Red Cross Prepares for Additional Flooding in New Jersey

NJ Disaster Relief Operation Headquarters 1 Silverline Drive North Brunswick, NJ 08902 www.redcross.org	Contact:	Aaron Litwin, 415-608-1970 LitwinA@usa.redcross.org or Eric Gordon, 240-888-6391 GordonE2@usa.redcross.org

NORTH BRUNSWICK, NJ, March 29, 2010 – The American Red Cross is preparing for potential flooding from heavy rains predicted to fall today and tomorrow. Recent storms caused flooding that affected more than 11,000 homes throughout New Jersey, 3,250 of which received major damage or were destroyed.

During the past two weeks, 530 local and regional Red Cross volunteers have provided more than 85,000 meals and snacks and 4,600 clean-up kits to residents affected by the floods. Additionally, Red Cross shelters in northern and central New Jersey have housed over 800 individuals and Red Cross emotional care counselors have met with 1,500 residents.

Affected residents still in need of assistance or information due to flooding can contact the Red Cross toll-free hotline at 1-866-GET-INFO (1-866-438-4636).

While the final Red Cross shelter is scheduled to close at 3 p.m. on Monday, volunteers remain on standby throughout the state in case additional flooding occurs as a result of forecasted rainstorms. The Red Cross has strategically placed supplies close to areas in the state with a past history of flooding in order to respond swiftly should the need arise.

Help people affected by disasters like the recent floods, by donating to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. On those rare occasions when donations exceed Red Cross expenses for a specific disaster, contributions are used to prepare for and serve victims of other disasters. Your gift enables the Red Cross to prepare for disasters and provide shelter, food, emotional support and other assistance to victims of all disasters. Call 1-800-REDCROSS (1-800-733-2767) or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Contributions to the Disaster Relief Fund may be sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. Internet users can make a secure online contribution by visiting www.redcross.org.

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The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies nearly half of the nation's blood; teaches lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization — not a government agency — and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit www.redcross.org or join our blog at http://blog.redcross.org.