Red Cross Marks Third Anniversary of Wildfires
$11.97 Million Spent to Assist Victims of 2003 Cedar and Paradise Fires

On the three year anniversary of the worst disaster in San Diego's history, the American Red Cross reports it spent $11.97 million to assist families and is no longer accepting any new cases from the 2003 Cedar and Paradise fires.

After the initial response providing shelters and meeting immediate emergency needs, Red Cross caseworkers continued to work with families through September 30, 2006 to help support the recovery of those affected and whose needs could not be met by other means. Seven applications for assistance remain pending.

The total cost of providing relief to the thousands of local victims affected by the fires was $11.97 million. Of this, $9.63 million were cash expenses, and $2.35 million were in-kind costs. Over 87% of all donated funds went directly to support wildfire disaster victims.

The San Diego/Imperial County Chapter of the American Red Cross raised $6.6 million to support the wildfire relief operations in San Diego County. The remaining $3 million was raised by other chapters of the American Red Cross in support of this relief effort.

"Just as San Diegans supported the victims of Hurricane Katrina last year, our neighbors across the country supported us when our need was

the greatest," said Jeffrey Wiemann, Chief Executive Officer of the San Diego/Imperial Counties Chapter. "This shows not only the true strength of the American Red Cross and its 815 chapters supporting each other, but also the wonderful generosity of the American public in neighbors helping neighbors."