SANTA ROSA, Calif. – The American Red Cross is helping thousands of people as tornadoes, flooding and wildfires continue to wreak havoc across a large part of the United States.

Almost 900 people sought refuge Monday night in Red Cross shelters as new storms forced people from their homes in Arkansas, Missouri, Kentucky, Indiana and Illinois.

These latest storms come on the heels of two weeks of deadly weather from North Dakota to the East Coast.

Red Cross disaster teams are working around the clock in the affected areas, providing people with shelter, meals, emotional support and supplies to help with cleanup efforts.

“Red Cross disaster teams are making sure people have a safe place to stay and food to eat,” said Tim Miller, CEO, of the local Red Cross, serving Sonoma, Mendocino and Lake counties. “We are very pleased about three of our local volunteers who are in Mississippi and North Carolina, helping those in need.”

Red Cross volunteer, Mary Ellen Taylor, is providing emotional support for those affected in North Carolina. “The clients are all very thankful for the food, water, everything we do for them. When they find out I'm from California, they're amazed someone would come so far to help them.”

Those who want to help the people affected by these disasters, as well as countless crises at home and around the world, can make a donation to support American Red Cross Disaster Relief.

Their gift will enable the Red Cross to prepare for and provide shelter, food, emotional support and other disaster assistance.

To make a donation, people can visit www.redcross.org or call 1-800-RED-CROSS. Contributions may also be sent to or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013.

The Red Cross is responding to disasters across more than half of the country as the severe and deadly weather continues. In the past two weeks, the Red Cross has opened nearly 50 shelters and provided more than 3,000 overnight stays.

In addition, with community partners, the Red Cross has served more than 233,000 meals and snacks and distributed more than 20,000 items like cleanup supplies and comfort kits to people affected by the severe spring weather.

Red Cross mental health and health services workers have provided thousands of consultations to

people coping with the aftermath of these disasters.

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies nearly half of the nation's blood; teaches lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families.

The Red Cross is a charitable organization – not a government agency – and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission.

For more information, please visit www.redcross.org or join the organization's blog at http://blog.redcross.org.

To contact the local American Red Cross chapter, serving Sonoma, Mendocino and Lake Counties, please visit www.arcsm.org, or call 707-577-7627 (Sonoma and Lake counties), 707-463-0112 (Mendocino County).