As a result of an active year of disasters — a record number of tornadoes, the worst flooding in the Midwest in 15 years, an early wildfire season and an active hurricane season that is not yet over — the American Red Cross launched the Campaign for Disaster Relief to raise an initial $100 million to fill its depleted Disaster Relief Fund.

The Disaster Relief Fund allows the Red Cross Freeborn County Chapter to provide emergency assistance to help victims of disasters meet their immediate needs for food, shelter, counseling and other critical services. The Red Cross responds to 70,000 disasters each year — the majority of them “silent” disasters never making the news. After tragedy strikes, the Red Cross relies on this fund to mobilize volunteers and resources to help communities throughout the United States.

“The Red Cross is always there when disaster strikes, but this year has been an active disaster year and the cost of providing relief has rapidly outpaced contributions,” said Gail McGovern, American Red Cross president and CEO. “We sheltered more people during the first nights of Hurricane Gustav than the first days of Katrina. While the media has packed up and moved on, we are still there helping a large number of people.”

“The American people have always responded generously to support their neighbors during their time of need, and I urge all Americans to join together and make a contribution to the Disaster Relief Fund today. No matter how small, every donation can change a life” said Jeanie Opdahl, executive director of the Freeborn County chapter.

The Red Cross has taken every step to make its operations as cost-effective as possible including consolidating operations, relying heavily on local volunteers and partners and receiving strong logistical and commodity support from FEMA and other agencies.

Since January 2008, Red Cross volunteers have responded to thousands of house fires and more than 60 large-scale disasters — including hurricanes, floods, tornadoes and wildfires — which have steadily depleted the Disaster Relief Fund. Red Cross expenses for Hurricane Gustav alone are estimated to be as much as $70 million and the organization has only raised a fraction of what is needed to support affected families. The cost of the Hurricane Ike relief effort could easily climb higher than that.

The Red Cross Freeborn County Chapter will continue helping individuals and families battered by the 2008 storms and hurricanes: Dolly, Edouard, Fay, Gustav, Hanna and Ike.

In the interim, the Red Cross is borrowing money to cover the costs of the hurricanes of 2008. While the organization is initially striving to raise $100 million to help those in need, the Red Cross is in the midst of both hurricane and wildfire season and does not know what the future will bring.

You can help the victims of thousands of disasters across the country each year, disasters like the Hurricanes of 2008, by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. You can log-on to www.redcross.org or call 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish) to make a donation. You can also use your cell phone to donate $5 to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund by text messaging the keyword “GIVE” to “2HELP” (24357). You can send multiple donations depending on your carrier. Contributions will appear on monthly bills or be debited from a prepaid account balance. All applicable text rates apply.