We Were There Because of You - The 2008 Disaster Relief Program Annual Review

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We Were There Because of You - The 2008 Disaster Relief Program Annual Review
We Were There Because of You

The 2008 Disaster Relief Program Annual Review
We Were There Because of You - The 2008 Disaster Relief Program Annual Review
A Message From the
President and CEO
                                                                                           nors and
                                   m  er ic  an   R  ed   Cross and our do
                          th  e  A                                                            used by
  Every single day,                  re co   ve r  fro m   th e devastation ca
  volunteers help pe
                             ople                                              ople to perform
                          ze  s.  To  ge  th er ,  we empower pe
  disasters of all si               e  fa  ce of emergencie
                                                                         s.
                    y ac ts  in  th
  extraordinar                                                                          sters that
                                        st ru  ck   by  a number of disa
                             n  w  as                                                          tornado
   In 2008, our natio                  te  r an   ot he r:  a  record-breaking
                             one    af                                                                fires
   seemed to follow                             flo  od  in g  in   15    years, major wild
                             est’s wor       st                                           s hitting the
    season, the Midw                    th  at  ha  d  ei ght named storm
                           seas    on
    and a hurricane
    U.S. coast.                                                                            icans turned
                                    es e   tr ag  ed  ie s, millions of Amer
                            of th                                               d supplies.
     In the aftermath                    el te r, food, support an
                          ss   fo r  sh
     to the Red Cro                                                                                        rs for those
                                                      op  en  ed     m  or e    than 1,400 shelte                   and
      With your help, th
                               e Red Cross
                                                                   rv ed   m   or  e   th an    18 million meals
                              er their heads an
                                                          d se                                            d comfort kits
      without a roof ov                               ds   of  th   ou  sa  nd   s of clean-up an
                                  uted hundre                                                      mes.
      snacks. We distrib                  r  th os  e  re tu rn   in g to damaged ho
                                tion fo
       to ease the transi                                                                                  d by the
                                                            ss     th e  co   un  try, I was inspire
                                 saster sites ac         ro                                                       ors in
       As I traveled to di                                          ac  he  d    ou  t  to  help their neighb
                                                               re                                                      not
           or ie s of ev er yd ay Americans who                         rie s  of   ou   r  di sa ster services are
        st                                                      ficia
                                  ded that the bene                                  lleagues and neig
                                                                                                               hbors.
        need. I was remin                                   rs ,  fri en  ds  ,  co
                                  e family membe
        strangers; they ar                                                              ha  s  he lp ed so many reco
                                                                                                                        ver
                                                              nizatio     n   th  at
                                 be part of an orga                                       ose who extended
                                                                                                                   a
         I am honored to                                     d    gr  at ef  ul  to   th                             omic
                                    g adversities an                                             Despite the econ
         from such dauntin                                    e 20      0 8   di  sa  st  er s.
                                                                                                             r country, your
                                 the survivors of th                                 es throughout ou
          helping hand to                                   an   d  co   m  pa   ni                                  ers was
                                     many families                                              ss string of disast
          challenges facing                                   last     ye ar  ’s  re   le nt le
                                   t in response to
          generous suppor
           phenomenal.                                                                                                 needed
                                                                       de   liv er   he  lp   an  d hope to all who
                                   lping the Red Cro
                                                                  ss                                              n continue
           Thank you for he                                                pe    th  at  those we serve ca
                                   . As 2009 unfo           ld s,   I ho                                              , vibrant
           us this past year                                          su  pp   or  t  to   he  lp us build a strong
                                                                   d
                                   and your continue
            to count on you                                  C   ro ss.
                                    American Red
            and sustainable

             Gail McGovern
                             EO
             President and C

                                                                                  Cover: A
                                                                                          Red Cross disaster worker surveys flooding from the Cedar
                                                                                         River, which inundated much of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
                                                                                         Talia Frenkel/American Red Cross
We Were There Because of You - The 2008 Disaster Relief Program Annual Review
American Red Cross Disaster Relief
Since its founding in 1881, the                                               opens shelters for those who have
American Red Cross has remained                                               been displaced and provides meals
firmly committed to the fundamental                                           and snacks to evacuees and emergency
principles of humanity, impartiality,                                         workers in the affected area. Our nurses
neutrality, independence, voluntary                                           and trained volunteers deliver first
service, unity and universality. In the                                       aid and may help replace prescription
spirit of our humanitarian mission,                                           medications and eyeglasses or arrange
Red Cross disaster relief services                                            for emergency medical treatment.
are delivered to individuals and                                              Disaster mental health services workers
communities across the nation, free                                           provide support for those suffering from

