HOUSTON (12 September 2021)—With Tropical Storm Nicholas threatening significant areas of the Texas Gulf Coast area, the American Red Cross urges residents to make a plan, build a kit, and be informed about current conditions and taking necessary action to stay safe.
We recommend that residents in flood-prone areas have a disaster kit ready and check with local officials for the latest information about storms and flooding that may be prompting evacuations in their area.
Key items to include in your kit are personal protective equipment, prescription medications, extra clothing, pillows, blankets, hygiene supplies and a digital copy of important documents. Don't forget to bring special items for family members who have unique needs or for children, such as diapers, formula and toys.
Shelters:
We currently have shelters on standby in multiple areas along the Gulf Coast. In the coming days, we encourage people to visit redcross.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767) or download the free Red Cross Emergency app for shelter locations. In addition to a safe place for people to sleep, we also provide meals, emotional and spiritual care, and connections to community resources. For more information about Red Cross resources, please check our rolling blog here.
COVID-19 Safety:
The Red Cross will require both staff and residents to wear face coverings inside emergency shelters — regardless of vaccination status. Wearing masks will help to ensure the safety of our workforce and all those we serve during disasters. Our goal is to keep everyone safe from both the disaster threatening the local community and from COVID-19.
To become a volunteer:
We urgently need event-based volunteers to support our sheltering operations for Tropical Storm Nicholas. Please click here to sign up and a volunteer services representative will contact you.
To make a donation:
We are very grateful to members of the public who have reached out about in-kind donations. At this time, we have very limited ability to accept in-kind donations due to COVID-19 restrictions. The best way to contribute is to visit redcross.org/donate to make a financial contribution or text REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.orgorcruzrojaamericana.org, tag us @RedCrossTXGC or visit our pages at FB | LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram.