Hurricane Lee is a powerful Category 5 storm swirling in the Atlantic Ocean which some models predict could impact the northeastern United States next week. Lee already has sustained winds of 165 mph and is expected to grow stronger, causing wind damage and a dangerous storm surge.

The American Red Cross is closely monitoring the storm and urges everyone in its potential path to monitor their local weather and be prepared for this storm.

The Red Cross is pre-positioning disaster teams and supplies to support communities who may be impacted by the storm. Additional volunteers and emergency supplies are on standby in case they are needed. We will monitor the situation closely and coordinate closely with government officials and community partners to ensure plans are in place to provide help for families in harm’s way.

Even as we prepare for Lee, the Red Cross remains on the ground helping communities recover from Hurricane Idalia in the Southeast and the deadliest wildfires of the last century in Hawaii, among other disasters.

The climate crisis, according to scientists, is making hurricanes worse in the United States by increasing their intensity. As extreme weather increases, more people need help from the Red Cross. Find out more about the Red Cross and its work on the climate crisis at redcross.org/climate.

Hurricane Idalia caused hundreds of blood and platelet donations to go uncollected in the Southeast and Lee could impact collections even more at a time when the Red Cross is already experiencing a concerning shortfall in donations. The Red Cross urges eligible individuals to give blood and help ensure we can meet the needs of patients whenever and wherever they arise.

STEPS FOR OLDER ADULTS

PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

CREATE A PET EMERGENCY PLAN

MORE GOOD STEPS TO TAKE

Download the free Red Cross First Aid app so you’ll know what to do if emergency help is delayed and the free Emergency app for weather alerts, open Red Cross shelter locations and safety steps for different emergencies. Choose whether you want to view the content in English or Spanish with an easy-to-find language selector. Pet owners can download the Red Cross Pet First Aid app for more information on how to include pets in emergency preparedness plans and step-by-step instructions for first aid emergencies and more. Find these and all of the Red Cross apps in smartphone app stores by searching for the American Red Cross or going to redcross.org/apps.

Put a first aid kit together. Find out what you should include here.

Print out the Red Cross preparedness checklist, available in several different languages.

Take a class so you know what to do during an emergency. A variety of online, in-person and blended courses are available, including our new Until Help Arrives online course.

Pet owners can take the Red Cross Cat and Dog First Aid online course so you’ll know what to do in an emergency until veterinary care is available. People can access the course on their desktop or tablet at redcross.org/catdogfirstaid

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

This relentless pace of severe disasters has created more ongoing emergency needs, especially for families who have been displaced year after year by extreme weather events. As the growing number of climate disasters threatens lives on a near-constant basis, the Red Cross is growing our volunteer capacity to respond to these emergencies.

The need to help during disasters has never been greater. Join us to provide relief and hope when it matters most. These are our most-needed disaster volunteer positions: shelter support, health services and disaster action team.

Visit redcross.org to sign up now.