The American Red Cross’s recently appointed president, Gail J. McGovern, has had to move quickly to try to help the charity recover from debt as it responds to the latest series of storms, reports The Washington Post.

“Everyone says, ‘Boy, this is trial by fire,’” said Ms. McGovern, in a recent interview at the Disaster Operations Center. “No, this is trial by hurricane.” Her chief priority is raising money, and this week the organization began a $100-million campaign to recover the $70-million that it had to take out in loans to aid evacuees of Hurricane Gustav and to replenish the disaster fund.

“I would like to live in a world where we’re not fund raising episodically with each storm,” said Ms. McGovern. “Our mission is so much bigger than these epic storms. Our mission is to be there for the American people every day.”

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