How to Help Victims of Hurricane Sandy

As families on the east coast prepare for Hurricane Sandy, the American Red Cross is preparing to provide aid to those who might be affected.

Weather experts expect this storm system to affect as many as 50 million people. Currently in the hurricane’s path are Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia, Red Cross officials said.

Hurricane Sandy will bring heavy rain and flooding, winds gusting up to 75 miles per hour, extended power outages and even snow, experts said.

“Some expect the approaching storm to be more powerful than Hurricane Irene, which caused a widespread disaster response operation in 2011,” officials said through a statement on their website. “The Red Cross is mobilizing disaster workers and putting relief supplies into place. It also has shelters standing by and more than 100 emergency response vehicles on alert to respond, including vehicles from as far away as Wisconsin.”

To help those affected donate through the Red Cross website or call (800) 733-2767. You can also text the word ‘REDCROSS’ to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Contributions may also be sent to your local Red Cross chapter or the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013.

"To meet the potential threat, World Vision will dispatch flood clean-up kits from the organization’s Dallas Disaster Response headquarters to bolster emergency supplies already prepositioned in New York," a news release from the charity states.