Red Cross Promises Changes by July 1

Officials at the American Red Cross say the charity has made adjustments in the way it responds to disasters, and additional changes will be in place by July 1, The Washington Post reports. The steps follow widespread criticism from Red Cross volunteers, members of Congress, and others about the charity’s handling of aid following Hurricane Katrina last year.

Changes include stocking more food and supplies, adding warehouse space, working with large corporations to devise a more efficient system for distributing supplies, and teaming up with other nonprofit organizations to provide volunteers and shelters for disaster survivors. Red Cross officials also pledged to increase the racial diversity of the group’s volunteers.

But some disaster-response experts questioned whether the changes would be extensive enough to fix the problems.