·       Since July 21, heavy monsoon rains have caused widespread damage, triggering flash floods, killing thousands of people and affecting at least 17 million other people.

·       As much as 70 percent of the country has been affected by flooding, with widespread loss of crops, livestock, roads and bridges.

·       For the people displaced, the most urgent needs include food, clean water and medical care.

·       This is the worst flooding in Pakistan in the country's history, according to the government.

Red Crescent volunteers are working around the clock to care for Pakistanis affected by the floods.

·       The Pakistan Red Crescent immediately sprang into action and mobilized its countrywide network of more than 130,000 volunteers.

·       Since the flooding began, local Red Crescent volunteers have assisted more than 325,000 people with food, relief supplies and another 48,000 with medical aid.

·      Over the next 18 months the global Red Cross movement expects to provide aid for more than 900,000 individuals.

The American Red Cross has committed $5 million (as of 8/25/2010) in financial support and supplies to help thousands of families affected by the flooding.

·       We have sent tarps, sleeping mats, buckets, and water containers from our warehouse in Dubai, United Arab Emirates to benefit approximately 50,000 people. We have also dispatched two disaster experts to help coordinate our efforts on the ground. 

·       As heavy rainfall has continued and floodwaters have moved downstream, flooding is worsening in the central and southern provinces and is threatening dams and embankments.

·       To help those affected by the flooding, please make a donation to the American Red Cross online at redcross.org or by calling 1-800-RED-CROSS.

Family members who have been separated as a result of the flooding are being reunited by Red Cross tracing services.

·       Telephone, Internet and other communication lines are often disrupted in times of disaster so if a friend or loved one is in Pakistan, please be patient and continue to call or contact other family members who may live nearby.

·       The Pakistan Red Crescent volunteers are using donated satellite telephones in areas where communication networks are non-existent or remain out of order, connecting missing loved ones within the country.

·       If you're trying to reach a U.S. citizen living or traveling in Pakistan, you should contact the U.S. Department of State, Office of Overseas Citizens Services, at 1-888-407-4747.

This specific case originated through the Cuban Red Cross, and we were able to reunite two brothers - one living in Elizabeth and the other in Cuba. The Cuban brother was trying to find information about their father's death and had lost contact with his brother for some time.

All Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies around the world, including the American Red Cross have a mandate to provide tracing/welfare information services to their citizens. This is also one of the benefits that all Red Cross societies have in being independent from any governments. The Red Cross also provides a tracing service for civilian victims of the Nazi persecution and other war and civil war conflicts around the world.

To help support the efforts of the Tri-County Red Cross Chapter in furthering our International Services efforts, please make a donation online by clicking on this donate button. Thank you.

Contribute to the Tri-County Red Cross $

"The last thing you need in a disaster is misinformation," said Federal Coordinating Officer William L. Vogel. "The best way to avoid that problem is to register with FEMA."

Registering with FEMA is an important first step in recovery.

New Jersey residents living in a declared county (Atlantic, Bergen, Cape May, Essex, Gloucester, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Passaic, Somerset or Union) who suffered damage to their home or were otherwise affected by the mid-March storm and flooding may be eligible for assistance. Residents should not let misunderstandings keep them from applying for assistance.

Some of the most common misunderstandings heard in past disasters are:

• I have insurance, so there is no other help available. Not true: FEMA will not duplicate insurance benefits, but applicants may be eligible for help with losses not covered or damage in excess of their insurance coverage (underinsured). That's why it is important to register for assistance even while you are working with your insurance company to assess your insurance coverage.
• I have to wait for my insurance adjuster before I apply for disaster assistance. Not true: Don't wait for an adjuster before applying for aid or making repairs needed to make your house livable. You should, however, find out what your policy covers and be sure to keep papers and receipts for any work.
• I already repaired my home. I don't need to apply. Not true: You might qualify for reimbursement of expenses not covered by insurance.
• I have to be poor to qualify for disaster aid. Not true: The types of assistance provided depend on each applicant's circumstances. Federal and state disaster assistance programs may be available to those who suffered damage, regardless of income. The programs are not "welfare."
• I must own a business to apply for a loan from the SBA. Not true: SBA low-interest loans are the primary source of federal assistance for long-term recovery for homeowners, renters and business owners. SBA covers uninsured or underinsured losses for real estate damages as well as personal property damages.
• I rent an apartment. I can't get help. Not true: Renters may qualify for help with temporary housing needs if they have to move because of disaster-caused damages.  They may also qualify for FEMA assistance or low-interest SBA loans for losses that are not covered by insurance or other disaster assistance programs

To Register For Assistance

To register for assistance, residents should call FEMA's toll-free number, 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY/TDD 1-800-462-7585 for the speech and hearing impaired (for relay service, call 711 or 1-800-852-7897) between 7 a.m. and 1 a.m., seven days a week. Multi-lingual operators are available to answer calls during this time. Residents may also register online anytime at www.disasterassistance.gov.

State Coordinating Officer Lt. Bill McDonnell, Director of the New Jersey State Emergency Management Office added, "To get the most complete and accurate information, disaster victims need to take the first step to recovery by registering with FEMA."

FEMA's mission is to support our citizens and first responders and to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.