Because of the generosity of donors, people in Haiti will receive more than immediate relief -- they will receive resources, support and training from the Red Cross that will help them recover and rebuild in the years to come.
The American Red Cross has spent or committed $80 million to meet the most urgent needs of earthquake survivors. This funding is aimed at immediate relief with 69% of the funds spent or committed by the Red Cross have been for food and water; 20% have been for shelter; and 11% for health and family services.
If you are interested in donating to the relief effort in Haiti please contact our office at (530) 662-4669, or you can text "Haiti" to 90999 on your cell phone for a donation of $10. So far $32 million has been raised through text messages and over $255 million has been donated nationally (as of February 10, 2010)!
For inquiries about relatives living and who have citizenship in Haiti, please be patient and call repeatedly until the lines clear or contact other family members who live nearby. Telephone, Internet and other communication lines are often disrupted in times of disaster. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has set up a website which enables people in Haiti and outside the country to search for and register the names of relatives missing since the earthquake. In the first twenty-four hours, more than 6,000 people have been registered. To register on the ICRC's website go to FAMILYLINK.
People trying to locate U.S. citizens living or traveling in Haiti should contact the U.S. Department of State, Office of Overseas Citizens Services, at 1-888-407-4747 or (202) 647-5225.
If you are interested in learning more about our local disaster preparedness and relief efforts please join us for a class, join our DAT Team or contact our Emergency Services Director, Katie Kelsh at emergencyservices@yc-arc.org. Please visit our Disaster Services page.
