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Disaster Alert: Fire in Dallas

February 3, 2011

Disaster Alert

Texas – Red Cross teams are on site at the Tealwood on the Creek apartments in Dallas, Texas. A devastating fire has left 40 people in 18 units with nothing more than what they were wearing when they escaped the blaze. The City of Dallas send DART buses to the scene so that families could stay warm while getting help from the Red Cross.

So far, the Red Cross has made contact with 15 out of the 18 families and volunteers are assisting them with supplies from disaster relief vehicles including warm blankets, sweat suits, socks, shoes and hygiene supplies. Additionally, financial assistance is being given out so that families can go to Wal-Mart or Target and purchase new clothing and shoes, winter coats, groceries and other needed supplies.

Right now, the Red Cross is still working with the families and the property manager to determine if an overnight shelter will be needed for the displaced. An update will be provided later in the afternoon.

Leave a Comment » | Disaster Alerts | Tagged: apartments, canteen, Dallas, disaster, fire, firemen, house fire, shelter, texas | Permalink
Posted by amrecro

Disaster Alert: Cold Weather and Fire in Florida

December 14, 2010

Disaster Alert

Florida – Unseasonably low temperatures caused freezing that prompted the evacuation of affected residents throughout the central and southern portions of the state on Monday.

In an unrelated incident, a brush fire burned over a dozen acres in Martin County on Monday. High winds increased the potential for a possible evacuation.

Disaster Action Team members from chapters within the affected areas opened or supported a total of 12 shelters, placed several on stand-by, provided Mass Care and assisted hundreds of shelter residents overnight.

The Martin County Chapter deployed Disaster Action Team to provide canteen services for emergency responders and place a shelter on stand-by.

Leave a Comment » | Disaster Alerts | Tagged: cold weather, fire, florida | Permalink
Posted by amrecro

Press Release: Heartland Chapter Volunteers Respond to Last Night’s LaVista Apartment Fire

December 8, 2010

Red Cross Services Update

OMAHA, NEB., December 8, 2010 —Around 100 tenants of Alpine Village Apartments received assistance from the American Red Cross last night and early into this morning after a fire broke out affecting residents from around 24 units.

Nine volunteers from the Heartland Chapter’s Disaster Action Team and four staff members were on scene to assist affected families as needed with clothing, food, shelter, comfort and care. The team also stayed into the early hours to canteen for the fire department and first responders. More information to come on the exact number of people affected as volunteers can assess damage.

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Leave a Comment » | Press Release | Tagged: fire, nebraska, omaha | Permalink
Posted by amrecro

Video: Red Cross Responds to 4-Alarm Fire in Dallas, Texas

November 29, 2010

Some 60 people in Dallas, Texas lost their homes when a 4-alarm fire ripped through the Sequoia Apartments the morning after Thanksgiving. Many were out at area shopping malls when they received jolting cell phone calls that their homes were on fire. Rushing back to the scene, they were met by coultless firefighters, fire engines and the American Red Cross.

Leave a Comment » | Videos | Tagged: 4 alarm fire, apartment fire, Dallas, disaster, fire, red cross, texas | Permalink
Posted by amrecro

Disaster Alert: Hazardous Materials in Virginia

November 17, 2010

Disaster Alert

Virginia – An accident involving a pick-up truck in Danville yesterday resulted in a chemical spill, half-mile radius evacuation and closure of parts of US 29 and 58. Two firefighters were transported to a local hospital after being exposed to the chemical.

The Roanoke Valley Chapter deployed mass care and Community Emergency Response Team volunteers to the scene.

They opened an evacuation shelter where they provided cots, blankets, bottled water, snacks and meals from an Emergency Response Vehicle (ERV) to affected residents, emergency workers and first responders.

Leave a Comment » | Disaster Alerts | Tagged: fire, hazardous materials, red cross, truck, virginia | Permalink
Posted by amrecro

Disaster Alert: Wildfire in Texas

October 29, 2010

Disaster Alert

Texas – A forest fire in Walker and Trinity Counties destroyed several homes and prompted the evacuation of residents within the affected area on Thursday.

The Greater Houston Area Chapter deployed a Disaster Action Team, placed a shelter on standby and provided individual assistance to disaster victims.

