SUPERSTORM SANDY: One Month Update

SUPERSTORM SANDY ONE MONTH UPDATE 2

A Message from the Red Cross President and CEOHurricane Sandy was a major storm that impacted an area the size of Europe and caused a tremendous amount of destruction across New York, New Jersey and other states. The American Red Cross has responded with what is our biggest U.S. disaster response in more than five years, and we are incredibly grateful for the generous support of so many donors and volunteers as well as government and non-profit partners across the country that enable us to help the survivors of this storm. Through this support, we have accomplished much. But there is still work to be done, and we will be there to help.

I grew up and spent much of my life in the New York/New Jersey area, and I have been to the affected areas five times in the first weeks since the storm.

In my more than four-and-a-half years at the Red Cross, I’m no stranger to disasters, whether tornadoes, floods, earthquakes or hurricanes. But what struck me was the massiveness of it, the miles and miles of devastation that just seemed endless. Boats lifted over homes. Washing machines in the middle of the street. And so much trash—boxes, furniture, mementos and precious memories of families—piled up along the curb as far as the eye can see.

This also is the first time I’ve seen a hurricane response during cold weather, as the late-October Sandy was quickly followed by a nor’easter that dumped snow and brought frigid temperatures to people already struggling without power. I saw many people with Red Cross blankets wrapped around them or wearing the gloves from our cleanup kits to keep their hands warm.

I met many people who wanted simply to tell me their stories—a woman who had moved here from another country and who lost everything; a woman in a shelter who was worried about her home; a man on Staten Island who didn’t know why his home was spared when the homes of his neighbors were demolished. Sharing these experiences is part of the healing process. I was also struck by the determination of individuals to start over, rebuild, and power through their loss.

Every time there is a need, the American public steps up. Our citizens open their hearts to volunteer to provide comfort and hope; they reach into their wallets to provide financial support; and they even open their veins to donate blood to save the lives of complete strangers.

Because of our generous donors and volunteers, we are carrying out a major response with more than 14,400 people—90 percent of them volunteers from all 50 states—providing shelter, food, water, supplies and comfort to families impacted by the storm. My heart fills with pride for these Red Cross workers, who seem tireless even as they work in shelters, distribute meals and supplies or listen to someone in need.

The Red Cross has given help and hope for weeks already, and we will continue to do so for weeks and months to come. We believe our relief operations are going to cost well over $110 million and could go higher depending on the needs. We are going to honor the wishes of our donors, and after the emergency relief part of work, we will use any remaining donations for Sandy to meet the longer-term needs of communities affected by this disaster. We are committed to being good stewards of your contributions.

On behalf of the entire Red Cross and the people who we serve, we deeply appreciate your tremendous generosity.

Gail McGovern

SUPERSTORM SANDY ONE MONTH UPDATE 3

In Advance of the StormThe 2012 hurricane season had one last blow when weather reports warned of a tropical storm—Sandy—forming during the last week of October, just one month before the official end of the hurricane season on November 30. The threat heightened as forecasts of a “superstorm” arose, with the chance of a devastating storm surge exacerbated by high tides from the coinciding full moon, and the possibility of the tropical storm colliding with a cold front. Experts were predicting massive flooding in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast and heavy snow in West Virginia.

As meteorologists tracked the path of the strengthening storm, schools and federal and local governments closed, major airports shut down, AMTRAK stopped service, roads closed and public transportation was halted—all in anticipation of Sandy’s wind, rain and waves.

In the days leading up to the storm’s landfall, the Red Cross identified shelters, readied supplies, and mobilized emergency response vehicles and relief workers. The Red Cross coordi-nated with federal, state and local governments as well as other nonprofits to help threatened communities brace for impact.

To help people get ready, the Red Cross encouraged those in the path of the storm to follow the advice of local officials and prepare. They were urged to download our free Hurricane app for smart phones, which launched in August 2012. The app helps users find the nearest shelter locations, receive weather alerts and preparedness tips, and post a “safe and well” mes-sage to let loved ones know they’re out of harm’s way.