                                                                                                                                                                                                     Talia Frenkel/American Red Cross
of charge. Our donors ensure we have                                          loss and trauma.
the resources and trained volunteers to
                                                                              The Red Cross also reconnects those
respond when disaster strikes, each and
                                                                              separated in times of disaster. People
every day.
                                                                              living inside an affected area can
                                                                                                                                                    Red Cross nurse and volunteer Melissa Schultz hugs
                                                                                                                                                    Doloris Faust at a shelter in Martinsville, Ind.
        Our congressionally-mandated charter—to provide
                                                                                                                                                    their local chapter for assistance in
       relief to victims of disaster and help people prevent,                                                                                       determining their loved one’s status.
          prepare for and respond to emergencies—is a                                                                                               The Red Cross can quickly mobilize
         declaration of responsibility and a promise to the                                                                                         teams of employees and volunteers to
        nation that we will be there when disaster strikes.                                                                                         provide these services. The Disaster
                                                                                                                                                    Services Human Resources system, a
                                                                                                                                                    roster of trained national volunteers
Following a disaster, the Red Cross                                           register on the Red Cross Safe and Well
                                                                                                                                                    with emergency expertise, is updated
provides mass care (sheltering and                                            Web site, a confidential way to let loved
                                                                                                                                                    continuously. Our volunteers include
feeding) services, which are the most                                         ones know of their well-being. Family
                                                                                                                                                    mass care specialists, nurses, mental
visible and well known of the Red Cross                                       members and concerned others living
                                                                                                                                                    health professionals, logistics specialists
disaster relief activities. The Red Cross                                     outside an affected area can call
                                                                                                                                                    and child care providers, among others.
                                                                                                                                                    We strive to maintain a cadre of trained
2008 Disaster Relief Operations as of March 2009                                                                                                    volunteers to staff each relief operation
                                Relief             Red Cross                          Overnight           Meals and            Clean-up and         with enough workers to accommodate
      Disaster Type           Operations           Workers(a)         Shelters         Stays               Snacks              Comfort Kits         the needs of those affected.
  Winter storm                         2                  235                  8              950                 9,472                  392
  Flood                              23                 9,873              152           11,919               963,336                72,367         This report summarizes our relief
  Tornado                            40                 6,225                84            5,450              576,716                22,067         efforts following the major disasters to
  Flood & tornado(b)                   7                1,227                39             1,174             113,750                  3,044        which we responded in 2008 with the
  Hurricane   (c)
                                     34               26,080             1,012          497,205           16,557,403               232,357          help of the corporations, organizations,
  Wildfire                            10               2,644                 60            6,009              106,096                  4,533
                                                                                                                                                    foundations and individuals who
  Other events(d)                    15                1,944                 89            8,989                96,725                 2,354
                                                                                                                                                    donated generously to the American
  TOTAL(e)                          131               48,228             1,444          531,696           18,423,498                337,134
                                                                                                                                                    Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund.
(a)
    “Red Cross Workers” includes the total number of employees and volunteers assigned to the relief operation.
(b)
    This is not a combination of floods plus tornadoes. It is a separate category of disaster.
(c)
    Eight named storms resulted in 34 disaster relief operations. These figures include information from Dolly, Edouard, Fay, Gustav, Hanna, Ike,   Your gift allows us to provide our vital
     Lowell and Omar.
(d)
    Public events, human-caused or transportation incidents to which we responded.                                                                  services, and we are grateful for your
(e)
    These numbers do not include the tens of thousands of disasters to which our local chapters respond daily. Last year, disaster workers at
     more than 700 Red Cross chapters across the country responded to more than 70,000 disasters.                                                   support. The Red Cross is always there,
                                                                                                                                                    and through your gift, so are you.

                                                                                                                 1
We Were There Because of You - The 2008 Disaster Relief Program Annual Review
Winter Storms
Each disaster to which the Red Cross        In our shelters, evacuees can expect        Indiana Storms
responds presents its own unique set of     to find cots, blankets, meals and           A strong storm system developed ahead
circumstances, and winter storms can        comfort kits that contain hygiene items     of a cold front and moved through
be especially unpredictable. A January      like toothbrushes and toothpaste—           Indiana beginning on January 7, 2008.
storm that might necessitate a Red          everything to meet their basic needs        The Tippecanoe and Kankakee Rivers
Cross response typically involves heavy     until the water recedes.                    reached record and near-record levels,
snow, ice and widespread, prolonged
power outages.

However, unseasonably high
                                            “Our volunteers are trying to canvass neighborhoods
                                              to determine the magnitude of the damage. It’s
temperatures coupled with heavy rain
can cause rapid snowmelt, resulting
                                               absolutely devastating in the affected areas; we have
                                               homes with major damage.
in dangerous flood conditions. Such
                                                                                        ”

conditions prompted two national                                     —Debra Elsner, Executive Director of the American Red Cross
                                                                       in Tippecanoe County, Ind.
disaster responses in 2008, one of
which took place in northwest Indiana
                                            Mental health counselors are                respectively. The water breached a levee
in January.
                                            available to help people cope with the      on the Kankakee, flooding agricultural
The immediate challenges of a flood         tremendous emotional upheaval a flood       areas.
response can include locating and           can cause. The trauma of watching your
                                                                                                                    anc         e
placing our trained volunteers, who         home flood, rescuing beloved pets and
                                                                                                     c t s a t a Gl
themselves may have been directly           cherished keepsakes, locating family                  Fa
                                                                                                                              tions in
affected by the flood, and identifying      members (if a flash flood happens                            is a s t e r opera rms
                                                                                                    rd                    sto
new, safe shelters when previously          during school hours, for example) and          2 majo se to winter                          kers
                                                                                           re s p o n
                                                                                                                      d is a s ter wor
                                                                                                                    s                     stays
identified locations stand in harm’s way.   dealing with injuries sustained during                     d Cros                     ernight
                                                                                            235 Re                     5  0  o  v
During a flooding response, sheltering      an evacuation can last for many years,                                 h9
                                                                                                       ers wit
                                                                                             8 shelt                      snacks
has the greatest impact because it          unless it is addressed promptly and
                                                                                                     2  m  e a ls and
                                                                                              9,47
immediately meets the community’s           compassionately.                                                       p and
                                                                                               392 c   lean-u t kits
needs for a safe place to go to escape                                                                 comfor
rising floodwaters.

Disaster Timeline
     Jan     Feb        Mar       Apr       May       June         July     Aug       Sept         Oct            Nov             Dec

     home fires

     					                                            hurricanes

     winter storms									                                                                                        winter storms

     					                                            wildfires

     floods

     		                 tornadoes

     					                                            heat wave

                                                               2
We Were There Because of You - The 2008 Disaster Relief Program Annual Review
The Red Cross worked closely with the Indiana Department of
                                                                            Merck – Committed to Our
Homeland Security, the State Police, the National Guard and others to
                                                                            Humanitarian Mission
monitor statewide flood and weather conditions, gather information,
anticipate needs and carefully plan its response. When the time came,       At Merck, we strive to make a positive
                                                                            contribution to the communities in which we
the Red Cross was ready.
                                                                            work and live by supporting a wide range of
As the floodwaters rose, hundreds of people were forced to abandon          charitable, educational and environmental
their homes and leave everything behind. Disaster workers welcomed          initiatives. The focus of Merck’s disaster
frightened residents into Red Cross shelters with compassion and care       relief programs is to provide assistance
for their well-being.                                                       during major disasters and to support
                                                                            efforts in preparedness, preservation and
When the water receded, the Red Cross provided clean-up kits for            recovery. Since 1958, The Merck Company
residents returning home. Our disaster workers drove emergency              Foundation has supported the work of the
response vehicles (ERVs) through waterlogged neighborhoods to               American Red Cross, which responds to
distribute meals and provide emotional support. For residents whose         more than 70,000 disasters each year.
homes were lost to the floodwaters, we offered information about            “The Merck Company Foundation
additional resources to meet their long-term recovery needs.                recognizes the importance of supporting the
                                                                            humanitarian mission of the Red Cross. We
So many residents of Indiana celebrated the New Year with the highest       are specifically committed to enabling the
of hopes, only to find themselves suddenly reeling from the loss of their   Red Cross to respond immediately to the
homes and belongings. When they turned to the Red Cross for help, we        needs of individuals and families affected by
were there to meet their immediate needs and to help them plan their        disaster anywhere across the country,” said
recovery.                                                                   Geralyn Ritter, Vice President, Global Public
                                                                            Policy and Corporate Responsibility. “Our
                                                                            commitment to the Annual Disaster Giving
                                                                            Program helps the Red Cross secure a
                                                                            reliable funding base and ensures this.”
   Comfort Kits and Clean-Up Kits                                           The Merck Company Foundation has
   Immediately after a disaster, the Red Cross provides these kits to       pledged $1 million over four years to
   affected residents to meet their basic hygiene needs and to help         support the American Red Cross Disaster
   them clean up their homes.                                               Relief Fund and is proud to be an Annual
     Comfort Kits             Clean-Up Kits                                 Disaster Giving Program member. In 2008,
                                                                            Merck made an additional $250,000
     Deodorant                Sectional handle with mop, broom,             contribution to the Red Cross in response
                              squeegee and push broom heads                 to its Campaign for Disaster Relief appeal.
     Toothbrush
                              Pail                                          These funds specifically helped support the
     Toothpaste
                              Scrub brush                                   2008 hurricane relief efforts in the United
     Facial tissues                                                         States. The Red Cross is grateful to Merck
                              Sponge
     Wash cloth                                                             for their lasting partnership.
                              Disinfectant
     Shampoo
                              Detergent/degreaser
     Liquid soap
                              Bleach
     Lotion
                              Trash bags
     Comb
                              Gloves
     Razor
                              Dust mask
     Shaving cream

                                                                3
We Were There Because of You - The 2008 Disaster Relief Program Annual Review
Spring Floods and Tornadoes
We followed our response to January’s
winter storms with a lengthy disaster
response that began in earnest in
February and continued throughout the
spring, when the Midwest experienced
devastating flooding and a record-
breaking tornado season.

Storms and heavy rainfall caused
serious flash flooding in already
saturated areas of the central United
States. Floods are the most frequent and

                                                                                                                                            Talia Frenkel/American Red Cross
costliest natural disasters in terms of
human hardship and economic loss.

The same storms that caused flooding
also spawned several major tornado
outbreaks. According to the National       Red Cross Volunteer Rodney Davis delivers a hot meal from an ERV in Lafayette, Tenn.
Weather Service, 87 tornadoes occurred
on February 5, causing 57 deaths in the    the affected states to give evacuees a                and buildings. The same storm
southeastern part of the country. This     place to sleep, get vital information                 system that spawned one of the worst
marked the beginning of an unusually       about available assistance, eat a hot                 tornado outbreaks in U.S. history also
intense tornado season. The severe         meal, talk with mental health workers                 produced heavy rain in sections of
weather continued into June, when          or meet with health services workers                  Illinois, Indiana and Ohio that were
two more outbreaks resulted in 289         about their healthcare needs. Our                     still recovering from flooding caused by
confirmed tornadoes.                       ERVs were loaded with food, water and                 January’s winter storms.
                                           supplies and deployed to the affected
For the spring floods and tornadoes, the                                                         Your gift to the Disaster Relief Fund
                                           communities.
Red Cross mobilized more than 17,000                                                             ensured that affected residents received
                                                                                                 the help they needed to face the

“Itable
      is with the help of the American public that we are
         to respond to the disasters in the Midwest, as
                                                                                                 prospect of starting over.

                                                                                                 The Red Cross quickly opened shelters
                                                                                                 in the affected areas, and disaster
   well as the disasters that occur every day in local                                           workers in ERVs circulated through
   communities across the country that you may not                                               neighborhoods distributing meals
   hear about. Donations to the American Red Cross                                               to grateful residents and emergency
                                                                                                 workers. We worked with local public
   Disaster Relief Fund can help aid in the recovery for                                         health authorities to meet the basic

                                                            ”
   victims of these and other disasters.                                                         needs of our clients by providing first
			                     —Joe Becker, Senior Vice President, Disaster Services                   aid and replacing essential medications.

                                                                                                 Red Cross health and mental health
disaster workers to meet the immediate     February 5, 2008
                                                                                                 workers provided support to the many
needs of the displaced residents,          On February 5, a massive line of
                                                                                                 residents struggling to cope with the
with additional workers standing by        tornadoes swept across Alabama,
                                                                                                 devastation surrounding them.
as the flooding continued to spread.       Arkansas, Kentucky, Mississippi and
We opened 275 shelters throughout          Tennessee, destroying many homes                      Because dozens of people lost their

