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Canadian Red Cross response to Hurricane Gustaf

The Canadian Red Cross is urging Canadians to support relief operations for hurricane Gustaf, including its deadly effects in Caribbean countries and current impact along the U.S. Gulf Coast.

"We have disaster management personnel and equipment ready to move to impacted areas in the U.S. if our assistance is requested with recovery efforts," said Don Schropshire, director, disaster management, Canadian Red Cross. "We maintain continous contact with our colleagues in the American Red Cross who have thousands of Red Cross workers in place providing shelter, food and personal comfort to evacuees."

The Canadian Red Cross has sent disaster relief worker Jean-Pierre Taschereau to help coordinate recovery efforts in Haiti, where Gustaf is blamed for at least 59 deaths and damaged or destroyed some 1,800 homes. The Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Cuba were also extensively impacted by Gustaf.

The Red Cross is constantly assessing the need for immediate and long-term assistance in affected countries and the Canadian Red Cross will continue to support the response.

Canadians wishing to support hurricane recovery and preparedness efforts with a financial donation can do so immediately by credit card, securely online at www.redcross.ca or by phone at 1-800-418-1111. Donations are also asccepted at any local Canadian Red Cross office (http://www.redcross.ca/main.asp?id=000134). As well, cheques made payable to the Canadian Red Cross and earmarked "Hurricane Relief 2008" can be mailed to Canadian Red Cross National Office, 170 Metcalfe Street, Suite 300, Ottawa, Ontario, K2P 2P2.