Because the Red Cross is prepared to respond to disasters throughout the year, we had shelters open for people ahead of the storm, warehouses stocked with shelf-stable meals and supplies, and emergency vehicles ready to deploy.

Timeline of Red Cross Response

OCTOBER 22

A tropical depres-sion forms in the southern Caribbean Sea; the depression later strengthens and becomes Tropical Storm Sandy.

OCTOBER 24

Sandy becomes a Category 1 hurricane; triggers flooding, mudslides, injuries and deaths in Cuba, Haiti and Jamaica. The Red Cross issues the first of many disaster alerts.

OCTOBER 25

The Red Cross begins to mobilize workers, shelters and supplies, preparing for Sandy’s impact.

OCTOBER 28

Sandy moves northeast along the East Coast, on a collision course with a high-pressure cold front. More than 190 shelters open, sheltering more than 4,600 residents.

OCTOBER 27

Sandy makes a turn to the northeast off the coast of Florida. Six shelters open in North Carolina and Virginia.

OCTOBER 29

12:30 PM

Sandy makes a northwest turn to-ward the coast of New Jersey. Red Cross operations are established across 11 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.

Total number of shelters includes both Red Cross and independent shelters

Food and ShelterThe Red Cross opens shelters to en-sure people have a safe place to stay before, during and after the storm. The Red Cross serves meals at shelters, as well as from emergency response vehicles moving through neighborhoods and fixed feeding sites in affected communities.

Relief ItemsThe Red Cross distributes a range of relief items including comfort kits with hygiene items like toothbrushes and toothpaste, cleaning supplies, flashlights, batteries, trash bags, cold-weather essentials (gloves, blankets, hand-warmers) and shovels.

Disaster Vehicles, Equipment and WarehousesRed Cross workers drive through neighborhoods to distribute water, food and relief supplies in more than 300 feeding trucks as well as rental

cars, trucks and other vehicles. This also includes costs associated with warehousing, fleet management, fuel and other necessities.

Physical and Mental Health ServicesThe Red Cross provides physical and emotional support services to clients including first aid and replacement of prescription medicines.

Individual Casework and AssistanceRed Cross caseworkers meet with individuals affected by disaster to offer assistance, identify special needs and help them plan their long-term recovery. Assistance can include groceries, clothing, lodging and other aid to help a family get back on its feet.

RED CROSS SUPERSTORM SANDY RESPONSE*Estimated Expenses through December 31 $110M (in thousands)

Food and Shelter$72,950 66.3%

Relief Items$30,000 27.3%

Disaster Vehicles, Equipment and Warehouses$3,000 2.7%

Physical and Mental Health Services$2,200 2.0%

Individual Casework and Assistance$1,850 1.7%

Food and Shelter$72,950 66.3%

Relief Items$30,000 27.3%

*An average of 91 cents of every dollar the Red Cross spends is invested in humanitarian services and programs.

SUPERSTORM SANDY ONE MONTH UPDATE 4

LandfallThe record-breaking storm made landfall on October 29, around 8 p.m., south of Atlantic City, N.J., bringing 80 mph winds that downed trees and power lines, heavy rainfall, flooding, and a destructive storm surge, which devastated the Jersey coastline. In West Virginia, the storm brought blizzard-like conditions, with snowfall up to several feet in mountainous regions.

In New York City, a nearly 14-foot storm surge swamped Battery Park, causing lower Manhattan to flood and triggering widespread power outages. New York University Hospital, Belleville Hospital and a few others evacuated hundreds of patients to safer facilities after losing power and backup generators failed. City tunnels and the New York subway flooded and were inaccessible—forcing the New York City public transportation system to close for the second time in history. City bridges remained impassable. The New York Stock Exchange shut down for two consecutive days—only the second time since 1888.

Hoboken, N.J., and Staten Island and Long Island, N.Y., as well as other New Jersey and New York communities, experienced severe flooding, while towns such as Long Beach, N.Y., were left underwater. Hundreds were forced to evacuate as flash floods rushed through the streets in Toms River and Ocean City, N.J., and other barrier island communities. Pieces of the iconic boardwalks of Atlantic City, N.J., and Seaside Heights, N.J., were washed into the sea.

Sandy left more than 8 million East Coast residents without power, some of them for weeks; this became particularly dangerous as temperatures dropped to near freezing after a nor’easter blew through the already crippled area. Tens of thousands of people were left homeless from the storm’s impact. Cars waited in miles-long lines to get gas in affected regions, and very few grocery stores and restaurants remained open in devastated areas. President Obama issued emergency declarations for 11 states affected by the storm: Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia and West Virginia, as well as the District of Columbia.

Timeline of Red Cross Response

OCTOBER 29

8:00 PM

Sandy makes landfall near Atlantic City, N.J. Red Cross workers are staged or embedded in more than 20 locations.

NOVEMBER 7

A nor’easter strikes, bringing chilly tem-peratures along with wind, rain and snow to the same areas still reeling from Sandy.

NOVEMBER 1

More than 14,300 residents stayed in shelters, and more than 215,000 meals and snacks have been served.

NOVEMBER 8 - PRESENT

The Red Cross relief operation—meals, shelters, supply distribution—continues in full force.

OCTOBER 30

Sandy moves away from New York, losing strength as it moves over Pennsylvania.

OCTOBER 31

The Red Cross moves kitchens and supplies into affected areas. More than 160,000 meals and snacks have been provided.

Red Cross volunteer Jasmine Graves applies Halloween costume makeup to shelter resident Brian Corrasco, age 10, so he and the other children at the shelter can still celebrate Halloween despite the storm.

Candice Haugland and her nieces, eight-year-old Amy Hoopingarner and two-month-old Nora Remington, settle in at the Red Cross shelter in the Pine Belt Arena in Toms River, N.J.

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Total number of shelters includes both Red Cross and independent shelters

SUPERSTORM SANDY ONE MONTH UPDATE 5

The Red Cross Response Bolstered by the public’s compassion and generosity, the Red Cross began to offer respite and comfort as Sandy’s devastating reality became evident.

Affecting the East Coast from North Carolina to Rhode Island, as well as Puerto Rico, Sandy hampered movement across the region as the storm hit—a situation the Red Cross faced as we positioned workers, opened shelters and readied supplies. In the response’s first days, while overcoming challenges like flooded roads, closed bridges and tunnels, and gas shortages, Red Cross workers fanned out across the region, providing food, shelter, cleanup supplies, hygiene kits with items such as shampoo, soap and toothbrushes, and emotional comfort. And when a nor’easter struck in early November, we reinforced our efforts, determined to give help as Mother Nature targeted the area again.

Allied with more than 50 national partners, the Canadian Red Cross and the Mexican Red Cross, local and federal governments, and community volunteers, the American Red Cross has provided crucial relief services to countless people since Sandy hit. More than 14,400 Red Cross workers have converged on the East Coast, providing the care that is our organization’s heartfelt promise to the country.

More than 300 emergency response vehicles, and additional rental cars, trucks and other vehicles, have been deployed, delivering meals, bottled water, supplies and a helping hand to neighborhoods on the Eastern Seaboard. As of November 27, four weeks after landfall, the Red Cross has distributed more than 7.4 million meals and snacks, while we’ve provided approximately 86,800 health and mental health consultations to people living in difficult conditions following Sandy.

The concrete aspects of our efforts—the meals, supplies, shelter, and day-to-day necessities—give rise to an immeasur-able but important key to recovery: hope.