                                                                   4
We Were There Because of You - The 2008 Disaster Relief Program Annual Review
lives during the February 5 tornado outbreak, some residents faced
                                                                                                                                   Safe and Well—Reconnecting Families
the prospect of starting over without their loved ones. The Red Cross
                                                                                                                                   When Disaster Strikes
reached out to those individuals overwhelmed with grief and loss
through its mental health counselors and family service specialists                                                                The American Red Cross Welfare Information
trained to meet their unique needs.                                                                                                Unit maintains the Safe and Well Web site
                                                                                                                                   as part of its mission to promote family
As our shelters closed, we continued to work closely with our                                                                      communications planning and preparedness;
partners and local emergency management                                                                                            facilitate notification from “inside” to “outside”
officials, offering                                                                                                                disaster-affected areas; manage requests
                                                                        ce
comprehensive                                              G    lan                                                                for welfare information and support family
                                                      ta                                                                           reunification.
resources—mental health
                                          c  t sa                         ns i
                                                                                n d
                                     F a
                                                             p   e r atio oes an                                                   The Safe and Well Web site keeps evacuees
support and first aid,                                   ro           nad
                                                i s aste ds, tor                           rs                                      in touch with loved ones who live outside a
cooking and distributing                      d
                                      ajor e to flo
                                                        o
                                                                                r w  orke
                                    m                                     ste                                                      disaster-affected area. Evacuees registering on
meals—and providing              70 pons ons                        disa                  ght
                                  res binati               o  s  s               o v erni                                          the site can choose from a menu of pre-scripted
information and referrals for      com                  Cr                 43
                                          2  5  Red          i t h  18,5                                                           messages, including “family and I are safe and
additional assistance.              17,3 elters w                                                                                  well” and “currently at shelter.” Relatives can
                                             sh                          nd
The spring flooding and               275ys                   e  a ls a                                                            also register evacuees on their behalf, giving
                                       st a             2 m cks
tornado season extended well                   5  3,80 sna                     d
                                                                                                                                   friends and family the peace of mind of knowing
                                        1  , 6
                                                                 n  - u p ans                                                      everyone is safe.
into June, which heralded                                  lea          t ki t
the beginning of a challenging                 7  , 4 78 ccomfor
                                             9                                                                                           2008 Safe and Well Registrations
hurricane season.
                                                                                                                                   February/March Tornadoes                       455
                                                                                                                                   March/April Floods                             654
                                                                                                                                   May California Wildfires                       734
                                                                                                                                   May Tornadoes                                1,208
                                                                                                                                   June/July Midwest Flooding                   1,675
                                                                                                                                   July California Earthquake                     463
                                                                                                                                   Hurricane Season (June-November)            20,143

                                                                                                                                   When family members contact the Red Cross
                                                                                                                                   with concerns about loved ones inside the
                                                                                                                                   disaster area who suffer from life-threatening
                                                                                                                                   illnesses, the Welfare Information Unit
                                                                                                                                   coordinates the efforts of disaster field teams
                                                                                                                                   and our partners to locate and assist those with
                                                                                                                                   health and mental-health needs. In 2008, the
                                                                                                                                   Welfare Information Unit resolved 278 of these
                                                                                                Talia Frenkel/American Red Cross

                                                                                                                                   emergency welfare information requests.

                                                                                                                                                  www.safeandwell.org
                                                                                                                                      Also available in Spanish: www.sanoysalvo.org

Carolyn Negley, student and resident assistant at Union University in Jackson, Tenn.,                                                        Also available via RedCross.org
collected what belongings she could find after her living quarters were almost entirely
destroyed by a tornado. Emergency response vehicle driver Vicki Oczkowicz offers
comfort.

 Report: Standing Ready With a Helping Hand: The American Red Cross Response to the Central U.S. Floods and Tornadoes: see the full report on your
 gift at work in the central United States on RedCross.org (click on About, then Publications)

                                                                                    5
We Were There Because of You - The 2008 Disaster Relief Program Annual Review
Summer Hurricanes and Tropical Storms
Before the hurricanes of 2008                          Our local partnerships provide great
threatened communities across the                      insight into the needs of a community.
country, Red Cross chapters reached                    By working together, we can effectively                                                Ruby Stevens
out to residents in hurricane-prone                    address the issues of diverse, hard-to-                                                The Perry & Ruby Stevens
areas with preparedness tips and                       reach populations.                                                                     Charitable Foundation was
worked to improve each community’s                                                                                                            established by Ruby Stevens in
                                                       To coordinate the various services
ability to respond to an emergency. We                                                                                                        January 2006 in accordance with
                                                       of these partners, the Red Cross and                                                   her late husband Perry’s wishes.
pre-positioned cots, blankets, comfort
                                                                              other agencies                                                  Stevens established the foundation
kits and other
                                                                              established the
relief supplies            On June 1, the Red Cross                           Coordinated
                                                                                                                                              to help nonprofit organizations
                                                                                                                                              that, among other things, provide
to be ready at a
                            marked the beginning of                           Assistance                                                      assistance to victims of natural
moment’s notice.                                                                                                                              disasters.
                            hurricane season 2008.                            Network
This hurricane                                                                (CAN) in 2003.                                                  “When disaster strikes, Ruby
season, we
                             It proved to be one of                           CAN partners                                                    knows the American Red Cross
mobilized more                the most destructive                            collaborate to                                                  will respond no matter what,” said
than 26,000 Red                                                               provide necessary                                               Laurie Milton, the foundation’s
                             and costliest hurricane                                                                                          Executive Director. “Ruby and her
Cross workers and                                                             services to disaster
opened more than            seasons in U.S. history.                          survivors without
                                                                                                                                              late husband, Perry, have been big
                                                                                                                                              believers in the Red Cross as early
1,000 shelters.                                                               duplicating
                                                                                                                                              responders, and they know that
We provided an array of services                       efforts. Someone affected by a disaster
                                                                                                                                              after a disaster, their support can
including sheltering, feeding and                      can report their needs to any single                                                   really help those who need help
physical and mental health counseling.                 participating agency, and if they                                                      the most in a time of crisis.”
Even after the need for emergency                      elect, the agency will then share
                                                                                                                                              Stevens was inspired to give to
assistance subsided, we worked with                    their information among member
                                                                                                                                              the Disaster Relief Fund following
community partners to provide ongoing                  organizations to help them obtain                                                      Hurricanes Gustav and Ike. When
support to affected residents.                         additional services.                                                                   she observed their devastating
                                                                                                                                              impact and the Red Cross’s swift
                                                                                                                                              and compassionate response
                                                                                                                                              to meet the resulting needs for
                                                                                                                                              disaster relief, she promptly
                                                                                                                                              donated $50,000 to the fund. In
                                                                                                                                              addition, Stevens gives generously
                                                                                                                                              to the American Red Cross Hill
                                                                                                                                              Country Chapter in Texas.
                                                                                                                                              The Red Cross is truly grateful
                                                                                                                                              to Ruby Stevens and the
                                                                                                             Gene Dailey/American Red Cross

                                                                                                                                              individual donors like her whose
                                                                                                                                              contributions to the Disaster Relief
                                                                                                                                              Fund help to relieve suffering when
                                                                                                                                              disaster strikes.

