Red Cross Director rejoins hurricane relief effort

Findlay, OH, January 6, 2023 - Todd James, Executive Director of the American Red Cross of North Central Ohio is rejoining the ongoing Hurricanes Ian and Nicole relief operation in Florida.

James will be serving as the Assistant Director of External Relations, helping coordinate efforts with local, state and federal partners in assisting families affected by storm with their ongoing recovery needs. This is James’ second deployment to Florida for this event. In October he served as the Public Affairs Chief for the relief operation.

Months after Hurricanes Ian and Nicole devastated Florida, Red Cross disaster workers are still on the ground there, making it possible to provide recovery assistance to people impacted by these massive, destructive storms.

Relief organizations, including the Red Cross, are striving to help people who don’t have homes to return to and our workers are connecting with people still in shelters to help them plan for the future and make housing arrangements.

These arrangements will look different for each person. For example, some people may choose to live with friends or family while they rebuild. Others will move into new apartments. And some will be helped through transitional sheltering or other housing programs offered by government agencies and other community organizations. Depending on the circumstances, this may include financial assistance.

Red Cross teams have completed nearly 240,000 door-to-door detailed residential assessments, including how many homes have been affected and the extent of that damage. This is one of the largest damage assessments the Red Cross has ever undertaken.

Since shelters were opened for this disaster, the Red Cross and our partners have provided more than 60,000 overnight stays for more than 6,800 residents in more than 85 emergency shelters.

With the help of partners, the Red Cross has provided more than 1.7 million meals and snacks. We have also distributed more than 404,000 relief items including comfort kits and other supplies.

Currently, there are more than 100 trained Red Cross disaster workers still on the ground making it possible to provide recovery assistance to Floridians. Since September 23, the operations have been supported by more than 3,500 trained Red Cross disaster workers.

You can help people affected by disasters like storms and countless other crises by making a gift to Red Cross Disaster Relief.

Your gift enables the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from disasters big and small. Visit redcross. org, call 800-REDCROSS (800-7332767), or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.

About the American

Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-forprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross. org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @Redcross. About the Northern

Ohio Region:

The Northern Ohio Region of the American Red Cross serves 31 counties and their 5.3 million residents by preventing, preparing for and responding to emergencies 24 hours per day, seven days a week. Subscribe to our blog at nohredcross. org, find us at Facebook. com/nohredcross, on Instagram at Instagram.com/ nohredcross, at Linkedin.com/in/ nohredcross, and follow us @Redcrossnoh on Twitter.