American Red Cross Disaster Newsroom

Red Cross Continues to Assist Residents Displaced by Two Fires in Yonkers

Update Feb. 1, 2012: – The Red Cross continues to assist Yonkers residents displaced by two 3-alarm fires that occurred last Monday. Tuesday evening, trained Red Cross volunteers provided 24 people with a safe place to sleep, food, beverages and emotional support at the Red Cross shelter at the Police Athletic League in Yonkers, New York.

The shelter will remain open at least through Thursday afternoon for residents who are not yet able to return to their damaged homes or who have not yet secured longer-term housing from city agencies.

The Red Cross stands ready to provide further services and support as needed to all those affected In the coming days.

January 31, 2012 – Nearly 70 Yonkers, N.Y., residents found themselves homeless yesterday evening after a pair of 3-alarm fires destroyed a building on Lincoln Terrace and severely damaged one on Currans Lane.

These displaced residents received comfort and assistance from Red Cross relief workers at a reception center set up at the nearby Yonkers Police Athletic League (PAL) at 127 North Broadway.

Assistance came in the form of meals, beverages, health services and emotional support. The PAL reception center was later transformed into a Red Cross shelter where 35 of these residents, including many young children, spent the night.

Red Cross volunteers also provided a number of families with emergency funds for basic necessities such as replacement clothing, as well as referrals to other agencies that can help with their longer-term needs.

Today, representatives from several organizations, including the Department of Social Services, are at the shelter, working with residents to help with their future housing needs.

The shelter will remain open this evening.

Red Cross and Partner Agencies Support Missouri Hotel Fire Victims

January 20, 2012 – American Red Cross; Southern Missouri Region responded to a fire at The Missouri Hotel on Commercial St. in Springfield, Mo. Two shelter locations were identified within a few hours and Red Cross Volunteers were contacted to begin set up. The Dayspring shelter, and the COX North facility opened at approximately 6 pm on 1/20. The City of Springfield provided a City Utilities Bus to transport the families to COX and the individuals to Dayspring. Greene County Emergency Management is providing continual support as new needs arise, such as the bus transportation to showers at Baptist Bible College, from the Dayspring Shelter.

Currently Dayspring Worship Center is housing 34 individuals, and COX North Hospital is housing 25 families. (86 adults and children) Red Cross Volunteers, 14 per day, are staffing the Daysprings Shelter, 7 for the day shift and 7 for the night shift. The Red Cross is supporting COX North with staff assistance of 5-6 Volunteers per day alongside the CERT (Community Emergency Response Teams) from Greene, Webster, and Christian Counties, to provide coverage for staffing needs.

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Local Red Cross Continues to Shelter and Feed Displaced Residents in Sumter
Disaster workers provide ongoing comfort and support

SUMTER, S.C., October 22, 2011 – American Red Cross disaster workers continue to provide shelter and meals to 19 residents that were evacuated after a fire occurred Saturday, October 22nd at the Garden Circle Apartments in Sumter. The shelter is located at the Sumter County Parks and Recreation Department on 155 Haynesworth Street and will remain open until residents are allowed to return to the apartment complex.

Since Saturday, October 22nd the Red Cross has provided 38 overnight stays, 95 meals and 19 hygiene kits. 20 trained disaster workers, including nursing support, have been on the scene providing mental health counseling and emotional support to meet the immediate, disaster-caused needs of each resident.

This is the second time that the Red Cross has provided a shelter for the residents of the Garden Circle Apartments. On July 16th another fire caused residents to be evacuated and a shelter was opened at the Bernie Center, remaining open for five days. During that shelter operation the Red Cross provided 60 overnight stays, 149 meals, 672 snacks and 15 hygiene kits to shelter residents.

You can help your neighbors prepare for and recover from disasters like home fires by making a financial contribution to the American Red Cross today by visiting www.columbiaregionredcross.org, calling (803) 775-2363, or mailing a check to the American Red Cross, 1155 N. Guignard, Suite 2, Sumter, SC 29150.

For more Red Cross fire safety and preparedness information, visit www.redcross.org/homefires.

Red Cross to Distribute Clean Up Supplies in Monona County to those Affected by Flooding

SIOUX CITY, IOWA., September 9, 2011 – The American Red Cross will be distributing clean up kits and other supplies in Albaton, IA at the Walmart parking lot on Friday, September 9th and Saturday, September 10th. Items to be distributed include cleanup kits, gloves, hydration and snacks for volunteers, and bottled water. Hand washing stations with soap and hand-sanitizer will also be available for volunteers.

The Red Cross is aware that the floodwater may not have receded in all areas and it may not be safe to access some homes at this time.

However, they would like to get these kits distributed to families affected by the flood so they can be equipped to begin clean up of their homes when they are able to do so. The Red Cross would ask only families whose homes have been impacted by flood pick up kits as they have a limited supply.