Individuals and families line up before a Red Cross emergency response vehicle for meals and bottled water
in Wallisville, Texas, after Hurricane Ike knocked out power to their neighborhood.

  Report: A Sure Presence: The American Red Cross Response to the Hurricanes of 2008: see the full report on your gift at work RedCross.org
  (click on About, then Publications)

                                                                                 6
We Were There Because of You - The 2008 Disaster Relief Program Annual Review
To date, 378 agencies have signed                                                          communities in Ike’s path. For the many
Participating Agency Agreements with                                                       diverse communities affected by Ike, we     NAJIT – Bridging the
CAN.                                                                                       partnered with the National Council of      Communications Gap
                                                                                           La Raza, the National Association for       During Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the
Hurricane Ike                                                                              the Advancement of Colored People,          American Red Cross recognized a gap
While we were still helping those                                                          National Disabilities Rights Network,       in the services we provided. Our critical
                                                                                                                                       messages regarding shelter locations
affected by earlier spring and summer                                                      Tzu Chi Foundation and United Jewish
                                                                                                                                       or service centers, for example, were
storms, particularly Hurricane Gustav,                                                     Communities, among others.
                                                                                                                                       not understood by all communities
we were preparing for Hurricane Ike’s                                                                                                  affected by the storm due to language
                                                             Hurricane Ike made landfall on
landfall. According to National Weather                                                                                                barriers.
                                                             September 13 near Galveston, Texas, as
Service resources, the storm’s projected
                                                             a strong Category 2 storm with winds                                      Today, the Red Cross has access to
path indicated landfall along the Florida
                                                                                 of 110 mph. Texas and                                 a team of certified linguists to assist
Panhandle and Texas coast.                                                                                                             with relief efforts for the non-English
                                                                                  Louisiana bore the brunt
Emergency
                                                     a  G  l ance                 of this dangerous storm.
                                                                                                                                       speaking, deaf, hard-of-hearing and the
                                               at
officials in those               Fa c t s                                          Millions of people
                                                                                                                                       limited-English-proficient population.
                                                                  ns
areas, with whom
                                             a s t e r operatio and                 lost electricity, and
                                                                                                                                       The Red Cross is proud to partner with
                                     r dis                 anes                                                                        the National Association of Judiciary
the Red Cross           34 majoonse to hurric
                        in resp l storms                                        s thousands more were                                  Interpreters and Translators (NAJIT),
was in constant
                              p ic a                           a s t e r worker
                            o
                         tr                         ross dis                         evacuated.                                        leveraging the language expertise of its
communication,
                              , 0 8 0   Red C                   7 , 2 0  5                                                             members, who stand ready to volunteer
                          2 6                           ith 4 9
urged residents to                         elters w                                   Hurricane Ike’s effects
                           1 ,012 sh t stays                                                                                           and offer their help, either through
prepare without                          h                                            were widespread.
                            overnig                          and                                                                       on-site or virtual deployment in times of
delay.                                    , 4 0 3  meals                           In addition to Texas                               disaster. NAJIT interpreters help bridge
                             16,557                 snacks
                                                           p and                   and Louisiana, the Red                              the linguistic divide that sometimes
When Ike failed to
                                      , 3 5 7  clean-u t kits                   Cross opened shelters in                              separates people from the help they
follow the predicted           232              comfor
                                                                              Indiana, Missouri, Ohio,                                 need. Currently, more than 1,300
path, charting its own                                                                                                                 NAJIT interpreters and translators
                                                                             Michigan and Kentucky for
course toward Texas,                                                                                                                   representing 100 languages are on
                                                             evacuees. Trained Red Cross disaster
we quickly relocated disaster workers to                                                                                               call for the Red Cross in the event of a
                                                             workers from every state responded.                                       disaster.
Texas to supplement the 1,500 already
there, and we collaborated with our                          After the storm, we remained actively                                     This past year, NAJIT assisted the Red
partners in disaster response to serve the committed to meeting individual and                                                         Cross in relief efforts for Hurricanes
                                                             family needs. We facilitated the search                                   Dolly, Gustav and Ike, and Tropical
                                                             for long-term housing and located                                         Storm Edouard. “NAJIT is proud to be a
                                                                                                                                       partner with the Red Cross,” said Isabel
                                                             additional resources available through
                                                                                                                                       Framer, NAJIT Chair. “We are grateful
                                                             the community agencies that partnered
                                                                                                                                       to the Red Cross for bringing this
                                                             with us.                                                                  partnership together. Our membership
                                                                                           The 2008 hurricane season will              of professional interpreters is a real
                                                                                                                                       asset for the Red Cross efforts on the
                                                                                           be remembered as one of the most
                                                                                                                                       ground during national disasters and,
                                                                                           destructive and costliest hurricane         together, we will be able to better serve
                                                                                           seasons in U.S. history. Through it
                                                        Talia Frenkel/American Red Cross

                                                                                                                                       all of our communities.” The Red Cross
                                                                                           all, the Red Cross worked tirelessly to     couldn’t agree more.
                                                                                           anticipate and meet the needs of those
                                                                                           we serve and to provide safe shelter from
                                                                                           the storms.
Star Ponthieux reaches into a comfort kit in a Red
Cross shelter in Port Allen, La., after Hurricane Gustav.

