2023 trends: American Red Cross responds to growing disaster-driven humanitarian needs

NEW JERSEY — In 2023, the intensifying climate crisis took a devastating toll on people in the U.S. who turned to the American Red Cross for help coping with a record number of billion-dollar disasters.

So far this year, an all-time high of 25 billion-dollar disasters ravaged communities across the country. To assist with the large disaster responses, at least 80 New Jersey volunteers were deployed for two-week periods to help those affected, officials said.

In addition, families sweltered in the nation’s hottest summer on record, including in communities that rarely experience such extreme temperatures. And back-to-back disasters led to a series of blood drive cancellations, which further strained the national Red Cross blood supply that was already dwindling from summer travel and back-to-school activities, officials said.

“The climate crisis is causing more humanitarian needs for families in New Jersey and across the country,” said Rosie Taravella, CEO, American Red Cross New Jersey Region. “This holiday season, please remember those who need support in the face of emergencies — and join us to provide care and comfort by making a financial donation or by giving blood or platelets.”

Help on GivingTuesday and during the holidays by visiting redcross.org to make a financial donation or an appointment to give blood or platelets.

Increasing support and extreme disasters

With the growing frequency and intensity of disasters driven by the climate crisis, the Red Cross is racing to adapt its services and grow its disaster response capacity across the country. As part of this national work in 2023, the Red Cross distributed $108 million in financial assistance directly to people after disasters of all sizes, including the tornadoes that touched down in New Jersey, the more than 1,000 home fires affecting more than 7,200 people in the state, and major disasters such as Hurricane Idalia, the Hawaii wildfires and a spate of tornadoes across multiple states in other parts of the country.

Across the country, the Red Cross is delivering this vital financial assistance on top of its immediate relief efforts — including safe shelter, nutritious meals and emotional support — which have been provided on a near-constant basis for this year’s relentless extreme disasters. In fact, this year’s onslaught of large disasters drove an increase in emergency lodging provided by the Red Cross with partners — with overnight stays up more than 50% compared to the annual average for the previous five years.

The Red Cross New Jersey Region is thankful for the volunteers who give of their time to help people affected by disasters across the country and those who are on call 24/7 to help families displaced by home fires throughout New Jersey.

Responding to additional emerging needs

 Beyond extreme disasters, people stepped up through the Red Cross to address other emerging needs for communities, including:

• Blood Donations: As the nation’s largest blood supplier, the Red Cross is grateful for the millions of donors who rolled up a sleeve throughout the year for patients in need. To further improve people’s health outcomes, the Red Cross has been working with community partners to introduce blood donation to a new and more diverse generation of blood donors — which is critical to ensuring that a reliable blood supply is available to the 1 in 7 hospital patients who need a lifesaving blood transfusion. The holidays can be a challenging time to collect enough blood for those in need. To book a time to give, visit RedCrossBlood.org, download the Red Cross Blood Donor App or call 1-800-RED CROSS. To celebrate the upcoming Prime Video release, Candy Cane Lane, those that come to give blood in December will be automatically entered to win a holiday prize package, including a $1,000 Amazon.com Gift Card and 65-inch Omni QLED Series Amazon Fire TV. There will be 12 winners. Plus, those who come to give Dec. 1-17 will get a $10 Amazon.com Gift Card by email. Terms for both offers apply. See rcblood.org/Amazon. Candy Cane Lane features an all-star cast, including Eddie Murphy and Tracee Ellis Ross, and directed by Reginald Hudlin.
• Lifesaving Training: This year, the Red Cross expanded its training to empower people to act during current-day crises — which is vital considering that nearly half of U.S. adults report being unprepared to respond to a medical emergency. This included launching the new “Until Help Arrives” online training course last spring for opioid overdoses, severe bleeding, cardiac arrest and choking emergencies, and partnering with professional sports leagues through the Smart Heart Sports Coalition to help prevent tragedies among student athletes by offering CPR training and increasing access to AEDs.
• Military Families: Red Cross workers helped service members on U.S. military installations and deployment sites worldwide — including in Europe, the Middle East and Southeast Asia. As part of our support this year, Red Cross volunteers delivered emergency communications messages connecting more than 87,000 service members with their loved ones during times of family need, while also engaging members in morale and wellness activities during deployments.

“The Red Cross is grateful for corporate partners in New Jersey who contribute to our work annually. They include Annual Disaster Giving Program Members: Merck; Blood Saves Lives Partner: Suburban Propane; Disaster Responder Partners: F.M. Kirby Foundation, Organon, Prudential and Reckitt; Ready 365 Platinum Members: Daiichi Sankyo, PSEG, Splat Consulting LLC, and Subaru of America; Gold Members: Brother International, Haleon, Jonalex, Novartis and Veris Residential; Silver Members: ADP, Charity Choice Gift Certificate, Lonza, Lord Abbett & Co. LLC, and Wacoal America; Bronze Members: Atlantic City Electric, Church & Dwight, Franklin Mutual Insurance, Hackensack Meridian Health, Holman, New Jersey Natural Gas, Turtle & Hughes, and Wakefern. Thanks to the generosity of these and other supporters, the Red Cross is able to bring help and hope to people in need,” the Red Cross said.

To learn more about partnership opportunities, visit redcross.org/NJ.