Red Cross prefers cash because:
<> It will already be making payments from reserves,
<> The reserves need to be buttressed fro the next disaster,
<> They try to purchase goods and services as close to the affected area as possible,
<> It aids the local economy along with the individuals who receive the goods and services,
<> It minimizes transport costs.

It hit me yesterday that this is a Global Disaster, like some of the wars came to be known as "World Wars." Not just from the scale, but the number of countries affected directly.

~S~