The Chilean Red Cross distributes water to survivors following Saturday's 8.8 magnitude earthquake. Courtesy of the Chilean Red Cross.

Saturday morning, many of us awoke to devastating news of the massive 8.8 magnitude Chilean Earthquake and awaited reports of a tsunami that threatened the Pacific. Since then, the American Red Cross has been working to support our Pacific Chapters and the Chilean Red Cross with their immediate response efforts. So far, The American Red Cross has made an initial $50,000 available for relief operations in Chile, and we stand ready to mobilize additional support, including relief supplies, trained personnel and additional financial assistance.

Chilean officials report that more than 2 million people have been affected by the earthquake and approximately 1.5 million houses may have sustained damage. Water and electricity have been severely restricted or cut off and communications systems are down. In Santiago, the country’s capital, the international airport is reported to have sustained damages, but has reopened. Major ports have also been damaged and bridges connecting the central regions of the country have collapsed limiting access to the affected regions.

Chilean Red Cross Volunteers have reported to their nearest branch office and are providing limited search and rescue services, administering first aid and distributing pre-positioned supplies in close coordination with the Chilean National Emergency Office. A regional Red Cross disaster expert is now in Chile working with the local Red Cross to assess the situation, while an American Red Cross representative and a team of other Red Cross emergency workers are enroute. The British Red Cross has also offered another $50,000 GBP.

The American Red Cross Disaster Operations Center in Washington, D.C. has worked in close coordination with chapters in Hawaii, California, Guam, American Samoa and the Northern Marianas as a response to the tsunami warnings issued early Saturday morning (as a result of the earthquake). All tsunami warnings have since been cancelled but we will continue to monitor the situation and remain prepared to help if necessary. The threat of the tsunami serves as an important reminder that disasters can happen anywhere at any time. The best way to make you and your family safer is to be prepared before disaster strikes.

And as the American Red Cross is monitoring the situation in Chile, we will also continue to support the massive relief operations in Haiti, where more than 1.3 million people have been helped since the January 12th earthquake. More than six weeks later, the immense needs in Haiti continue. All humanitarian organizations, including the Red Cross, are racing against the clock to provide safe, waterproof shelter before the rainy season beings in April.

To stay up to date on the latest response efforts, check out the following resources:

►National Disaster Online Newsroom
►Chile Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami Response FAQ
►Haiti Response Effort Updates and FAQ
►Donate to the International Response Fund

Lindsey

Lindsey Weber is the Marketing and Communication Associate for the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter.