In a second consecutive year of record-breaking disasters, millions of people from coast to coast turned to the American Red Cross for shelter, food and comfort.

Thanks to dedication of volunteers and the generosity of donors the American Red Cross was able to help residents affected by massive wildfires that scorched more than 8.5 million acres nationwide, assist relief for communities devastated by six major hurricanes across nine states and U.S. territories, and provide crisis counseling and other support to communities affected by six tragic shootings, including those in Parkland, Florida, Pittsburgh and Thousand Oaks, California.

“When disasters upend lives, Red Cross volunteers from our community answer the call to help—all while continuing to provide relief and comfort for neighbors devastated by home fires and other emergencies each day. Every eight minutes, the Red Cross responds to a disaster in the U.S., and generous support ensures that we’re there to help people get back on their feet, no matter the size of the crisis.”
~ Keith Rhodes, CEO, American Red Cross North Texas

Nearly 2,300 volunteers supported all lines of Red Cross North Texas business by donating 140,000 hours of their time since Jan. 1, 2018. this includes 181 local volunteers who deployed to help people affected by 25 disasters nationwide. Volunteers support disaster relief; preparedness; services to members of the military, veterans and their families; biomedical services; special events; business operations and more.

LARGE DISASTER RESPONSE

In the face of large crises this year, the Red Cross mobilized more than 14,000 disaster workers—90 percent volunteers—to provide:

• More than 8.2 million meals and snacks with partners
• More than 2.2 million relief items
• More than 290,000 overnight shelter stays at Red Cross and partner shelters
• More than 188,000 health and mental health contacts

The Red Cross provided recovery support for tens of thousands of households rebuilding their lives by connecting them with community resources, helping create recovery plans or providing financial and other assistance. In the North Texas Region, Red Cross volunteers worked tirelessly to help neighbors devastated by hundreds of home fires and severe weather events.

HOME FIRES RESPONSE

Home fires are the nation’s most frequent disaster, accounting for the vast majority of disasters that the Red Cross responds to in the U.S. This year, the Red Cross has provided recovery support for more than 73,000 households affected by home fires across the country. Locally, we responded to nearly 1,800 home fires.

Families face an increased risk of fire from heating equipment, decorations and cooking during the holidays and winter months. The Red Cross works to keep people safe through their Home Fire Campaign, which has reached more than 1.6 million people and saved at least 474 lives nationwide since it launched in October 2014.

With generous support and local partners, Red Cross volunteers go door-to-door to install free smoke alarms and help families create home fire escape plans. So far in 2018, the North Texas Region has:

• Installed more than 7,013 smoke alarms
• Reached more than 2,243 youth through preparedness programs
• Made more than 2,767 homes safer through home fire safety visits

RECONNECTING LOVED ONES

In 2018, the Red Cross helped reconnect more than 12,000 loved ones after being separated by disasters and humanitarian crises worldwide. Following disasters in the U.S., the Red Cross helped reconnect more than 3,000 people. Internationally, the American Red Cross helped reconnect nearly 9,200 family members who were separated by international conflict, disaster or migration.

HELPING AROUND THE WORLD

As part of the world’s largest humanitarian network, the Red Cross aids people impacted by disasters and humanitarian crises all over the world. This year, the Red Cross responded to 20 disasters around the globe—including a tsunami in Indonesia and a volcano eruption in Guatemala. We deployed emergency responders to disaster zones in seven countries and sent humanitarian aid to more than 18 countries, including cash assistance, lifesaving supplies and trained disaster responders.

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Special thanks to our incredible donors who make the
Red Cross mission possible.

READY 365 PARTNERS

ANNUAL DISASTER GIVING PARTNERS

DISASTER RESPONSE PARTNERS

To learn how you can support the mission of the Red Cross through a gift of time, money or blood, visit redcross.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.