2020: Need for emergency disaster lodging surges amid COVID-19

Hundreds of Georgians step up as first-time volunteers, blood donors during pandemic.

(VALDOSTA, Nov. 30, 2020) — Facing a relentless disaster season, families in the U.S. have spent more nights in emergency lodging in 2020 than in any other year over the past decade. 

More than 1 million times this year, a person relied on the Red Cross for a safe place to sleep after a disaster in the U.S. That’s more than four times the annual average from 2011 to 2019.

“As the coronavirus pandemic wears on, disasters like residential fires in Georgia — plus a relentless wildfire and hurricane season – have upended hundreds of thousands of lives here and across the country,” said Danella Hughes, Disaster Officer for Georgia’s Red Cross. “Through it all, more people are stepping up as Red Cross volunteers to help others — even as they cope with these events and COVID-19. It’s a true testament to the humanitarian spirit of people in Georgia and in our country.”

Thousands of people throughout Georgia have been impacted by home and apartment fires, severe storms, and tornadoes, which ripped through the state in the spring displacing over 200 families. The post-landfall paths of Hurricanes Sally, Delta, and Zeta also directly impacted hundreds of families across the region, causing flooding, downed trees, power outages, and damage to homes.

This year (through September), Georgia Red Cross volunteers have aided over 8,000 people affected by residential fires, including a massive apartment complex fire in Atlanta at the Avana on Main, where nearly 300 people received assistance. Statewide, the Red Cross has responded to 1,765 fires –17 of those at apartment buildings -- to help people affected with emergency needs for lodging, food, clothing and personal items. During the pandemic, volunteers are working virtually and in-person, following CDC and Health Department guidelines to ensure their safety and that of clients served.

Darrell Stafford is among the residents displaced by the blaze that destroyed the Buckhead apartment building in August during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dozens of Red Cross disaster workers from across the state sprang into action to help him and his neighbors.

“I was in a state of shock for days,” said Stafford, a fourth-floor resident of the building at the time of the fire. “Emotional support was one of the most valuable things the Red Cross provided. Throughout the years, you’re aware of the Red Cross and how they step up to help, but to see it happening in real-time and have things run as smoothly as they did – it surprised me.”

THOUSANDS ANSWER CALL TO HELP This year, more than 70,000 people across the country joined the Red Cross as volunteers — who represent more than 90% of its workforce. In Georgia, new volunteers have stepped up in extraordinary numbers as the state grapples with the pandemic. The region has seen its number of new volunteers double this year in comparison to 2019. Young people have played a crucial role in disaster response – with Millennials and Gen Z representing more than half of new Red Cross volunteers across the country.

Additionally, the Georgia Red Cross deployed 250 volunteers on nearly 600 operations as part of relief efforts across the country in 2020. Local responders have helped people devastated by the California and Oregon Wildfires and across the southern United States battered by an unforgiving hurricane season.

Nationwide, 75% of new volunteers also stepped up at a pivotal time to fill mission-critical positions, such as shelter and health workers addressing urgent disaster needs, as well as blood donor ambassadors and transportation specialists helping to provide cancer patients, trauma victims and others with lifesaving blood.

NEW BLOOD DONORS SAVE LIVES In 2020, Red Cross blood drive cancellations tripled nationwide compared to the year prior — mostly due to COVID-19. Since March, over 50,000 blood drives were canceled as the pandemic forced schools, businesses and community organizations to close, impacting over 1 million blood donation appointments. Still, people rolled up their sleeves — more than a half-million of them giving for the first time.

Blood donation is an essential service. The Red Cross follows the latest public health guidelines, as well as has put additional precautions in place to ensure everyone’s safety.

This pandemic has also caused the Red Cross to adapt its collections to include plasma from COVID-19 survivors to potentially help those battling the virus recover. Thousands of COVID-19 survivors have stepped up to share their potentially lifesaving antibodies by giving plasma. Since April, nearly 25,000 COVID-19 survivors have rolled up a sleeve — many of whom are new to blood donation. Their donations have enabled the Red Cross to ship nearly 50,000 units to hospitals across the country treating COVID-19 patients.

HOW YOU CAN HELP On Giving Tuesday and during the holiday season, help people in need by donating at redcross.org/gift. A gift of any size makes a difference. If you’re healthy and feeling well, we also urge you to donate blood this holiday season. Your blood donation can make a lifesaving difference for a patient in need. Visit RedCrossBlood.org to schedule an appointment today.

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.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.