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American Red Cross still at work three months after Sandy
Southern Missouri Region members put in over 26,000 hours
American Red Cross Southern Missouri Region, January 31, 2013 — Ninety-nine staff and volunteers of the Southern Missouri Chapter provided nearly 26,000 hours of aid in the Superstorm Sandy recovery after the storm struck the East Coast. Since late October, 298 Red Cross members from across Missouri have worked 61,608 hours in the disaster area providing $1.7 million in labor up to Jan. 16.
”Our dedicated members always step up when needed. They are the lifeblood of the American Red Cross doing the hard work,” said Kristofer “Luke” Bolz, Chief Volunteer Services Officer for the Southern Missouri Region. “No doubt they will continue to respond to the needs of Sandy victims as well as future disasters.”
Bolz singled out the work of David Sewell, a volunteer casework specialist from the chapter’s Lebanon office. Sewell gave 81 days of labor aiding Sandy’s victim – the highest total by an individual in the southern region that covers 40 counties.
The Missouri effort is part of the American Red Cross force of 16,800 trained workers from across America who have aided in the Sandy recovery in the past 3 months. About 90 percent of them are volunteers Three months after landfall, more than 1,000 Red Cross workers remain on the scene, providing food, water and emotional support to people in need. Since Sandy made landfall, the Red Cross has:
- Served more than 11 million meals and snacks.
- Distributed more than 6.9 million relief items like blankets and cleaning supplies.
- Provided more than 109,000 health and mental health contacts for those affected, many of whom lost everything they owned during the storm.
- Provided nearly half (81,000) of the total 163,000 shelter stays by a range of groups.
MISSOURIANS RESPOND TO SUPERSTORM SANDY
Southern Missouri Region:
- 99 deployments
- 92 volunteers and 7 staff
- 16 second and third deployments for volunteers
- 2,153 the total number of days on job
- 21 days on average assignment
- 81 days on job is highest total by one individual (David Sewell)
- 25,836 hours (at 12 hour days) which amounts to a monetary value of $705,839 in labor according to Independent Sector for the value of a volunteer hour in the New York/New Jersey area ($27.32/hour)
TOTAL FOR MISSOURI AS OF 1/16/2013
- 298 deployments
- 271 volunteers and 27 staff
- 52 second and third deployments for volunteers
- 5,134 the total number of days on job
- 17 days on average assignment
- 92 days on job is highest total by one individual
- 61,608 hours (at 12 hour days) which amounts to a monetary value of $1,683,130 in labor
AMERICAN RED CROSS PROGRESS REPORT
The American Red Cross issued a progress report on its work to help people in the first three months after Sandy struck as well as its plans for longer-term recovery.
“Superstorm Sandy’s devastation—altered landscapes, lost homes, lives forever changed—will be felt for months to come,” said Gail McGovern, president and CEO of the Red Cross. “With widespread support from people and businesses from across the country and around the world, the American Red Cross is helping people counter sorrow with hope.”
RECOVERY EFFORTS UNDERWAY The Red Cross is working closely with government partners on long-term recovery efforts, and the first part of the Red Cross recovery work is already underway. At the request of the federal government, the Red Cross is focusing its initial recovery assistance on an estimated 9,000 families whose houses were heavily damaged or destroyed. The Red Cross is providing resources to either repair their homes or help them move into longer-term housing.
For the next several months, a big part of the Red Cross recovery effort will be working one-on-one with families who need some extra help making recovery plans and accessing available resources. Some need help finding child care, or understanding insurance paperwork. Red Cross case workers will help guide them through the recovery process.
The Red Cross is also supporting the work of several other relief groups, such as helping to fund several local food banks in New York to boost their capacity to serve more meals and help ensure people who need food have access to it, as well as support for Operation Hope’s work to provide assistance and financial counseling to survivors.
PUBLIC GENEROSITY By January 31, the Red Cross will have spent or made commitments to spend an estimated $145 million, and the remaining Sandy donations will be used to help individuals and communities affected by this storm with their long-term needs. This spending, which represents both direct services and support provided to other agencies, is more than half of the money received in the first three months.
If someone would like to support the Red Cross mission and help those in need, they can visit www.redcross.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Contributions may also be sent to the local Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013.
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or join our blog at http://blog.redcross.org.
For additional information please contact Nigel Holderby: nigel.holderby@redcross.org
