MINEOLA, N.Y., Sept. 30, 2009 -- Mother Nature has shown her full fury this week, beginning with typhoons in the Philippines and Vietnam. Yesterday, a deadly tsunami struck the Samoan Islands which includes American Samoa, a U.S. territory. Additionally, residents of Guam, another U.S. territory, are bracing for a tropical storm and Indonesia experienced an earthquake this morning.

The Red Cross entities of all these nations are working feverishly to provide relief to those who have been affected by these disasters. The American Red Cross is in close contact with its partners in the area to provide financial assistance and supplies for the relief efforts.

Long Islanders can help by making contributions to the International Response Fund, which helps provide assistance to Red Cross efforts in foreign countries, or the Disaster Relief Fund which helps with disasters in the United States and its territories--like American Samoa and Guam. To learn more, call 1-800-RED-CROSS or logon to www.redcross.org.

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