Go Back
  • For Business
  • |
  • Warnings
  • Data Suite
  • Forensics
  • Advertising
  • Superior Accuracy™
Flood-weary Texas finally drying out, but near 100-degree heat looms Chevron right
Tropical rainstorm soaks Florida, could strengthen in Gulf before targeting Louisiana Chevron right

Columbus, OH

89°F
Location Chevron down
Location News Videos
Use Current Location
Recent

Columbus

Ohio

89°
No results found.
Try searching for a city, zip code or point of interest.
settings
Columbus, OH Weather
Today WinterCast Local {stormName} Tracker Hourly Daily Radar MinuteCast Monthly Air Quality Health & Activities

Around the Globe

Hurricane Tracker

Severe Weather

Radar & Maps

News

News & Features

Astronomy

Business

Climate

Health

Recreation

Sports

Travel

For Business

Warnings

Data Suite

Forensics

Advertising

Superior Accuracy™

Video

Winter Center

AccuWeather Early Hurricane Center Top Stories Trending Today Astronomy Heat Climate Health Recreation In Memoriam Case Studies Blogs & Webinars

News / Weather News

American Red Cross, volunteers face 2nd massive hurricane response in the US in less than a month

By Amanda Schmidt, AccuWeather staff writer

Published Oct 12, 2018 2:47 PM EDT | Updated Jul 1, 2019 5:05 PM EDT

Copied

The American Red Cross is helping thousands of people in the Southeast after devastating Hurricane Michael slammed into the Gulf coast as the third-strongest hurricane in United States history.

This is the second massive hurricane response in the southeastern U.S. in less than a month.

Hurricane Florence battered the Carolinas in early September, sparking mass relief efforts. The Southeast is still recovering from the storm. Hundreds of those impacted by Florence in the Carolinas remain in shelters as Michael passed through the region late this week.

hurricane michael shelter ap

Earnest Sweet sits while his daughters Terri, 4, center, and Anna, 7, sleep at an evacuation shelter set up at Rutherford High School, in advance of Hurricane Michael, which is expected to make landfall today, in Panama City Beach, Fla., Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2018. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

AP

Thousands of Red Cross volunteers, working alongside partners, have served more than 1.55 million meals and snacks and distributed more than 312,700 relief items like clean-up kits, rakes, shovels, bleach, garbage bags and more to help with the massive clean-up effort in the Carolinas.

The Red Cross is on the ground along the Gulf coast to provide safe shelter and support for evacuees in the wake of Michael.

Hurricane Michael is the first Category 4 hurricane to make landfall in Florida’s Panhandle since record-keeping began in 1851.

The storm had wind speeds of 155 mph, which is strong enough to completely destroy homes and cause widespread power outages.

More than 375,000 people were under evacuation orders, and many schools and colleges are closed along with airports and ports.

Approximately 7,800 people stayed in as many as 95 Red Cross and community evacuation centers across Florida, Georgia and Alabama on Wednesday night.

RELATED:

Why you shouldn’t return home too quickly after a hurricane evacuation
Stunning images show unimaginable damage in the wake of Hurricane Michael on Florida Panhandle
By the numbers: Michael ranked as 3rd-most intense hurricane to hit continental US
How good Samaritan laws keep you from getting sued after lending a helping hand during natural disasters

“Our thoughts are with everyone impacted by this incredibly powerful storm,” Brad Kieserman, vice president of Disaster Operations and Logistics for the American Red Cross, said in a Red Cross press release. “We’re just beginning to understand the level of destruction, and we know that getting help into some of these areas will be challenging. Right now, our immediate focus is on making sure people have a safe place to stay.”

The Red Cross has mobilized more than 800 trained disaster workers to provide shelter, food, health services and emotional support to those in the affected areas.

In addition, enough shelter supplies, including cots and blankets, were pre-positioned to support some 15,000 people.

“We have hundreds of volunteers on the ground helping with shelter, helping people who needed a safe place to go, who now have a safe place to go,” Anthony Tornetta, Red Cross national spokesperson, said.

The organization is also working with partners to prepare to serve tens of thousands of meals per day. More volunteers, relief supplies, vehicles and other equipment are being mobilized now.

“We’ll be there as we go into the recovery stage as people start to return home to their areas that were impacted,” Tornetta said. “Some will be able to go home, and some will have a more challenging experience, and the Red Cross will be there to help them with that transition process.”

