Local relief efforts benefit Florida’s hurricane victims
Published: September 26, 2004
This year’s record-making hurricane season is creating record demand on some relief agencies.
On Saturday, Florida’s east coast braced for Hurricane Jeanne to come ashore.
It would be the fourth storm to ravage the state this year. The only other time four hurricanes have been known to hit the same state in one season was in Texas in 1886, National Hurricane Center Director Max Mayfield said.
Florida’s misfortune has forced a huge burden on relief agencies.
For example, the American Red Cross’ response to the hurricanes is the largest mobilization of feeding, sheltering and human resources after a natural disaster in the 123-year history of the organization, said Jamie Patterson, a spokeswoman for the Greater Kansas City chapter.
“Only midway through the hurricane season, the Red Cross human, material and financial resources are stretched,” Patterson said.
To date, $57 million has been pledged to the Red Cross, of which $26 million has been received.
But Patterson said relief efforts for Hurricane Frances and Hurricane Charley alone are estimated to cost about $68 million.
The Kansas City area has responded.
The Red Cross in Kansas City has sent 30 volunteers to help in the hurricanes for a total of 616 days of work. In addition to helping people in Florida, the Red Cross and other relief agencies have been helping victims in other areas struck by the storms, such as the Carolinas and Alabama.
Heart to Heart International in Olathe collected 50,000 pounds of products for hurricane victims during a four-day drive.
“We were completely overwhelmed by the response,” said Jon North, Heart to Heart’s chief executive officer.
North said there has been some concern about “donor fatigue.”
“People get tired of seeing it (on television) every night and worrying about it,” North said. “But even after all of that, to see the response that we got, it was really encouraging.”
Corporations have chipped in, too. FedEx has provided free shipping for Heart to Heart’s donations.
And, so far, Eli Lily and Co. has donated 240,000 doses of insulin, North said. He added that the pharmaceutical company plans to donate more insulin and antibiotics.
However, there are still costs for Heart to Heart, North said. Only $30,000 of a needed $50,000 has been raised, he said.
The Salvation Army has raised about $50,000 in the Kansas City area to go to disaster relief, said Roger Alexander, the director of development in Kansas City.
Alexander said those donations have been used to pay for such things as utilities, vouchers for replacement items, temporary housing and meals.
Alexander isn’t concerned about how the demand for hurricane relief will affect other fund-raising efforts.
“People always step forward for the Christmas campaign,” he said.
“We can’t ignore the hurting individuals now,” Alexander said. “I think the people in Kansas City know both needs of the army are important.”
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