Children evacuated from their homes were able to trick-or-treat in a Red Cross shelter. During Thanksgiving week, we delivered approximately 20,000 boxes of food in New York filled with canned sweet potatoes, green beans and corn, and packages of mashed potatoes and rice. On the holiday, communities in New Jersey and New York received 40,000 hot Thanksgiving meals, prepared by the Southern Baptist Convention and delivered by Red Cross workers.

Despite the devastation, the determination to celebrate these cherished holidays offers the expectation that recovery is the next step communities will take in Sandy’s wake. The Red Cross is committed to ensuring this hope perseveres. It is our goal that individuals, families and communities will not only gather momentum toward recovery, but that they will emerge stronger and more resilient.

To view our video, Hurricane Sandy: One Month Out, on the Red Cross response to date, please click here.

Social Media in ActionRed Cross social media played a tremendous role in our response, as Red Crossers monitored and engaged in social media to provide preparedness and safety information ahead of the storm and then provided information on where people could get help. More than 20 trained digital volunteers put in 300 hours engaging people affected by Sandy. After the storm passed, digital volunteers pushed out locations of emergency response ve-hicles and fixed feeding sites, posting the infor-mation to the Red Cross Disaster Newsroom and Facebook or tweeting it to followers on Twitter. Ongoing monitoring of tweets and other social media posts from those affected also helped the Red Cross get assistance to communities in need.

SUPERSTORM SANDY ONE MONTH UPDATE 6

Looking to the FutureThe Red Cross is still in the emergency phase of our response to Sandy and continues to provide food, shelter, supplies and other help—we will be involved in these efforts for weeks and months to come.

At the same time, the Red Cross is working with communities to determine unmet needs and how we can meet them—something we will continue into the recovery process. Any funds donated for Sandy beyond what is needed for emergency relief will be put to use serving the long-term needs of communities affected by this disaster. The Red Cross is developing specific plans that will include a comprehensive needs assessment of the affected com-munities and individuals. These plans will also identify resources available from both the Red Cross and other organizations.

Experienced Red Cross workers can help survivors navigate the recovery process, linking them to resources vital to recovery. This assistance can include connecting people with existing

social service programs in their community, helping them com-plete forms for assistance or claims, getting them counseling, identifying child care resources, helping them find new housing, or providing a connection to legal assistance if they are dealing with a landlord or contractor. Red Cross workers can also help people find new, Sandy-specific recovery programs.

Recognizing that each community will have different needs, and different groups working to meet them, the role of the Red Cross will be determined by these local needs. What’s crucial is that there is community collaboration and cooperation to ensure that longer-term help reaches people who need it.

As of November 27, generous donors to the American Red Cross have given nearly $170 million, which has helped fuel our relief efforts, and will continue to aid us in meeting the needs that arise during recovery.

Thank YouImagine fleeing as floodwaters rush into your home. Or having no heat to warm your house as temperatures drop. Imagine not knowing where to turn to find your family a safe place to sleep and a nourishing meal. And then coming home to find your belongings waterlogged and destroyed. Millions of people in New Jersey, New York and other affected areas experienced these heartbreaking moments after Sandy.

In times of despair, as in the aftermath of Sandy, the Red Cross offers food, shelter, supplies, comfort and other lifesaving services thanks to the generosity of our donors. The trusted Red Cross symbol you see on a passing emergency response vehicle, on the vest of a smiling Red Cross worker, or stamped on a box of cleanup supplies lets people know they aren’t

alone—that they have the support of the Red Cross and the American public to bolster them on the road to recovery.

In addition to an event like Sandy, the American Red Cross spends an average of more than $360 million every year, preparing for and responding to disasters across the country and around the world. This includes the costs to feed, shelter, distribute supplies and provide other types of support to the victims of nearly 70,000 disasters each year. And this is driven by the remarkable generosity of our donors.

Thank you again for empowering the Red Cross to provide a compassionate response to alleviate suffering in the wake of this superstorm.