All SC American Red Cross Shelters Have Closed

Statement from the American Red Cross:
American Red Cross Announces All Red Cross Shelters are closed as evacuees
Affected by Tropical Storm Hanna Return Home

Statewide, September 6, 2008 – The American Red Cross in partnership with local and state governments have made the determination to close all Red Cross shelters as the individuals and families who evacuated the South Carolina coast due to Tropical Storm Hanna have returned home.

At their peak, the 22 Red Cross shelters housed and cared for 467 evacuees and provided over 1400 meals and snacks. 

Now, as Hurricane Ike steams ever closer to the Gulf Coast, the American Red Cross is readying for relief operations there.  2,500 new Red Cross volunteers and staff have received the call, are packing their bags and getting ready to deploy to join other pre-positioned relief volunteers already in the area.

Though Red Cross disaster relief is free to the victims of disaster, it has a cost and the Red Cross needs your help to support the thousands of disasters across the country each year.  Your financial donation enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to victims of disaster. The American Red Cross honors donor intent. To support the work of the American Red Cross this hurricane season, designate your contribution to Hurricane Season 2008 or Disaster Relief Fund. Call 1-800-REDCROSS or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Contributions to the Disaster Relief Fund may be sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. Internet users can make a secure online contribution by visiting http://www.redcross.org.