Red Cross says families are experiencing more frequent, intense disasters every year

The Red Cross is responding to twice as many major disasters as it did a decade ago and the number of billion-dollar disasters has also increased 85% over the same time period, according to the Red Cross.

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – 2024 has been an above-average year for billion-dollar disasters, according to the American Red Cross.

Vice President of American Red Cross Disaster Programs, Jennifer Pippa, says natural disasters have ravaged communities across the country and created a humanitarian crisis for tens of thousands of people reeling from severe storms, floods and wildfires.

Pippa says that the increase in natural disasters has stretched the capacity of emergency response organizations.

“It’s been a very challenging year for us as a disaster relief organization,” says Pippa.

The Red Cross is responding to twice as many major disasters as it did a decade ago and the number of billion-dollar disasters has also increased 85% over the same time period, according to the Red Cross.

Pippa says people can donate financially or donate blood to help out the Red Cross.