Hurricane Sandy Relief Information

American Red Cross

12/11/12, Submitted by Mary Elizabeth Cisneros - VP and Deputy General Counsel

Q 1:   What is the approximate dollar amount of donations and pledges that
          your organization has received to date in response to Hurricane Sandy?

A 1:    The American Red Cross has received approximately $188 million in donations and
          pledges as of December 10, 2012.

Q 2:   Will these funds be used solely for Hurricane Sandy relief? If not,
          approximately what portion will be used for Hurricane Sandy relief and
          what other purposes will funds be used for?

A 2:    After the emergency relief part of our work is complete, we will use any remaining
          donations for Sandy to meet the longer-term needs of the affected communities.  An
          average of 91 cents of every dollar the Red Cross spends is invested in humanitarian
          services and programs.

Q 3:   Approximately how much has your organization spent to date on Hurricane
          Sandy relief?

A 3:    The Red Cross relief operations across 11 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto
          Rico will cost an estimated $110 million by the end of December 2012.

Q 4:   What services has your organization provided to those affected by Hurricane
          Sandy? What populations or geographical areas are being served by your
          organization in response to Hurricane Sandy? What services does it expect to
          provide in the future?

A 4:    As of December 10, 2012, the Red Cross has served more than 8.7 million meals and
          snacks, and provided over 98,000 health services and emotional support contacts to
          people affected by Sandy in 11 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.  The
          Red Cross has also distributed more than 6.5 million relief items, and activated more
          than 300 response vehicles.  Since Sandy hit, the Red Cross has provided more than
          81,000 shelter stays and supported additional shelters operated by states and local
          municipalities throughout the Sandy-affected states and areas. 
 
          While the Red Cross is still in the emergency relief part of our response, we are
          planning to provide services in the future to serve the long-term needs of communities
          and individuals affected by this disaster. We are working with communities, FEMA and
          HUD Secretary Donovan, Chair of the Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding Task Force, to plan
          recovery activities and determine where those needs are greatest, and how the Red
          Cross can assist in meeting those needs.

Q 5:   Has your organization provided funding to other organizations for Hurricane
          Sandy relief efforts? If so, which organizations have received those funds
          and what is the approximate dollar amount provided to them? How does
          your organization determine the need for funding?

A 5:    We usually do not provide funding to other organizations during the emergency relief
          phase because we are focused on delivering services to the affected individuals. 
          However, due to the extraordinary needs of Hurricane Sandy, we have funded other
          organizations.  
 
          The determination for funding a partner organization is mostly driven by client need. 
          For example, the Red Cross provided approximately $205,000 to Feeding America, with
          whom we worked on a large food distribution program in the emergency relief phase
          because our clients needed food.   In response to our offer to provide funding to
          local groups supplying Thanksgiving meals, we have received sixty-eight requests for
          reimbursement.  We are in the process of tabulating and finalizing the expenses from
          these organizations.

Q 6:   Has your organization provided, or does it intend to provide, direct financial
          assistance to individuals, families or businesses for Hurricane Sandy relief?
          If so, what is the approximate dollar amount that your organization
          has provided to date and approximately how much direct financial assistance
          does it expect to provide in the future? How does your organization
          determine the need for assistance?

A 6:    The Red Cross usually only provides financial assistance in the case of smaller
          disasters, where emergency cash assistance from the Red Cross is the only financial
          resource available, and is done on a case-by-case basis. 
 
          In a large disaster such as this, FEMA, the Small Business Administration and other
          government agencies are providing financial assistance to people and businesses and
          the Red Cross is encouraging those affected to apply with those agencies.  Partnering
          with government agencies such as FEMA and other groups, we will identify victims with
          long-term needs and work with multiple resources in the community to build an
          individual recovery plan for them. This plan could include funding to help in the
          recovery process.
 
          Nonetheless, the Red Cross is providing some limited financial assistance during its
          emergency relief phase.  In response to a request from the City of New York, the Red
          Cross has provided $192,000 in financial assistance to clients in the New York City
          hotel program to buy food.  The Red Cross has also provided limited financial
          assistance, $81,281, to people in the states and areas affected by Sandy with verified
          health or mental health needs caused or exacerbated by the storm and for funeral
          costs.  
 
          To determine the need for assistance, Red Cross case workers meet with these clients
          to verify that they have needs directly caused by the disaster, to evaluate if they
          can access resources from other agencies and to verify that they lived in storm
          affected areas.

Q 7:   Does your organization have a plan in place on how to use any surplus funds
          not spent for Hurricane Sandy relief? If so, please describe that plan.

A 7:    The Red Cross will honor the wishes of our donors, and after the emergency relief
          phase is completed, we will use any remaining donations for Sandy to assist with the
          greatest longer-term needs for individuals affected by this disaster.
 
          We are actively working to determine how the Red Cross can help meet those longer-term
          needs.  We are developing specific plans by working with FEMA, HUD Secretary Donovan,
          Chair of the Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding Task Force, and the impacted communities.  The
          plans will also identify resources available from both Red Cross and other
          organizations, such as government agencies and other relief groups, to help with
          recovery.

Q 8:   Will all donations received via text message since October 29, 2012 be used
          solely for Hurricane Sandy relief? If not, please explain how such funds will
          be used.

A 8:    As with all donations, after the emergency relief part of our work is complete, we
          will use any remaining text message donations for Sandy to meet the longer-term needs
          of the affected communities.   An average of 91 cents of every dollar the Red Cross
          spends is invested in humanitarian services and programs.

Q 9:   Will all donations and pledges made through the November 2, 2012 telethon
          sponsored by NBC Universal be used solely for Hurricane Sandy relief?
          If not, please explain how such funds will be used.

A 9:    All donations and pledges made through the November 2, 2012 telethon sponsored by NBC
          Universal will be used solely for Hurricane Sandy relief and recovery.  An average of
          91 cents of every dollar the Red Cross spends is invested in humanitarian services and
          programs.

Q10:  Will the American Red Cross be providing any long-term assistance to victims
          of Hurricane Sandy, i.e. services beyond the distribution of meals and emergency
          relief supplies and the provision of emergency shelter? If so, please describe
          the assistance.

A10:   Yes.  Please responses to questions 4 and 7.

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