Media Advisory: Red Cross Issues Updated Service Numbers

The Red Cross continues to open new shelters as others begin to close. In some areas our services are transitioning to bulk distribution of cleanup supplies and individual client assistance. Here is a snapshot of current Red Cross activities as of midnight, Thursday:

* The Red Cross has provided over 15000 overnight stays in its shelters, and 24000 meals during this incident.
* The Red Cross has over 3000 workers on site in Southern California, including volunteers from all 50 states.
* More than 3000 local volunteers are assisting their neighbors in need.
* Red Cross is operating 23 shelters throughout the region, 14 of which are in San Diego.
* Staffing several aid stations throughout the region providing, food/water, health and mental health assessments and distributing cleanup supplies.
* Our Safe and Well site has over 1300 registrations, with more than 300 successful matches.

All American Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the American people. You can help the victims of thousands of disasters across the country each year, disasters like the California wildfires, by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, which enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to victims of disaster. The American Red Cross honors donor intent. If you wish to designate your donation to a specific disaster please do so at the time of your donation. Call 1-800-REDCROSS or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Contributions to the Disaster Relief Fund may be sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. Internet users can make a secure online contribution by visiting