                                                                                                              7
We Were There Because of You - The 2008 Disaster Relief Program Annual Review
Fall Wildfires
As the hurricane season came to an                     We circulated throughout the affected                 and the friendships they made in their
end, wildfires spread across parts of                  neighborhoods in ERVs and distributed                 neighborhood.
California. In mid-November, gusting                   clean-up kits to residents who were
                                                                                                             Red Cross disaster worker Tracey Kiest
winds and dry conditions fueled several                beginning to clean up the damage
                                                                                                             reported from the Sylmar shelter where
explosive wildfires that burned out of                 the fires caused. We also identified
                                                                                                             many of the evacuated residents were
control.                                               additional resources to facilitate
                                                                                                             staying. “I just ran into a gentleman
                                                       recovery.
As scores of homes burned, residents                                                                         who was in tears,” she said. “It was the
from Santa Barbara, Los Angeles,                                                                             first time he had been able to see his
                                                       The Sayre Fire
Orange and Riverside Counties escaped                                                                        house, and there wasn’t anything left.
                                                       The Sayre Fire that tore through Los
and found a safe haven with the Red                                                                          The coffee pot had melted onto the
                                                       Angeles County destroyed hundreds
Cross. Red Cross disaster workers                                                                            stove. He remarked that the birds were
                                                       of units at the Oakridge Mobile Home
provided shelter, meals and much-                                                                            looking for food—he leaves birdseed out
                                                       Park in Sylmar, a community of elderly
needed physical and mental health                                                                            for the birds. He lost four generations
                                                       residents living on fixed incomes.
support. The latter assistance was                                                                                    worth of antiques. After he
particularly welcome to people who                     Residents’ immediate physical health                                       dried his tears he
were forced to evacuate with nothing                   needs included the replacement of                                   Fa                 said, ‘You
                                                                                                                                    cts
but the clothes they wore.                             durable medical equipment such as                                                   a  taG
                                                                                                                   10 m                               lanc
                                                       wheelchairs and walkers for the many                       resp ajor dis                               e
With our partners, we sheltered and fed                                                                                   onse         aste
                                                       seniors affected by the wildfire. The                     2,64             to w r oper
                                                                                                                        4 Re            ildfire ation
hundreds of evacuees at the height of                                                                                          d Cr             s          s in
                                                       residents also benefited from their                      60 s                  o s
the fires. We served thousands of meals                                                                               h                   s  disas
                                                       contacts with Red Cross mental health                   stays elters w                      ter w
and snacks to evacuees, emergency                                                                                                   ith 6                 orke
                                                                                                              106,                        , 009                 rs
                                                       professionals as they mourned the loss                      096                            over
responders and residents who visited                                                                                       m
                                                                                                                            ea                        n ight
our shelters for the latest news of the
                                                       of their homes, the heirlooms passed
                                                                                                            4,53          snac ls and
                                                                                                                 3 c le        ks
                                                       down through generations of families                              an-u
fires’ impact on their neighborhoods.                                                                             com p and
                                                                                                                          fort k
                                                                                                                                 its

                                                                                                                                                                     Gene Dailey/American Red Cross

Red Cross disaster worker Tracey Kiest surveys the remnants of the Oakridge Mobile Home Park, a community that was destroyed by the Sayre Fire, in Sylmar, Calif.

                                                                                8
know what? It’s going to be okay. We’re
going to make it.’”

Fires are unpredictable and move as the
winds shift, but the Red Cross is reliable
even in the most difficult situations.
After the fires were out, we remained
on site to partner with local, state and
federal representatives committed to
the ongoing recovery from the Sayre
Fire.

As we completed our disaster relief
operations in California, we were also
looking ahead to January 2009 to

                                                                                                                                                       Daphne Hart/American Red Cross
ensure the necessary supplies will be
available to those who need us now and
those who will surely need us in the
coming months.
                                             Red Cross volunteers Pedro Polidano and Alex Padilla bring clean-up supplies to the residents of a home
                                             that was damaged by wildfires in Yorba Linda, Calif.

      Dear Red Cross,
      Thank you so much for giving these meals to all of these people. It really means
      a lot to everyone. My class and I really appreciate your time. Thank you again!
                                                                      Yours Fondly,
                                                                      Sara, age 10

                         Q&A With Red Cross Volunteer Dana McKinley
                         Where do you volunteer?
                         I’m a Disaster Action Team member and a Service to the Armed Forces volunteer for the Key Chapter
                         in Meridian, Miss. I am also active with our emergency management and homeland security units and
                         serve on both teams as an American Red Cross representative.

                         How did you get involved with the Red Cross?
    I was a volunteer fireman and saw what a single-family fire really did—how big the disaster is in the clients’ eyes. I myself
    was battling some medical problems and really wanted to quit. My family took me to the Red Cross. Two days later it was
    September 11 and I started taking the classes and my medical situation improved beyond the doctor’s diagnosis.

    How has the Red Cross changed your life?
    The Red Cross saved my life! I found that instead of crying on my problems, that folks had bigger problems than I. It was
    time to get going; so today I am still going strong and serve with my chapter and my community as a volunteer fireman and
    EMS provider. Thank you Red Cross for caring about this volunteer and seeing the true heart that I have. I know that we
    have so many with the same heart that I have, and I feel honored to represent all of them.

                                                                     9
Responding Today...
When disaster strikes, the human need                                            Convention provides the work force           Mental Health Services
is obvious. People lose their homes,                                             and the kitchens, and the Red Cross          The Disaster Mental Health Team is
their possessions and, sometimes, their                                          provides supplies and logistics.             part of our disaster response from
loved ones. When the Red Cross arrives                                                                                        beginning to end. Our team of licensed
on the scene, we establish shelters,                                             Health and Mental Health                     mental health professionals includes
provide meals, offer first aid, distribute                                       Services                                     counselors, marriage and family
comfort and clean-up kits and ensure                                             When disaster strikes, there is often no     therapists, psychiatrists, psychologists,
those who need physical and mental                                               time to pack bags, refill prescriptions or   social workers and psychiatric nurses.
health support can meet with one of our                                          collect personal items. Disaster-induced
trained disaster workers.                                                        stress and trauma compound pre-
                                                                                 existing medical conditions. In these
Your gift to the Disaster Relief Fund                                                                                          State Farm–Partners Since
                                                                                 situations, Red Cross health and mental
allows us to maintain our disaster                                                                                             World War II
                                                                                 health professionals meet individual
relief program in a constant state of                                                                                          With a relationship dating back to
                                                                                 needs and provide referrals.
readiness.                                                                                                                     World War II, State Farm–through
                                                                                 Health Services                               corporate contributions, agent and
Feeding and Sheltering                                                           Approximately 3,000 medical                   employee matching gift programs and
As soon as the area is safe for entry, the                                       professionals, including doctors,             agents and employees who donate
Red Cross circulates through disaster-                                           nurses, emergency medical technicians,        their time as volunteers and blood
                                                                                                                               donors–is a long-term partner to
affected neighborhoods, identifying                                              pharmacists and other specialists,
                                                                                                                               the American Red Cross. Through
needs and delivering food, supplies and                                          volunteer with the Red Cross during
                                                                                                                               this multifaceted partnership, State
information to residents planning their                                          disasters, providing first aid, medical       Farm is a member of the Annual
recovery. In most cases, we can provide                                          assessments, triage and other services        Disaster Giving Program, a sponsor
nearly a million meals per day within                                            to disaster survivors.                        of Red Cross events and a significant
72 hours, thanks to the hard work of                                                                                           provider of blood donations through
                                                                                 An important partnership during times         its employee base. State Farm and
Red Cross disaster workers and our
                                                                                 of a federally declared disaster is our       the Red Cross have worked together
partners. Often, the Southern Baptist
                                                                                 Emergency Prescription Assistance             on a variety of projects throughout the
                                                                                 Program (EPAP), which allows                  years.
                                                                                 pharmacies to provide medications             When disaster strikes, the public turns
                                                                                 to those affected by a disaster who do        to the Red Cross and State Farm.
                                                                                 not have any form of health coverage          Whether it is a house fire that leaves
                                                                                 for replacing their prescriptions and         one family homeless or a hurricane
                                                                                 essential durable medical equipment.          that devastates an entire region, Red
                                                                                                                               Cross disaster workers and State
                                                                                 During Hurricanes Gustav and Ike,
                                                                                                                               Farm agents and employees are an
                                                                                 the EPAP filled more than 30,000
                                                                                                                               important presence after a disaster.
                                                                                 medication and durable medical                We share a vital mission: helping to
                                                                                 equipment requests at a cost of nearly        pick up the pieces of shattered lives.
                                                                                 $1.7 million.
                                                                                                                               State Farm continued its generous
                                                                                 Similarly, VSP® Vision Care partners          support of the Red Cross again in
                                                Gene Dailey/American Red Cross

