Photos: Red Cross Responds in Mississippi
May 5, 2011
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Photos, Spring Tornadoes 2011, Uncategorized | Tagged: American Red Cross, disaster, disaster relief, mississippi, tornadoes | 
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Posted by amrecro
Story: Winds of change leave Texans on pins and needles
April 20, 2011Story and photos by Anita Foster
Texans are resilient people, but even they are reeling from a series of wildfires that have destroyed more than 150 homes, scorched at least 1 million acres and claimed the life of a volunteer firefighter in Eastland County. And they know that the fires are not close to being contained—and there’s not a drop of rain in the forecast.
Each day brings with it its own set of challenges. Just yesterday, our American Red Cross team was in a small town near Palo Pinto, Texas. We could see the fire burning on the other side of the hill. We knew it was close. Firefighters and state troopers patrolled the streets alerting residents that they had one hour to pack up and get out because the fire was coming right at them. The residents were told to take the things that really mattered to them because they wouldn’t likely have a home upon their return.
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Leave a Comment » | Spring Wildfires 2011, Stories | Tagged: American Red, American Red Cross, disaster relief, wildfires | Permalink
Posted by amrecro
Press Release: Red Cross Continues To Help Tornado Victims, Fire Clients and Respond Nationwide To Disasters
April 5, 2011
Red Cross volunteers continue to respond down the street, across the country and around the world
CENTRAL FLORIDA, April 5, 2011 – American Red Cross volunteers in Hillsborough County have completed assessments of the damage caused by last Thursday’s tornados, however client casework and mass care services continue. At the same time, Disaster Action Teams have been busy responding to multiple fires throughout the state.
Today’s storms came as an ominous reminder of last week’s violent weather. Many structures that were damaged by the nine tornados may have been weakened further by the heavy rains and strong winds. The Capital Area Chapter of the American Red Cross in Tallahassee reports that high wind caused major damage to six homes today. Another home was damaged in the Jacksonville area.
While Red Cross volunteers continue to help families affected by the storms, others respond to provide emergency assistance to families who lost their homes to fires. Within the last 24 hours, Tampa Bay Chapter volunteers responded to four fires, one involving an apartment complex where 19 people including 11 children were forced from their homes.
Across the state of Florida – 325 homes were affected by the March 31 tornados; 14 were destroyed and 85 suffered major damage. But, it’s not just Florida that is suffering.
Across the country, the Red Cross responded today after severe spring storms affected hundreds of thousands of people in Louisiana, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee and North Carolina. At the same time, Red Cross disaster workers are on the ground in North Dakota and Minnesota as the Red River continues to rise. In fact, since late March, the Red Cross has played a role in 14 disaster events in 13 states across the nation.
This latest disaster response comes on the heels of the Red Cross assisting people in Oklahoma, Colorado, Kansas and Texas where wildfires burned thousands of acres, destroyed homes and forced people to evacuate from their neighborhoods.
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Posted by amrecro
Disaster Alert – Texas Wildfire
April 5, 2011Disaster Alert
Texas – A wildfire burned thousands of acres, destroyed homes, threatened dozens of others and caused the evacuation of hundreds of residents in Laredo and Webb Counties on Monday.
The San Antonio Area Chapter deployed Disaster Action Team, opened a shelter, dispatched two Emergency Response Vehicles, provided Mass Care, supplied Bulk Distribution and canteened emergency responders.
An Emergency Response Vehicle was deployed through mutual aid from the Coastal Bend –Texas Chapter.
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Posted by amrecro
Disaster Alert: Severe Weather Reported in Southern States
April 5, 2011Disaster Alert
Louisiana – Severe storms passed throughout the state and destroyed homes, damaged others and caused power outages that affected thousands of residents on Monday.
The Southeast Louisiana and Acadiana Area Red Cross Chapters deployed Disaster Action Team members, placed a shelter on stand-by, and assisted disaster victims as needed.
Mississippi – Severe storms damaged homes and buildings, leaving thousands of residents throughout the state without power on Monday.
Disaster Action Team members from the Northeast Mississippi Chapter opened a shelter and provided assistance to evacuees as needed.
Tennessee – Strong storms destroyed or damaged dozens of homes and left more than 100,000 residents without power throughout the central portion of the state on Monday.
The Nashville Area Chapter deployed Disaster Action Team members, opened a shelter, placed others on stand-by and staffed local Emergency Operations Center.
The Greater Chattanooga Area Chapter staffed the county Emergency Operations Center and is monitoring situation to provide response, if necessary.
Kentucky – Severe storms passed throughout the state and destroyed homes, damaged others, downed trees and power lines on Monday. One reported injury.
All Chapters in the affected areas, including the Louisville Area and Bluegrass Chapters, deployed Disaster Action Team members and provided assistance to victims as needed.
North Carolina – Severe weather passed throughout the state damaging homes, downing trees and causing power outage to almost 130,000 residents.
The Rutherford County and Asheville-Mountain Area chapters are monitoring the situation and continuing to do Disaster Assessment and provide assistance as needed.
Leave a Comment » | Disaster Alerts | Tagged: American Red Cross, disaster alert, kentucky, mississippi, north carolina, relief, Southeast Louisiana chapter, storm, tennessee | Permalink
Posted by amrecro
Press Release: American Red Cross Contributes an Initial $10 Million to Assist Japan’s Earthquake and Tsunami Survivors
March 15, 2011
American Red Cross Contributes an Initial $10 Million to Assist Japan’s Earthquake and Tsunami Survivors
[WASHINGTON, DC] March 15, 2011 – The American Red Cross today announced an initial contribution of $10 million to the Japanese Red Cross Society to assist in its ongoing efforts to provide medical care and relief assistance to the people of Japan following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.