Leave a Comment » | Disaster Alerts | Tagged: disaster, fire, texas, wildfire | Permalink
Posted by amrecro

Press Release: American Red Cross Responds to Apartment Fire in Connecticut

October 27, 2010

American Red Cross Responds to Apartment Fire in Connecticut

Waterbury, Connecticut – The American Red Cross is responding to a condominium complex on Waterville Road in Waterbury. The Red Cross is providing temporary lodging and financial assistance for emergency clothing and food needs to 16 people – 12 adults and four children – who were displaced by the early morning fire.

The Red Cross is also providing comfort kits, containing age and gender appropriate personal care items such as toothbrushes, deodorant, shaving supplies and other items a family might not have been able to gather in the rush to escape the fire. Children’s’ kits include coloring supplies and a stuffed toy.

The comfort kits are assembled and donated by Clean Sweep Restoration Services of New England, LLC, an emergency clean-up and restoration services company located in Wallingford, Connecticut. Clean Sweep has been building and donating kits to the Red Cross in Connecticut for nearly a year, making them available for the Red Cross to use in the nearly 500 fires it responds to each year.

The Red Cross remains on the scene, providing canteen service to emergency responders and to residents who remained on scene during the response. The Red Cross has served beverages and snacks to approximately 75 people so far.

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Leave a Comment » | Press Release | Tagged: apartment fire, connecticut, fire, red cross | Permalink
Posted by amrecro

Press Release: Red Cross Assisting Tuscaloosa Apartment Fire Victims

October 27, 2010

Red Cross Assisting Tuscaloosa Apartment Fire Victims

TUSCALOOSA, October 27, 2010 –The American Red Cross West Alabama Chapter is currently helping victims of an early morning apartment fire at the Graceland Apartment Complex in Tuscaloosa. The fire was reported at 3:30am on Wednesday and 20 units were affected. Of those units:

• 6 destroyed
• 6 suffered water damage
• 8 smoke damage and no utilities

Red Cross Volunteer and staff Disaster Action Team (DAT) members responded to the scene with the Emergency Response Vehicle to provide immediate help with items like comfort kits containing toiletries, food and clothing. Client assistance for the nearly 30 individuals affected by this fire is taking place at the Alberta Baptist Church (2210 University Blvd E, Tuscaloosa).

Three people were taken to DCH Regional Medical Center due to smoke inhalation.

Leave a Comment » | Press Release | Tagged: alabama, apartment, fire, red cross | Permalink
Posted by amrecro

Press Release: Greater NY Red Cross Assists More Than 70 after Sedgwick Avenue Fire

October 21, 2010

Red Cross Services Update

October 21, 2010 – The American Red Cross in Greater NY has set up a reception center at Chapter headquarters in Manhattan to assist residents forced from their homes at 1793 Sedgwick Avenue, a five-story apartment building in the Bronx, after a fire swept through the building at 4 a.m. today.

As of this morning, 74 people (57 adults and 17 children) from the building have been registered for Red Cross services and fourteen families are currently at the reception center, where they are being provided with food, beverages and emotional support. Additionally, the families are meeting on an individual basis with Red Cross case workers to assess next steps in terms of providing for their immediate needs for food, temporary housing, financial assistance and health and mental health services. Several more residents from the fire building in need of emergency assistance are expected at Chapter headquarters later today.

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Leave a Comment » | Press Release | Tagged: apartment, family fire, fire, new york, red cross, shelter | Permalink
Posted by amrecro

Press Release: Red Cross Provides Shelter for Families Following Minneapolis Fire

October 21, 2010

Red Cross Provides Shelter for Families Following Minneapolis Fire

Minneapolis, October 21, 2010 – An American Red Cross shelter is helping families following a multi-unit apartment fire Wednesday evening on Blaisdell Avenue in Minneapolis.

“Right now we’re providing people with a safe place to stay,” says Jill Hallonquist, Emergency Services Director for the American Red Cross Twin Cities Area Chapter. “More than 25 Red Cross volunteers and staff have responded to this disaster, which has left dozens homeless.”

At about 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday night, a fire broke out affecting all 45 units in the Whittier Co-Op apartment building. The utilities needed to be turned off, leaving 49 adults and 43 children without a home for the night.

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Leave a Comment » | Press Release | Tagged: fire, Minneapolis, minnesota, red cross | Permalink
Posted by amrecro