MISSION: to prevent and alleviate human suffering by providing disaster relief and teaching lifesaving skills to the people of Hawaii, helping people prevent, prepare for emergencies, and providing support to military families.
LOCAL DISASTERS
Major Disasters since 1917, the Hawaii Red Cross has responded to every major disaster in Hawaii, including Hurricanes Iniki and Iwa, Hilo tsunami, Pearl Harbor bombing, Sacred Falls landslide, Xerox shooting, Ehime Maru, New Years flood, Manoa flood, Spring 2006 Oahu and Kauai floods, Fall 2006 earthquake, 2007 Winter storm, air crashes, mercury contamination, hostage situations, and other local disasters.
Flooding, Spring 2006 95 Red Cross volunteers helped 128 families on Oahu and Kauai as a result of 40 days and nights of heavy rain, including the Kaloko Dam burst. Nine shelters were opened providing safe refuge for 100 people, hundreds of meals and cleanup kits were distributed, and 111 families received financial assistance from the Red Cross.
Earthquake, October 2006 110 Red Cross volunteers provided emergency assistance to 524 people, served 622 meals, surveyed over 10,000 homes for damage, and opened 217 cases for emergency assistance. The Red Cross received 160 calls statewide via a hotline for requests for immediate aid and family reunification information. 126 individuals were given crisis counselin and over 500 meals were served at Disaster Recovery Centers.
Winter Storm, December 2007 90 Red Cross volunteers ran 6 shelters, conducted damage assessments on 200 homes, distributed 114 cleanup kits, served 300 meals, and provided $60,000 of financial assistance to 35 families for temporary housing, food, clothing, bedding, rent, and security deposits.
Everyday Disasters provides food, clothing, shelter, crisis counseling 24 hrs/day, 365 days/year for family house fires, multi-family apartment fires, floods, tragedies. Average of 100 disasters (1 every 3 days) affecting about 150 families per year. Most victims live in low/moderate income areas and many live below the poverty level.
LOCAL TRAINING AND PREPAREDNESS
Lifesaving training to over 36,000 people per year (CPR, first aid, aquatics, babysitting, pet first aid)
Free Annual Summer Swim program for over 40 years at Ala Moana Beach for hundreds of keiki and adults
Workplace Safety teaches workers how to prevent injuries and respond to life threatening emergencies
Caregiving teaches families to care for loved ones at home, and professionals to care for sick, elderly patients
LOCAL SERVICE TO THE ARMED FORCES
Provides emergency communication and other services to over 1,200 military service members and their families per year
International tracing to reunite loved ones torn apart by war or disaster
RELEVANCE OF RED CROSS IN HAWAII
With the threat of avian flu, bio-terrorist attacks, and major natural disasters, the American Red Cross is more relevant and necessary than ever before. And with global warming and changing weather patterns, it is not if but when a major disaster in Hawaii will occur.
The Red Cross is not a government agency. All disaster training and services are free, made possible by generous donations from local individuals and businesses.