By Alana Mauger

September is Disaster Preparedness Month, and the American Red Cross is urging everyone to prepare for a national trend of worsening severe weather. In fact, as an organization, we have responded to nearly twice as many large disasters across the country as we did a decade ago.

As rapidly intensifying, weather-related events pose serious challenges to our humanitarian work and the people we serve, the Red Cross has announced an ambitious national plan to take urgent action. With more climate-driven disasters upending lives and devastating communities, we’re racing to adapt our services and grow our disaster response capacity across the country. At the same time, we’re funding new international programs on climate response and preparedness, as well as minimizing our own environmental footprint.

Locally in Southeastern Pennsylvania, we’re recruiting and training more Red Cross volunteers to respond both in our region and across the country. Currently, 11 of our local volunteers are deployed to assist people in Hawaii, Southern California, Washington and Florida, as well as virtually, and this summer, our volunteers have also helped people impacted by extreme weather in Guam, Texas, Vermont, Oklahoma, Mississippi and Arkansas.

For National Preparedness Month, you can individually take three lifesaving actions — get a kit, make a plan and be informed — to help protect yourself against local emergencies.Follow safety tips now at redcross.org/prepare. We also invite you to check our Red Cross Philly Blog throughout the month for a series of volunteer-written articles about specific preparedness topics.

ADAPTING TO THE CLIMATE CRISIS

In the first half of 2023 alone, the nation experienced an above-average 15 billion-dollar disasters. That’s all on top of extreme heat in communities across the U.S. — which have made July the country’s hottest single month on record. What’s more, the U.S. is just now entering its typical peak time for hurricanes and wildfires.

As extreme weather disasters increase, more people need help from the Red Cross in the U.S. As such, we’re taking bold and thoughtful actions to adapt our services and grow our capacity. For example, the Red Cross is:

• Enhancing large-scale disaster response services by bolstering the aid provided in emergency shelters and extending casework support to help people with the most recovery needs.
• Expanding financial assistance to help more families with unmet needs and bridge the gap between immediate disaster relief and long-term recovery assistance.
• Strengthening local partner networks in targeted areas that face a high risk of extreme weather and existing societal inequities with a focus on increased access to health and mental health services, nutritious food and safe housing for local families.
• Growing our disaster workforce to deepen disaster readiness. This includes fortifying the critical infrastructure and technology that enables 24/7 response to disasters across the country.

CLIMATE AND WEATHER IMPACT THE NATIONAL BLOOD SUPPLY

The Red Cross has seen a significant shortfall in blood and platelet donations over the last month, making it hard to keep pace with the need for blood products. Blood and platelet donations that go uncollected due to climate-related events, such as hurricanes, wildfires and extreme heat, can put further strain on the national blood supply. As extreme weather events are worsening, the Red Cross is seeing that translate into more blood drive cancellations. In 2022, over 1,300 blood drives were canceled due to weather — about 23% higher than the average of the prior nine years.

In thanks for helping ensure the nation’s blood supply is prepared for all emergencies, from disasters to medical emergencies, all who come to give blood, platelets or plasma Sept. 1-18 will receive a limited-edition Red Cross T-shirt, while supplies last. Those who come to give throughout September will also receive a coupon for a free haircut by email, thanks to Sport Clips Haircuts. Details are available at rcblood.org/racetogive. Donors can schedule an appointment to donate using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, by visiting RedCrossBlood.org or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).