“We are grateful for the American public’s generosity and compassion following what has been declared one of the most devastating earthquakes in history,” said David Meltzer, senior vice president of international services with the American Red Cross. “The American Red Cross is in a unique position to help channel that support to our partner in Japan that is playing a critical humanitarian role and comforting the survivors.”
In addition to financial assistance, a disaster management expert from the American Red Cross arrived in Japan Monday for a week-long mission. She is serving on a seven-person, international team focused on providing high-level support and advice to the Japanese Red Cross, which continues to support the Japanese government’s earthquake and tsunami response.
The Japanese Red Cross is a highly experienced disaster relief organization with two million volunteers nationwide. Many local volunteers took immediate action following the disaster by distributing relief items, offering hot meals, clearing debris and providing medical transportation.
As concerns mount about damage to nuclear power plants in the north, the Japanese Red Cross is also focused on supporting the 200,000 people who have been evacuated from the exclusion zone. Many of the Japanese Red Cross branch offices have trained nuclear decontamination teams and equipment, including special tents for decontamination which can be used to support a government response. A specialist medical team at the Nagasaki Red Cross hospital is on standby, ready to receive patients if people become ill as a result of radiation poisoning. Other hospitals in the area are monitoring radiation levels to protect the patients they are currently treating.
At public shelters and throughout the country, local volunteers are handing out relief items, including more than 65,000 blankets which are of great comfort to the displaced, many of whom had been sleeping outdoors, in their vehicles and wherever else they can find space since the earthquake.
“There is a real concern for the elderly, who are extremely vulnerable to hypothermia,” said Meltzer. “Japan is a country with a high proportion of seniors, and the Red Cross will be doing all it can to support them through this dreadful experience.”
7 Comments | Japan Earthquake (March 2011), Press Release | Tagged: American Red Cross, donations, earthquake, japan, japan red cross, japanese earthquake, tsunami | Permalink
Posted by amrecro
Disaster Alert: Wildfire in Boulder, CO
September 7, 2010Disaster Alert
Colorado – A wildfire in Boulder County burned thousands of acres, damaged or destroyed multiple structures and caused thousands of residents within the affected area to evacuate on Monday.
The Mile High chapter deployed a Disaster Action Team, opened a shelter, provided Mass Care for shelter residents and issued canteen services to hundreds of affectedarea residents and emergency responders.
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Posted by amrecro
Tropical Storm Hermine
September 7, 2010Hermine made landfall on Monday and is expected to affect the southern portion of the state with high winds and rain up to 12 inches in areas throughout Texas. A Hurricane Watch and a Tropical Storm Warning is in effect. The storm is projected to move through the center of the state.
Leave a Comment » | Hurricane Season 2010 | Tagged: American Red Cross, donate, give, gulf, help, hermine, mexico, texas, tropical storm, tropical storm hermine, volunteer | Permalink
Posted by amrecro
Press Release: Red Cross Provides Comfort and Shelter from the Storm as Hurricane Earl Moves Up the Atlantic Coast
September 4, 2010WASHINGTON, September 4, 2010 – The American Red Cross has provided help and shelter from North Carolina to New England as Hurricane Earl and its winds and rain moved up the Atlantic Coast.
Friday night, twelve Red Cross shelters in New York, Massachusetts and Rhode Island gave nearly 100 people a safe place to ride out the storm as Earl moved past Cape Cod with strong winds and heavy rain. Thursday night, a dozen Red Cross shelters in North Carolina gave more than 260 people comfort as the storm passed through that area.
The Red Cross deployed 500 trained disaster workers and 62 emergency response vehicles to North Carolina, New York, Massachusetts and Rhode Island to be ready for Hurricane Earl, and had additional vehicles, staff and supplies on standby.
“The Red Cross provided shelter and comfort to people as Hurricane Earl moved up the coast,” said Joe Becker, senior vice president, Red Cross Disaster Services. “Just as we ask each of you to be ready for disasters, the Red Cross practices preparedness by having trained workers and supplies in position before hurricanes come ashore so we can be ready to help as soon as the danger passes. This time much of the East Coast was spared a direct hit by a powerful hurricane, but we’re going to take the steps necessary to be ready when severe weather threatens.”
According to area officials, Earl weakened to a tropical storm and had little impact on Cape Cod and the surrounding areas, causing no major damage and few power outages. The storm is now headed towards Canada, and is expected to weaken further.
The Red Cross worked closely with various state, county and local government officials along the Atlantic coast on emergency planning for the storm in states such as North Carolina, South Carolina, New York, Massachusetts, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine.
While it has moved away, Earl is expected to continue to cause powerful rip currents that are likely to be seen along the Atlantic Coast throughout the Labor Day weekend. The Red Cross advises anyone visiting the shore areas to swim only on lifeguard protected beaches and within designated swimming areas.
To make a financial donation to the Red Cross to help people affected by this storm and other disasters here in the United States and around the world, people can click, call or text – visit www.redcross.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS, or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. The storm may also impact blood collections in the affected areas. To find out how you can be a blood donor, visit www.redcrossblood.org.
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies nearly half of the nation’s blood; teaches lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization — not a government agency — and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit www.redcross.org or join our blog at http://blog.redcross.org.
Leave a Comment » | Hurricane Earl, Hurricane Season 2010 | Tagged: 2010, American Red Cross, disaster, donate, give, help, hurricane earl, september 4, shelter, storm, support, text, volunteer | Permalink
Posted by amrecro
Photos: Hurricane Earl on Cape Cod
September 4, 2010
Leave a Comment » | Hurricane Earl, Hurricane Season 2010 | Tagged: American Red Cross, assist, cape cod, charity, chatham, give, help, hurricane, hurricane earl, masachusetts, provide, shelter, storm, volunteer | Permalink
Posted by amrecro
