Hurricanes Rita and Katrina

Note: The following appeal is now closed.  You can support our ongoing work by donating to the Canadian Red Cross

 

In response to Hurricane Katrina which has pummelled the coast of Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi, the American Red Cross has launched its largest ever mobilization of resources for a single disaster.

“We have offered our colleagues in the United States our full support for this disaster,” said Don Shropshire, National Director, Disaster Services, Canadian Red Cross.

“At present the American Red Cross has requested that Canadian Red Cross send highly trained disaster response volunteers and we are currently preparing our team to travel to the US.” The Canadian Red Cross will not be recruiting new people for this team, but rather will be relying on its existing pool of experienced, trained volunteers.

“The Canadian Red Cross has received hundreds of call from Canadians wanting to help the people impacted by this disaster and will accept funds designated for Hurricane Katrina.”

One of the best ways to reduce the impact of deadly disasters is to prepare yourself and your community before they strike.

Volunteer's Diaries

Relief dollars lighten the load (10-20-05)
By Mary Ferguson, Canadian Red Cross volunteer in Alabama and Mississippi

The enormous task of assessing medical needs in the Gulf Coast region (09-21-05)
By Mary Ferguson, Canadian Red Cross volunteer in Alabama and Mississippi

Moving On or Settling In (09-09-05)
By Mary Ferguson, Canadian Red Cross volunteer in Alabama and Mississippi

Hope in Gulfport, Mississippi (09-09-05)
By Mary Ferguson, Canadian Red Cross volunteer in Alabama and Mississippi

Word of the Day: Communication (09-08-05)
By Bridget Brown, Canadian Red Cross volunteer in Houston, Texas

Read more:

Volunteers in Action

 

Tracing Missing Relatives

The International Committee of the Red Cross, in close cooperation with the American Red Cross have set up a Restoring Family Links website for persons seeking information about their relatives possibly affected by Hurricane Katrina. The site also provides an opportunity for persons in the affected areas to inform family and friends that they are safe and well. Please visit the 'Family News Network of the International Committee of the Red Cross' at: www.familylinks.icrc.org/katrina

If you are concerned about a relative who has a medical or mental health emergency (including insulin-dependent diabetics, people with oxygen dependencies, people on dialysis, the blind or visually impaired and disabled or bedridden people) please contact your local Red Cross office to open an inquiry.  This inquiry will be forwarded to the American Red Cross Tracing and Message Service (ITMS) for their urgent attention.