Disasters Hit Red Cross Hard

Images of the Mississippi River overflowing into parts of the Midwest and wildfires in California have captured the nation's attention.

"It's a horrible disaster and it's a shame that it had to happen to people," says Rudy Waldorf.

Thousands of Red Cross volunteers have been sent to help and millions of donated dollars have been spent. Now the Red Cross is in the red.

The Red Cross has deployed just as many volunteers as a hurricane but now they need money. Already borrowing five million dollars they still need about fifteen million dollars to help.

However something that hasn't gotten attention are the Local Red Cross Chapters who are also struggling to stay afloat. Local Red Cross representative Claudia Moore says they are balancing volunteers and resources between states.

Moore says the number of disasters haven't gone up however the number of people affected by those disasters has. The Chattanooga/Hamilton County Red Cross budgets to help 700 people per year but they've helped 850 since January.

Right now the local Red Cross is 60,000 dollars over their budget.more debt than they've ever had before. The Red Cross depends on donations but the problem is, when there's a disaster like Iowa most people donate nationally, not locally. That, causes local donations take a hit.

 "When you have a single family fire it just doesn't have the impact of large scale flooding or a hurricane but the impact on that family is just the same," says Moore.

Moore says the financial impact hasn't hurt their ability to help yet but if people don't start donating it could.

"This is a unique situation. We do have reserves we are borrowing against and we will help people when they need help...its not going to stop us," says Moore.