American Red Cross releases $10 million for earthquake relief in Haiti

SNOHOMISH COUNTY — The American Red Cross has bumped up its initial $1 million pledge for relief in Haiti to $10 million.

Chuck Morrison, executive director of the Snohomish County Chapter of the American Red Cross, released the updated amount Thursday, Jan. 14 — one day after the national organization pledged its initial donation.

According to a statement from the American Red Cross, five disaster management specialists from Peru, Mexico and the United States were scheduled to arrive in the Dominican Republic Thursday.

Those specialists were slated to join a 15-person staff already in Haiti. Thousands of Haitian Red Cross volunteers have been in place since the 7.3-magnitude earthquake that hit Haiti Jan. 12.

Up to 100,000 people may be dead, according to reports.

Morrison said he does not anticipate the Snohomish County Chapter of the American Red Cross sending volunteers as of Thursday.

"Because this is not American soil, we are operating under the direction of the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Haitian Red Cross," Morrison said.

The International Committee of the Red Cross has set up a Web site to search for and register the names of relatives missing in Haiti since the earthquake.

Donations can be made to the American Red Cross by visiting redcross.org or by calling 1-800-RED-CROSS.

The Red Cross is also receiving money through a third-party mobile fundraising effort, in which donors can text "Haiti" to 90999 to send a $10 donation to the Red Cross.

Officials reported that more than $3 million has been received through the effort so far.

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