Red Cross pledges support for Haiti

The American National Red Cross has pledged $1 million to assist communities impacted by Tuesday's earthquake in Haiti, and is prepared to take further action as local responders assess the situation.

"There is widespread damage in Port au Prince, with continuing aftershocks," Pamela Martino, director of the Athens Red Cross, said in a news release. "Once the assessment is made, we will see immediate need for food, water, temporary shelter, medical services and emotional support. The Red Cross is there and will continue to be there."

The American Red Coss has made available all of the relief supplies from its warehouse in Panama, which would provide for basic needs for approximately 5,000 families. In addition, it is deploying a disaster management specialist to Haiti, and has additional disaster specialists on standby if needed, the release said.

The American Red Cross has an extensive partnership with the Haitian Red Cross, which is expected to lead the Red Cross response to the earthquake.

The American Red Cross is not accepting volunteeers to travel to Haiti at this time. For inquiries about relatives living and who have citizenship in Haiti, the Red Cross is asking people to be patient and call repeatedly until the lines are clear, or contact other family members who live nearby. Telephone, Internet and other communications lines are often disrupted in times of disaster.

People trying to locate U.S. citizens living or traveling to Haiti should contact the U.S. Dept. of State, Office of Overseas Citizens Services, at 1-888-407-4747 or 202-647-5225.

People can help the victims of disasters by making a financial gift and providing immediate relief and long-term support through supplies, technical assistance and other support. The American Red Cross honors donor intent, the release said.

Donations can be sent to the American Red Cross, 100 S. May Ave. Athens, OH 45701. Put Haiti in the line item or send to American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, D.C. 20013, or call 1-800-REDCROSS, or go online at www.redcross.org.

The American Red Cross is not accepting in-kind donations of supplies, food, clothing, etc. The best way for people to help is by making a financial donation.