With all eyes on Hurricane Irma as it makes it’s way over the Caribbean and heading straight for Florida over the next few days, the Canadian Red Cross has launched a donation appeal in response to the most powerful Atlantic hurricane on record.
The Red Cross is providing emergency assistance as Irma and asking Canadians for financial donations to support disaster relief operations in affected countries. It’s estimated that more than 31 million people will be impacted along Irma’s path through the Caribbean and then into Florida by mid-day on Saturday.
Atlantic Canadians wishing to help can now make a donation to the Hurricane Irma appeal either online at redcross.ca, or by calling 1-800-418-1111, or by contacting any Canadian Red Cross office.
The Canadian Red Cross has a presence in the area including through ongoing support to Haiti, and as a contributor to an international Red Cross stockpile of humanitarian aid items warehoused strategically in Panama to be within easy flight reach of countries throughout the Caribbean and Central America. It’s also now coordinating with the International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC) which supports the mobilization of regional Red Cross teams.
The Canadian Red Cross also has trained disaster responders and other resources including an emergency field hospital that could be deployed from Canada.