Red Cross Hurricane Matthew Relief Efforts

Kinston, NC – (The Red Cross shelter at Kinston High School) – Jamiya and her sister Sandra brought their children, ages 4, 6 and 10 over to the Kinston shelter when their home in Kinston flooded.  While the mothers focused on getting their belongings in order, Aaliyah (6), Kay Steven (10) and Jahari (4) put their energy into building a tent out of cots and blankets, and playing with other kids staying at the shelter.

More than a week after Hurricane Matthew slammed into the southeast, people are still dealing with the aftermath of the devastating storm which left entire communities underwater and uprooted thousands of lives. The American Red Cross is there, providing shelter, food, relief supplies and hope to thousands of people across four states.

This widespread relief effort includes three-fourths of our national vehicle fleet and more overnight stays in shelters than after Superstorm Sandy. The Red Cross will be helping in the days and weeks to come, long after flood waters finally start to go down.

More than 2,100 people in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida are still seeking refuge in 33 Red Cross and community shelters. The Red Cross has mobilized almost 5,000 disaster workers, 235 response vehicles, 19 partner-supported kitchens as well as truckloads of water, ready-to-eat meals, cots, blankets, kitchen items, cleaning supplies and comfort kits, insect repellent, gloves, masks, shovels, rakes, coolers and more. As conditions permit, Red Cross response vehicles are circulating through the hardest-hit areas, delivering food and relief supplies.

Overall, Red Cross and community partners have served more than 854,000 meals and snacks, distributed more than 178,000 relief items, supported more than 18,000 health and mental health services, and provided 92,000 overnight stays in shelters.

Thank you to the dozens of Tennessee volunteers who have deployed to help with response efforts and to our donors who give financially so that we can prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters like Hurricane Matthew.