American Red Cross Disaster Newsroom

American Red Cross Opens Individual Client Casework for Emergency Financial Assistance

BOZEMAN, Montana – The American Red Cross announced Monday it will be opening individual client casework files for Montanans most severely affected by flooding.

Individual client casework is the method by which the American Red Cross helps those affected by flooding take the next step toward recovery – by developing a family plan. Disaster-related emergency needs may take the shape of community referrals, clean-up supplies, or emergency financial resources to help families head down the road to recovery.

Preliminary “first look” damage assessments of residential property have already been conducted throughout the last four weeks by teams of Red Cross personnel as flooding caused displacement from homes, according to Montana client casework lead Gary Betway. Now, additional individual damage assessments made by visiting teams of Red Cross volunteers will allow homeowners with the most severe residential losses to potentially qualify for emergency financial assistance.

“We’ll look at their emergency needs and address what we can, based on what falls within our mission and resources,” Betway said.

Individual client casework allows a more in-depth look at individual situations to determine the level of need then provides assistance to help families return home.

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Red Cross Aid Ongoing in Montana’s Flood-Affected Counties

Bozeman, MONTANA June 16, 2011 – Relief supplies continue to be delivered throughout Montana by the American Red Cross.

On Thursday, the Red Cross will be in Lewis and Clark County to make door-to-door deliveries of clean-up kits to families. A total of 500 kits were assembled in Bozeman Wednesday by members of Boy Scout Troop 614 and the Big Sky Youth Center.

The groups worked in concert with area health and safety instructors and chapter employees to ensure a surplus of kits would be ready for remote delivery in areas from Lewis and Clark to Cascade County, Thursday morning.

To date, 650 clean-up kits have been distributed statewide.

Outreach teams consisting of mental health and health services volunteers continue to serve affected areas, studying needs and providing additional recovery resources.

Sheltering and feeding continue at Crow Agency to ensure families unable to return to homes have a safe place to stay. Tuesday night, the Crow Multipurpose Center showed an overnight shelter population of 45.

On Wednesday, the Red Cross served 319 meals at Crow Agency, and since Saturday has served 240 meals at Harlem in Blaine County.

Volunteers continue arriving from across the U.S. to aid the operation. 125 volunteers and staff are helping in the relief efforts.

American Red Cross Offers Clean-Up Service Delivery in Yazoo and Humphreys Counties

JACKSON, June 15, 2011 – The American Red Cross will be assisting Mississippi families affected by the river flooding this weekend. The humanitarian organization will distribute clean-up items in Yazoo and Humphreys Counties Saturday and Sunday. Items include water, snacks, juice, hand sanitizer, sunscreen, insect repellant, chapstick, bleach, rubber totes, shovels, rakes, dust masks, trash bags and paper towels.

Supplies will be available beginning at 10 a.m. until they last. Locations are as follows:

Saturday, June 18: Hines Broadlake Grocery Hwy. 49 W in the Wolf Lake Area

Sunday, June 19: Davis Grocery at 300 Plum St. in Satartia

American Red Cross caseworkers began canvassing flood-affected neighborhoods in those counties earlier this week. Mobile feeding is also available as areas open up to residents.

American Red Cross Continues to Help Those Affected by Ongoing Flooding

Bozeman, MONTANA – June 14, 2011 – The American Red Cross continues to deliver relief supplies to affected communities throughout Montana.

On Monday volunteers delivered clean up and family kits to Great Falls for distribution to homes in Sun River and throughout Cascade County.

Additionally, trucks delivered a small number of clean-up kits to Phillipsburg, Drummond and Deer Lodge on Monday. Clean-up supplies are pre-positioned for distribution when families begin recovery.

On Thursday, the Red Cross will coordinate with area emergency services personnel in Lewis and Clark County to make remote deliveries of clean-up kits to families – house by house – in affected communities in greater Helena.

Outreach teams consisting of mental health, health services, and client casework personnel continue to serve affected communities, studying needs and providing additional recovery resources in a timely manner.

Sheltering and feeding continue at Crow Agency to ensure families who are unable to return to damaged structures have a safe place to stay. A total of 239 meals were served Monday.