Record-breaking disasters across the U.S.

2018 was another year marked by record-breaking disasters across the U.S., with millions of people turning to the American Red Cross for help in their darkest hours. Time and again, we called on our community for support, and you answered generously with gifts of time, money, and blood.

Red Cross volunteers from the Capital Region played a critical role in responding to local and national disasters alike. From Hurricanes Florence and Michael, to the devastating California wildfires, to the tragic limousine accident in Schoharie, local volunteers were on the frontlines offering comfort and hope in the face of heartbreak.

Home fires were the emergency we responded to most frequently in 2018. More than 800 families across our region experienced home fires this year, at a rate of more than one fire a day. That’s why in addition to providing immediate assistance to families affected by fires, we visited nearly 2,500 homes and installed nearly 6,000 free smoke alarms to help end home fire tragedies in our community. Troy continues to be a high priority area for our smoke alarm installs.

As 2018 draws to a close, and I look back on another year of incredible work made possible by our generous donors and volunteers, I simply want to say thank you. The Red Cross delivers help and hope 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and we couldn’t do it without you.

Please visit redcross.org/ eny to learn more about our work in 2018 and see how you can get more involved in 2019. Thank you, and happy holidays!

Gary Striar Regional Chief Executive

Officer American Red Cross Eastern New York Region