                                                                                 with the Red Cross to provide                 2008 with a significant contribution of
                                                                                                                               $1 million. We appreciate State Farm’s
                                                                                 comprehensive eye exams and eyewear
                                                                                                                               steadfast commitment to our disaster
                                                                                 to those who have lost or damaged their
                                                                                                                               relief program.
                                                                                 eyeglasses during these events.
As residents started to evacuate Mississippi
ahead of Hurricane Gustav, Red Cross shelters
awaited them.

                                                                                                     10
We offer the following services:              To join this team, health care              equipment is shipped as the operation
• Triage and assessment                       professionals volunteer their vacation      progresses.
• Crisis intervention                         time, often at a moment’s notice, to
                                                                                          The Red Cross contracts with multiple
• Client advocacy                             serve on a disaster relief operation.
                                                                                          partners to ensure continuous cell
• Referring clients to local providers to                                                 phone coverage. At any given time,
  support their continuing needs
                                              Disaster Services Technology
                                                                                          the team can switch cellular phones
• Supervising and supporting Red Cross        One of the first things to sustain damage
                                                                                          to ensure they can communicate after
  workers providing psychological first aid   during a disaster is a community’s
                                                                                          a disaster.
• Monitoring and alleviating                  infrastructure. Often, cellular services
  organizational stress                       may be down or overloaded, and power        To support the technology team, the
• Providing bereavement support               outages can disrupt other networking        Red Cross currently has a partnership
                                              capabilities. The Disaster Services         with Best Buy’s BlueShirt Corps, a
 F.M. Kirby Foundation, Inc.–                 Technology Team manages Red Cross           service group that provides tech support
 Making the Impossible Possible               technical needs during a disaster,          from the company’s Geek Squad Agents
                                              including voice communications,             and BlueShirts. We also team with
 The F.M. Kirby Foundation, Inc., a family
                                              data transmissions, computer access,        the American Radio Relay League of
 foundation located in Morristown,
 N.J., has supported the American Red         satellite coverage, cell phones, fax        amateur radio operators and numerous
 Cross for 19 years, most recently with       capabilities and networking. All of these   other vendors and partners to ensure
 a generous gift of $500,000 to the           capabilities include backup systems.        success.
 Disaster Relief Fund. Like the F.M. Kirby
 Foundation, the Red Cross believes           Within the first 24 to 48 hours of an       Our ability to act quickly when disaster
 that “when people unite in a charitable      operation, a technology team and            strikes is a result of our ongoing
 cause that is right and good, the            an initial shipment of supplies are         readiness activities. Our services
 impossible becomes possible.”                deployed. Supplies are warehoused           represent the culmination of a year-
 Since 1992, the Foundation has               in Austin, Texas, and are transported       round process of strategic planning,
 given gifts to the Red Cross totaling        overnight by FedEx through a generous       organization and preparation between
 $6,325,000, and in 2007, the F.M. Kirby      corporate sponsorship. Additional           the Red Cross and our partners.
 Foundation also donated $100,000
 toward a bloodmobile for the Penn-

                                               ...Preparing for Tomorrow
 Jersey Blood Services Region.
 In addition, the F.M. Kirby Foundation
 generously supports blood donor
 programs and disaster relief and              Past large disasters, such as Hurricane    within these areas and our ability to
 preparedness at chapters in Morristown        Katrina, have shown us that we must        meet those needs.
 and Summit, N.J., and Wilkes-Barre, Pa.       be willing to prepare for the seemingly
                                                                                          The very best resource our organization
 The F.M. Kirby Foundation’s philosophy        unimaginable. We must be ready to act
                                                                                          has when disaster strikes is a strong
 of giving is that “private philanthropy,      when a catastrophic disaster strikes.
                                                                                          local chapter tied into the fabric of its
 at its best, if provided compassionately
 and prudently, encourages self-reliance       Future disasters could be large enough     community, working daily with local
 and diminishes government’s role.             to require a different approach in the     emergency responders. As we build
 Dedicated grantors and grantees,              areas of organizational readiness, com-    more resilient communities, the Red
 working together, tend to ennoble and         munity partner collaboration, indi-        Cross and our partners will gain a
 enrich our society.”                          vidual preparedness and sustainability.    deeper understanding of the needs of
 The Red Cross deeply appreciates the          Through our chapters and with our          each area. We are committed to keep-
 F.M. Kirby Foundation’s long-standing         local partners, we will reach deeply and   ing our donors and partners informed
 support and looks forward to our              widely into our communities to close       about our innovative and vital work in
 continued partnership.                        the gap between the anticipated needs      the months and years ahead.

