Texas Gulf Coast Red Cross says to prepare for worsening extreme weather during National Preparedness Month

THE WOODLANDS, TX — During National Preparedness Month in September, the Texas Gulf Coast Region urges everyone to prepare for worsening climate disasters affecting our communities, which have experienced wildfires and extreme heat.

Severe weather like this is part of a worsening national trend in which the American Red Cross has responded to nearly twice as many large disasters across the country as it did a decade ago.

As rapidly intensifying, weather-related events pose serious challenges to its humanitarian work and the people it serves, the Red Cross has announced an ambitious national plan to take urgent action. This plan can be found at https://www.redcross.org/about-us/news-and-events/climate-crisis.html. With more climate-driven disasters upending lives and devastating communities, the organization is racing to adapt its services and grow its disaster response capacity across the country, while also funding new international programs on climate response and preparedness, as well as minimizing its own environmental footprint.

The Texas Gulf Coast Region is recruiting and training more volunteers to respond to disasters locally and across the country.

“As the frequency and intensity of disasters and extreme weather grow, more people need help more often,” said Charles K. Blake, Jr., Chief Executive Officer, Texas Gulf Coast Region, American Red Cross. “Yet as fast as our volunteers are working to help, the needs are escalating faster. That’s why it’s critical to not only prepare yourself for risks like hurricanes, flooding and wildfires in our community, but to also help families in need — both locally and in other parts of the country. Join us by becoming a volunteer or making a financial donation to support our disaster relief efforts.”

For National Preparedness Month, take three lifesaving actions — get a kit, make a plan, and be informed — to help protect yourself against local emergencies. Follow safety tips now at redcross.org/prepare. You can also deliver relief and care to families facing wildfires, flooding and hurricanes by becoming a Red Cross volunteer at redcross.org/local/texas/gulf-coast/volunteer.html.

In the first half of 2023 alone, the nation experienced an above-average 15 billion-dollar disasters. That’s all on top of extreme heat in The Texas Gulf Coast Region and other communities — which have made July the country’s hottest single month on record. What’s more, the U.S. is just now entering its typical peak time for hurricanes and wildfires, which wildfires have increased tremendously from last year.

So far this year, the Red Cross has responded to over 600 home fires across the Texas Gulf Coast Region and helped more than 2,000 individuals. Unfortunately, with the temperatures increasing every day and the lack of rain, representatives do not think that the cases will decrease, rather they may increase in the days to come.