The American Red Cross spent much of 2012 helping people all across the country whose lives were impacted by disasters. Relief efforts were launched in response to 113 large scale disasters in 42 states and territories between January 1st and December 1st.

Marie Barrientos, the Executive Director of the Winona/Wabasha/Goodhue Red Cross chapter says Hurricane Sandy dominated the news coverage, but it wasn't the only disaster that disrupted lives in 2012."

Barrientos says the number of lives affected by large disasters in the past year is staggering.  In the U.S., the Red Cross opened 907 shelters and provided more than 109,000 overnight stays to help people forced from their homes by disasters. In total, more than 29,000 trained disaster workers served 9.9 million meals and snacks and distributed more than 6.8 million relief items.