Hurricane Michael destruction Mexico Beach 10-11-2018

People walk amidst destruction on the main street of Mexico Beach, Fla., in the aftermath of Hurricane Michael on Thursday, Oct. 11, 2018. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

AP Photo

Ninety percent of the Red Cross are volunteers, which includes the hundreds of people who are helping those impacted.

"They are giving up being at home in the comfort of their own home with family and friends to run to the storm to help those impacted. We can’t do that without the generosity of the American public," Tornetta said.

Thousands of people look to the Red Cross for help, and the organization depends on financial donations to be able to provide disaster relief immediately.

You can help those affected by Hurricane Michael by visiting redcross.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS or texting the word MICHAEL to 90999 to make a $10 donation.

Donations enable the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from disasters.

The Red Cross also asks eligible individuals unaffected by Hurricane Michael to give blood to help meet patient needs.

The storm has forced the cancellation of dozens of blood drives, causing approximately 700 units of blood to go uncollected in Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina. More blood drive cancellations are likely, and low donor turnout is expected in the Southeast over the coming days as communities face expected storm damage and residual flooding.

Before the storm, the Red Cross already had a critical need for blood and platelet donations following Hurricane Florence. Appointments can be made by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting redcrossblood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS.

Report a Typo

Weather News

Weather News

Death toll reaches 129 in Texas as new flash flood threat expands

Jul. 13, 2025
Weather Forecasts

Flood-weary Texas finally drying out, but near 100-degree heat looms

Jul. 14, 2025
Weather News

The Deadliest Floods in Texas History: A State at Risk

Jul. 14, 2025
video

Before-and-after pictures show devastation caused by Texas floods

Jul. 9, 2025
Severe Weather

Severe weather to rumble in the central US through the holiday weekend

Jul. 6, 2025
Weather News

Record sargassum seaweed piles up on Caribbean islands, Gulf

Jul. 2, 2025
Weather News

Alabama teen in ICU after lightning strike hits boat, causing burns an...

Jul. 2, 2025
Show more Show less Chevron down

Topics

AccuWeather Early

Hurricane Center

Top Stories

Trending Today

Astronomy

Heat

Climate

Health

Recreation

In Memoriam

Case Studies

Blogs & Webinars

Top Stories

Weather Forecasts

Flood-weary Texas finally drying out, but near 100-degree heat looms

48 minutes ago

Weather News

Thunderstorms bring more flooding, evacuations to central Texas

2 hours ago

Hurricane

Tropical Rainstorm to drench Florida, Gulf Coast

37 minutes ago

Weather News

Grand Canyon fires force closures

2 hours ago

Severe Weather

Wildfire smoke may follow storms, severe weather in eastern US

1 hour ago

More Stories

Featured Stories

Astronomy

Noctilucent clouds shimmer in summer sky

1 hour ago

Recreation

Yellowstone’s landscape shifts again with discovery of new hot pool

4 hours ago

Weather News

Orcas are bringing humans gifts of food – but why?

3 days ago

Weather News

Giant shoes found spark mystery around the soldiers of ancient Rome

1 hour ago

Weather News

It’s not just humans – chimpanzees also like to follow trends

2 hours ago

AccuWeather Weather News American Red Cross, volunteers face 2nd massive hurricane response in the US in less than a month
Company
Proven Superior Accuracy About AccuWeather Digital Advertising Careers Press Contact Us
Products & Services
For Business For Partners For Advertising AccuWeather APIs AccuWeather Connect RealFeel® and RealFeel Shade™ Personal Weather Stations
Apps & Downloads
iPhone App Android App See all Apps & Downloads
Subscription Services
AccuWeather Premium AccuWeather Professional
More
AccuWeather Ready Business Health Hurricane Leisure and Recreation Severe Weather Space and Astronomy Sports Travel Weather News Winter Center
Company
Proven Superior Accuracy About AccuWeather Digital Advertising Careers Press Contact Us
Products & Services
For Business For Partners For Advertising AccuWeather APIs AccuWeather Connect RealFeel® and RealFeel Shade™ Personal Weather Stations
Apps & Downloads
iPhone App Android App See all Apps & Downloads
Subscription Services
AccuWeather Premium AccuWeather Professional
More
AccuWeather Ready Business Health Hurricane Leisure and Recreation Severe Weather Space and Astronomy Sports Travel Weather News Winter Center
© 2025 AccuWeather, Inc. "AccuWeather" and sun design are registered trademarks of AccuWeather, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy | About Your Privacy Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information

...

...

...