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Just a day after Hurricane Ike hit Texas, over 3,000 American Red Cross disaster relief workers from all over the country had moved into the impacted areas and were ready to help.  More than 16,000 victims have found protection in 162 different Red Cross shelters across Texas.  One million ready-to-eat meals have been distributed, and 25 kitchens are serving 300,000 meals per day to these affected Hurricane Ike individuals.

To date, five members from the Tompkins County Chapter have been deployed to Texas, two volunteers and three staff members. They landed in the Dallas-Forth Worth area and were assigned from there. They will be in the area for three weeks helping the hurricane victims in various capacities. Staff members are reporting that they are working long hours in areas without electricity or cell phone coverage counseling people who have lost everything in the hurricanes.

The American Red Cross has also sent personnel and replenishing relief supplies to Cuba and Haiti to provide immediate support to these hurricane victims.  In Cuba, 30,000 houses were destroyed and around 320,000 families were affected.  While in Haiti, some cities are still inaccessible due to the severe damage from the storms.

This continues to be one of the worst hurricane seasons in memory, and to continue helping Americans who are displaced or who have lost their homes and possessions, the American Red Cross has launched a nationwide campaign, from now until the end of the year, to raise $100 million for the Disaster Relief Fund. This is a pivotal moment in the history of the American Red Cross which is currently borrowing money to service the victims of Hurricanes Gustav and Ike.
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