Release:

ATLANTA, September 18, 2020 — As the stormy remnants of Hurricane Sally moved through Georgia today, causing scattered flooding and tree damage to homes across the state, teams of Red Cross disaster volunteers mobilized quickly to help neighbors in need. At this time, more than 40 Georgia families have turned to the Red Cross for essentials such as temporary lodging, food, clothing, personal items and health and emotional support. This number may grow as the full extent of damage is not yet known.

One particularly hard-hit area was Leisure Lake Drive in Warner Robins, where 38 units of the Castaways Apartments had water damage and volunteers met one-on-one with affected residents to aid. The Red Cross will continue to work closely with emergency partners to monitor rising rivers and streams which could cause additional flooding problems for people over the next several days.

At the same time, more than a dozen Red Cross disaster workers from Georgia have already deployed to help with Sally relief efforts in the devastated North Florida Panhandle and Alabama Gulf Coast, including Georgia Red Cross CEO Jennifer Pipa, who is leading the Florida response. Tens of thousands of people there are dealing with storm damage and massive flooding that will likely continue through the weekend. The Red Cross is working in coordination with government officials and community partners to help residents with emergency sheltering, food and other essentials.

Red Cross Hurricane Sally relief efforts join those already in progress following historic wildfires out west and recent Hurricane Laura in Louisiana and east Texas. Last night, the Red Cross and partners cared for nearly 24,000 people in emergency lodgings across seven states. Together, we have served more than 1.2 million meals and snacks and distributed nearly 190,000 relief items to date.

How People Can Help

Thousands of people are depending on the Red Cross for support right now. You can help by donating or becoming a volunteer:

• Visit www.redcross.org/donate, call 800-RED-CROSS or text the word HURRICANES to 90999 to make a $10 donation.
• Donations enable the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from these disasters. This includes providing food, shelter, relief supplies, emotional support and other assistance.
• If you have the time, you can make a significant impact as a Red Cross volunteer. Review our most urgently needed volunteer positions at redcross.org/volunteertoday.