                                                                 11
Your Gift at Work in 2008
Food and Shelter                                                           Emergency Call Centers and Communications
The Red Cross provides regular meals in its shelters as                    Costs include people and resources used to provide connectivity
well as through mobile distribution and additional fixed sites             infrastructure and critical information, including locations of Red
for affected residents and responders. Through effective                   Cross service sites for shelter, food and distribution of emergency
partnerships with government and community organizations,                  relief items. COST: $7,333,000
the Red Cross ensures that shelters meet the needs of
individual communities. COST: $60,298,000                                  Disaster Systems
                                                                           Costs include the IT systems to record casework and recruit,
Logistical Support                                                         manage and deploy volunteers. COST: $5,590,000
A disaster relief response requires a vast reserve of resources
and volunteers. Managing these resources requires real                     Physical and Mental Health Services
estate, logistical support and vendor agreements that                      Costs may include basic first aid, replacing prescriptions and
exceed local capabilities. Associated costs include, but are               emotional support. COST: $1,915,000
not limited to, rented space for shelter facilities, disaster
response headquarters and warehousing, vehicle rental, fleet               Disaster Welfare Information
management, fuel and other necessities. COST: $24,130,000                  Costs include the maintenance and operation of the Red
                                                                           Cross Safe and Well Web site and a toll-free information line.
Emergency Assistance to Families                                           COST: $148,000
and Individuals
Red Cross client caseworkers meet with individuals affected by
disaster to offer assistance and identify any special needs such           Total cost of 2008 disaster services:                                              $161,329,000
as planning their long-term recovery to ensure that they are safely
accommodated. COST: $20,951,000                                            Funds donated in 2008:                                   $132,625,000

Readiness and Partnering                                                   The past year was an extremely active one for disasters. The
The Red Cross provides planning and preparedness for                       American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund paid for more than 130
disasters. Readiness and capacity development provides a                   large-scale relief operations in 2008, including 40 tornadoes, 34
means to actively build capacity and to evaluate the potential             hurricane-related operations, 23 floods and 10 wildfires. Every
needs of the community ahead of events. The Red Cross                      year, the Red Cross spends an average of $100 million on its
also focuses on capacity enhancement of relationships with                 disaster services program.
both government and non-government organizations to                        All of these disaster services were paid for by the Disaster
ensure a coordinated, immediate and effective response.                    Relief Fund and made possible by the generous support of
COST: $15,358,000                                                          corporations, foundations and individuals. However, the cost of
                                                                           providing this critical disaster relief in 2008 rapidly outpaced
Fundraising Costs/Management                                               contributions to the Red Cross, depleting our Disaster Relief
and General                                                                Fund. In September 2008, the Red Cross launched the
The Red Cross manages a large number of contributions                      Campaign for Disaster Relief to raise $100 million for the
from philanthropic donors who help meet the costs of relief                Disaster Relief Fund. As of May 2009, we have raised more
operations. These costs include essential services in support              than $91 million.
of the Red Cross disaster relief effort, such as finance and
accounting, legal and auditing fees and public information
outreach. These contributions enable the Red Cross to                                                   Expenses (in thousands)
respond to disasters and to fulfill our mission.
                                                                                                                                                                 Food and Shelter
COST: $14,520,000                                                                                                                                                37%—$60,298

                                                                                                                 Logistical Support 15%—$24,130

Disaster Operations Management                                                                               Emergency Assistance to Families and Individuals 13%—$20,951
The Red Cross has a team of people who coordinate the
response to national disasters by deploying human and                                                Readiness and Partnering 10%—$15,358

material resources for disaster response. They also provide                                         Fudraising Costs/Management and General 9%—$14,520

guidance and support on a 24/7 basis to disaster relief                                         Disaster Operations Management 7%—$11,087
operations and chapters and share critical information with
partners in government and voluntary disaster relief agencies.                             Emergency Call Centers and Communications 5%—$7,333

COST: $11,087,000                                                                        Disaster Systems 3%—$5,590

                                                                                    Physical and Mental Health Services 1%—$1,915

                                                                                  Disaster Welfare Information
Thank You

 We can never be certain what the

 future will bring, but two things

 always hold true: first, we must be

 prepared for the worst; second, we

 know we will be ready with the help

 of our partners—the corporations,

                                                                                                                                                  Daniel Cima/American Red Cross
 foundations, individuals and

 organizations who join with us every

 year to provide disaster relief.
                                             In April 2007, a fire destroyed the Martinez family’s home. The Red Cross provided them with food,
                                             clothing and emergency assistance to help them get back on their feet. In September 2008, the
 The Red Cross is engaged in some type       Red Cross provided the Martinez family with shelter from Tropical Storm Hanna. Here, thirteen-
                                             year-old Teresa Martinez smiles at a Red Cross disaster worker in the shelter where her family
 of disaster relief operation 24 hours a     found refuge.

 day, 365 days a year, and your gift to
                                            our Disaster Online Newsroom, or at                People who turn to the Red Cross in
 the Disaster Relief Fund allows us to
                                            your favorite networking site such as              their darkest hour know they can rely
 provide our vital life-saving services.
                                            Flickr, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube,                on that trusted symbol of disaster relief

 From January through December              LinkedIn and SocialVibe.                           to see them through. Fulfilling our

 2008, we responded to 131 large-scale                                                         humanitarian mission is only possible
                                            Your gift to the American Red Cross
 disasters. We helped the survivors of                                                         with the support of partners like you.
                                            Disaster Relief Fund made our
 the worst flooding in the central United
                                            response possible. By supporting the
 States in 15 years, a record number of
                                            Red Cross, you ensure that we can put                  Thank you for
 tornadoes, an active hurricane season
                                            in place disaster supplies, vehicles,                  your belief in the
 and late fall wildfires.
                                            facilities and workers. We ensure the                  American Red Cross.
 To learn more, please visit us at          availability of our resources 24 hours a

 RedCross.org, where you can find           day, every day.

                                                                 13
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