The American Red Cross hasn't opened a single shelter since January, instead placing some 900 people into hotels.
Instead of placing those left homeless or displaced in shelters, as is often the case in this type of disaster, the Red Cross put more than 550 people into 11 hotels across several states to comply with social distancing guidelines.
It's not unusual for the Red Cross to use hotels, especially for disasters that affect a small number of people, such as home fires. But it hasn't used them at this scale before. Since January, the organization hasn't opened a single shelter, instead placing some 900 people into hotels, Riggen said. To that end, DeNofio added, the nonprofit is"taking extra precautions," including spacing all cots 6 feet apart in lodging facilities, providing access to hand sanitizer and ensuring the wearing of face masks."We are being very observant of social distancing guidelines on all of our operations."Team Rubicon is taking extra precautions to keep its volunteers safe.
Relief needs have been amplified due to shelter-in-place measures enacted across the country. More than 20 million people have filed for unemployment insurance in the past four weeks, according to the Treasury Department. That places greater attention on home assistance, as people whose houses were damaged by a tornado may have a harder time signing a new lease or making repairs.
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