Hurricane Michael has caused untold devastation along the Gulf Coast, and the American Red Cross is helping those newly impacted by this storm, even as relief operations continue for those affected by Hurricane Florence.
-On October 10, Hurricane Michael made a Category 4 landfall as the third strongest hurricane in U.S. history. It was also the strongest hurricane to hit the U.S. in 50 years.
-Michael brought 140 mph winds, up to a foot of rain and a storm surge as high as 13 feet to some areas of Florida, Georgia and Alabama.
-Officials are predicting prolonged power outages.
-The storm is forecast to drop heavy rain later this week in the Carolinas where people are still struggling with the aftermath of Hurricane Florence.
-More than 375,000 people are under evacuation orders and many schools and colleges, along with airports and ports, are closed.
The American Red Cross urges all those in need of safe shelter or emergency services like food and water to locate the nearest evacuation center or shelter. This information can be found in the Red Cross Emergency app.
The American Red Cross is on the ground along the Gulf Coast to provide safe shelter and support for evacuees as Hurricane Michael continues to quickly barrel through the Southeast.
-Wednesday night, approximately 7,800 people stayed in as many as 95 American Red Cross and community evacuation centers across Florida, Georgia and Alabama.
-There are more than 800 trained disaster workers on their way or already in the region supporting relief efforts.
-The Red Cross pre-positioned enough shelter supplies, including cots and blankets, to be able to support some 15,000 people after landfall and is also mobilizing additional relief supplies, vehicles and other equipment to help people in the affected areas, as needed.
-We’re also working with partners to prepare for serving tens of thousands of meals per day once the storm passes.
-Since October 9, more than 4.6 million weather alerts have been issued through Red Cross apps allowing people to make informed and lifesaving decisions.
