripler Army Medical Center).

HISTORY
Founded in 1881 by Clara Barton, the American Red Cross is one of the oldest human service organizations in the United States. In 1905, the U.S. Congress chartered the Red Cross to help relieve the suffering caused by disasters. Over the years, we have become part of the very fiber of the community and Americans have grown to expect and rely on our swift, professional assistance through a national volunteer corps of more than 1.44 million people. The American Red Cross is one of more than 145 member nations that comprise the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. Currently, 967 chapters make up the American Red Cross.

Although 1917 is the official date that the first American Red Cross chapter was chartered in Hawaii, Red Cross work began as early as 1898, when some 300 women, including Princess Kaiulani, organized a Red Cross society to aid the sick and wounded soldiers stopping here on transports from the Philippines during the Spanish-American War.

Today, the Hawaii State Chapter is a leader in health and safety training. Red Cross disaster volunteers respond regularly to house and apartment fires, and are prepared for larger disasters like hurricanes, tsunamis, and floods.

Through its extensive use of trained volunteers, the American Red Cross has earned a reputation for being of one of the nation's most efficiently managed non-profit organizations, a distinction that has been recognized by publications such as Forbes, The Chronicle of Philanthropy, Nonprofit Times and Money Magazine. The Hawaii State Chapter of the American Red Cross has over 4,000 volunteers - a volunteer-to-staff ratio of more than 10 to 1.

The Hawaii State Chapter of the American Red Cross is known for excellent stewardship of funds. We have always prided ourselves on providing services that do not duplicate the services of other non-profits organizations and proactively seeking ways to collaborate with other providers.

Sep 14, 1917: Queen Liliuokalani's secretary, Colonel Iaukea, presents a hand-sewn Red Cross flag to members of the local Chapter on the steps of Iolani Palace. This ceremony took place a few months after the Hawaii Chapter was officially chartered. At the Queen's suggestion, the flag flew over the palace and later hung in the Throne Room during World War I. Mrs. Henry Dawson accepts flag. Territorial Governor Lucius Pinkham is behind Iaukea.

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American Red Cross - One More Hawaii Volunteer Deploying for Superstorm Sandy

Kaimuki, Hawaii
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