American Red Cross on 2024 trends: Extreme weather creates massive humanitarian needs amid nonstop disaster responses

NEW JERSEY — In 2024, the climate crisis mounted an overwhelming toll on people in New Jersey and the U.S., who relied on the American Red Cross for relief and care as they faced the country’s second-highest number of billion-dollar disasters ever recorded.

This year’s 24 major climate and weather events — each with losses exceeding $1 billion — are topped only by last year’s record-breaking 28. To help, nearly 100 Red Cross volunteers from New Jersey have been part of teams responding nonstop to provide shelter, food and other assistance to tens of thousands of people reeling from this year’s hurricanes, storms, floods and wildfires — all while Red Cross volunteers continued to care for families affected by disasters like flooding and home fires in New Jersey.

“I’ve seen the devastation that disasters have caused families this year — and the climate crisis shows no signs of slowing down,” said Rosie Taravella, CEO, American Red Cross New Jersey Region. “Through it all, our volunteers continue to step up to help others. We are extremely thankful for their donation of time and their compassion. Please join us by making a donation of any size or rolling up a sleeve to give blood.”

This GivingTuesday and holiday season, visit redcross.org to make a financial donation or an appointment to give blood or platelets. Individuals can also give the gift of time through volunteering.

Nationally, the scope of disasters increased this year’s demand for necessities like food and emergency lodging — which both exceeded the annual average for the past five years. In fact, this year’s more than 7 million meals and snacks, served by Red Cross volunteers, nearly tripled that average.

This year, the Red Cross addressed people’s urgent needs in other ways too:

• Blood Donations: Millions of blood donors nationwide, including in New Jersey, helped overcome a significant number of blood drive cancellations due to the country’s severe weather and heat. This support was critical because as the nation’s largest blood supplier, the Red Cross helped ensure patients continued accessing lifesaving treatment during major disasters by pre-positioning blood products near areas likely to be impacted — including in Georgia and Florida for Hurricane Helene and in Florida again just days later for Hurricane Milton. To celebrate 30 years of FRIENDS, all who come to give blood or platelets Nov. 18-Dec. 8 will receive two pairs of custom FRIENDS + Red Cross socks, while supplies last, in partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products. See RedCrossBlood.org/Friends for details.
• Lifesaving Training: With emergency rooms experiencing a spike in heat illness visits amid the country’s extreme temperatures, Red Cross instructors empowered millions of people — including more than 84,300 in New Jersey — this year with vital first aid, CPR and AED skills to help them prevent and respond to heat stroke and heat exhaustion.
• Military Families: Through our 24/7, global Hero Care Network, local Red Cross workers supported military members, veterans and their families in New Jersey this year through more than 8,600 services, such as connecting deployed service members and loved ones during family emergencies.