St. Louis, Monday, December 17, 2007 – In a year predicted to be heavy with hurricanes, home fires, wildfires and flooding kept the Red Cross busy helping people whose lives were changed by disasters. Excessive rain in some portions of the country, severe drought in other areas and a lack of major hurricanes changed the traditional disaster response landscape for the American Red Cross in a year that called for more than 230 large scale disaster responses.

 

While the California Wildfires and major flooding captured public attention, the majority of disaster relief operations were coordinated by Red Cross chapters responding locally to more than 70,000 community disasters, most of which were home fires. In fact, home fires account for approximately 93 percent of all Red Cross disaster responses in 2007, and that category leads the compilation of the five largest disasters.

 

This ranking was calculated based on the number of families served by the Red Cross, the aggregate amount of services provided (including food and shelter) and the cost to the Red Cross.

 

“While the hurricane season proved to be less eventful than normal, this year showed that disasters can strike anywhere around the nation, not just coastal communities,” said Joe Becker, senior vice president, national disaster response. “That’s why it’s important for families and individuals to have a disaster plan, no matter where you live and even if you think you are not vulnerable to a disaster.”

 

Red Cross disaster relief services are delivered through the efforts of more than 700 local Red Cross chapters and often include providing disaster survivors with food, shelter, emotional support, basic first aid, and clean up supplies. While the top five disasters were the largest and most costly for the Red Cross, disaster workers were also on scene at other notable events this year. Mental health workers provided comfort during the tragedy at Virginia Tech. Disaster workers were in place during tornadoes in Lady Lake, Florida, Enterprise, Alabama and Greensburg, Kansas. And, the American Red Cross provided aid during international disasters such as the Mexico floods, Peru earthquake and Hurrican Dean.

 

You can learn how to prepare yourself and your loved ones for a disaster by visiting www.redcrossstl.org. Here you will find an interactive online presentation that will show you how you can be Red Cross Ready by getting a disaster supplies kit, making a plan should disaster strike, and remaining informed before and during a disaster.

The American Red Cross has helped people mobilize to help their neighbors for 125 years. Last year, victims of a record 72,883 disasters, most of them fires, turned to the nearly 1 million volunteers and 35,000 employees of the Red Cross for help and hope. Through more than 700 locally supported chapters, more than 15 million people each year gain the skills they need to prepare for and respond to emergencies in their homes, communities and world. Almost 4 million people give blood—the gift of life—through the Red Cross, making it the largest supplier of blood and blood products in the United States. The Red Cross helps thousands of U.S. service members separated from their families by military duty stay connected. As part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, a global network of more than 180 national societies, the Red Cross helps restore hope and dignity to the world's most vulnerable people. An average of 91 cents of every dollar the Red Cross spends is invested in humanitarian services and programs. The Red Cross is not a government agency; it relies on donations of time, money, and blood to do its work.

About the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter:
Founded in 1917, the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter celebrates 90 years of dedicated service, providing emergency relief and preparedness training more than 410,000 times each year. The Red Cross is not a government agency and depends on the efforts of thousands of volunteers and donors to provide a wide range of community support services, including disaster relief, first aid and CPR training, water safety, services to military personnel and support for blood services. The Chapter, a United Way agency, provides programs and services to St. Louis City, St. Louis County, St. Charles County and Jefferson County in Missouri, as well as Monroe, St. Clair (including Scott Air Force Base) and part of Madison County in Illinois. All disaster relief services are provided free of charge thanks to the generosity of the American people. To learn more about Red Cross programs, volunteer opportunities, and how you can help, contact the St. Louis Area Chapter at 314.516.2800 or www.redcrossstl.org.