Red Cross on 2024 trends: Extreme weather creates massive humanitarian needs amid nonstop disaster responses

MILWAUKEE, Wis. (Nov. 21, 2024) — In 2024, extreme weather took an overwhelming toll on people in the U.S., who relied on the American Red Cross for relief and care as they faced the country’s second-highest number of billion-dollar disasters ever recorded.

This year’s 24 major climate and weather events — each with losses exceeding $1 billion — are topped only by last year’s record-breaking 28. To help, over 200 Red Cross volunteers from Wisconsin have been part of teams responding nonstop to provide shelter, food and other assistance to tens of thousands of people reeling from this year’s hurricanes, storms, floods and wildfires — all while continuing to care for families still recovering from 2023’s extreme disasters.

“We’ve seen the devastation that disasters have caused families this year — and extreme weather shows no signs of slowing down,” said Mark Thomas, Regional CEO, American Red Cross of Wisconsin. “Whether a crisis happens in our backyard or a community across the country, neighbors are counting on us to help ensure they don’t face it alone. Please join us by making a donation of any size or rolling up a sleeve to give blood or platelets.”

This GivingTuesday and holiday season, visit redcross.org to make a financial donation or an appointment to give blood or platelets. Your donation has the ability to make a positive impact on someone’s life.

NEED FOR FOOD IN 2024 NEARLY TRIPLES 5-YEAR NATIONAL AVERAGE
Nationally, the scope of disasters increased this year’s demand for necessities like food and emergency lodging — which both exceeded the annual average for the past five years. In fact, this year’s more than 7 million meals and snacks, served by Red Cross volunteers, nearly tripled that average.

RESPONDING TO OTHER HUMANITARIAN NEEDS
This year, the Red Cross addressed people’s urgent needs in other ways too:

• DISASTER: Nationally, the scope of disasters increased this year’s demand for necessities like food and emergency lodging — which both exceeded the five-year average. In fact, this year’s 7 million meals and snacks nearly tripled that average.
• BLOOD DONATIONS: Plus, as the nation’s largest blood supplier, the Red Cross helped ensure patients could still access treatment during disasters by pre-positioning blood products near areas likely to be impacted. This support was made possible, thanks to the millions of blood donors who rolled up a sleeve to give.
• LIFESAVING TRAINING: Meanwhile, as emergency rooms saw a spike in heat illness from the country’s extreme temperatures, 3 Red Cross instructors empowered millions of people with vital first aid, CPR and AED skills to help them prevent and respond to heat stroke and heat exhaustion.
• MILITARY FAMILIES: And through our 24/7, global Hero Care Network, Red Cross workers answered thousands of calls from military families affected by this year’s hurricanes and connected them with military aid societies to help facilitate recovery assistance.
• INTERNATIONAL: Internationally, with extreme disasters on the rise, the American Red Cross also provided millions in aid to support local Red Cross relief efforts for global climate disasters, such as this year’s devastating drought in Mozambique, flooding in southern Brazil and Cyclone Remal in Bangladesh.

Visit ww.redcross.org/local/wisconsin for more information about how the American Red Cross helped people in Wisconsin and nationwide in 2024.

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow us on social media.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.