Story: Red Cross is here for the long haul

May 23, 2011

This story is written by Red Cross volunteer Allen Crabtree.

Mississippi Floods 2011

Not since the Great Flood of 1927 have the Mississippi River and its tributaries risen so high nor spread so wide. Tens of thousands of residents from Illinois to Louisiana have been forced from their homes and entire communities have been inundated. Flood waters will not recede for several weeks, into June. The Mississippi flooding was preceded by the deadliest tornado outbreak since 1925 that killed hundreds across seven states and demolished countless homes and businesses.

The Red Cross has been there from the beginning of these huge natural disasters, helping those impacted by the tornadoes and flooding, and will continue to be there while the waters recede and people return to their homes and a normal life.

The Mississippi floods are a disaster of epic proportions, but they have also been a disaster moving in slow motion. The rivers have risen slowly and waters have relentlessly covered homes and fields at a deliberate pace. People and communities have had time to react, moving their possessions to higher ground and evacuating in an orderly manner with thankfully little loss of life.

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Disaster Alert: Flooding in Kentucky

April 13, 2011

Disaster Alert

Kentucky – Flooding in several counties caused road closures and prompted some evacuations yesterday.

The Bluegrass Area Chapter opened a shelter and provided mass care to the affected residents. Chapter will do damage assessment when conditions permit.


Story: Overwhelming Response Includes the Red Cross

March 28, 2011

Story and photos by Andrea Bredow, Red Cross Volunteer
Flooding in Minnesota
Red Cross volunteers served coffee, hot chocolate, & snacks to people sand bagging in Hastings, Minnesota.

It was a chilly 17 degrees on Saturday morning, but the cold spring air and piles of snow did not stop the Hastings, Minnesota, community from banding together to fight the looming Mississippi River waters.

An estimated 700 volunteers spent Saturday sandbagging homes along the river. The American Red Cross Twin Cities Chapter volunteers were there as well. The Red Cross feeding vehicle, also know as the ERV, was on hand to provide hot beverages and snacks to keep volunteers warm and energized.

The call for volunteers went out early in the week and hundreds responded with shovel in hand. Family’s worked filling bags, youth groups stood in the “bucket line” delivering sandbags to homes and Scott Webber even showed up on his birthday to help.

“This is what the city of Hastings does. We help each other,” said Webber.

Webber and a hundred other volunteers were sent to surround Lloyd Fanum’s river side home with sandbags. Fanum has lived on the river for 30 years and is always overwhelmed by the communities outpouring of help.

“The boys and girls giving their weekend to help me is overwhelming! I can’t thank them enough,” said Fanum.

The army of volunteers turned out 20,000 sandbags in only four hours!

“When the neighbors are in trouble, we are ready to reach out and help,” said Patrick Walker, one of the sand bagging organizers.

Walker says they are ready to gear up the sandbagging operation at any time. If more homes along the river need help, the Hastings community will be there.


Disaster Update: Flooding in New Jersey

March 15, 2011

Disaster Update

New Jersey

Shelter

The American Red Cross continues to manage the Red Cross shelter in Patterson and support the non-Red Cross shelters with cots, blankets, comfort kits, towels, etc. There have been 133 overnight stays in the American Red Cross shelter.

Bulk Distribution

The Red Cross is continuing mobile bulk distribution routes in the following communities on Tuesday, March 15, 2011: Fairfield, Wayne, Lincoln Park, Pompton Lakes, & Pompton Plains. We will be distributing clean up kits, cleaning supplies such as gloves, and other recovery supplies.

To date we have distributed 686 clean up kits and 183 other bulk items.

Mobile Feeding

The Red Cross is continuing mobile feeding routes to support residents and responders in the following communities on Tuesday March 15, 2011: Fairfield, Wayne, Lincoln Park, & Pompton Plains. A full lunch, box dinner and snacks will be provided.

To date we have served 2,147 meals and 956 snacks.

Disaster Assessment

The Red Cross Disaster Assessment teams will be working in the areas where flood waters have receded to identify damage and the needs of the community. Currently disaster assessment is 38% complete and they have identified 683 dwellings affected by the flood waters, with 207 suffering major damage or destroyed.

Staffing

The majority of the relief operation staff have come from NJ. Three staff from PA and one staff member from GA have deployed to support the operation.

To date 114 staff members (volunteer & paid) from NJ have served on the relief operation.


Disaster Alert: Flooding in Tennessee

March 10, 2011

Disaster Alert

Tennessee – Heavy rain in various parts of the state has flooded some roads and is causing many water bodies to rise.

The Greater Chattanooga Area chapter has two shelters on standby and has human and material resources ready to respond.

They will continue to monitor the situation and advise the Disaster Operation Center as more information is known.


Disaster Alert: Ice Jams and Flooding in Montana

February 17, 2011

Disaster Alert

Montana – Ice jams caused parts of the Musselshell River near Ft. Peck to overflow it banks flooding roads including part of Highway 87 yesterday and making some houses in a subdivision inaccessible.

ARC of Montana Chapter will be monitoring the situation and update the Disaster Operations Center of any developments.


Photos: Water Main Break in Los Angeles

February 2, 2011

The Los Angeles Chapter of the American Red Cross responded to a water main break that flooded numerous apartments on West Vanowen near Havenhurst in Van Nuys on Feb 1, 2011.

Water Main Break in LA (Feb 2011)

Water Main Break in LA (Feb 2011) Water Main Break in LA (Feb 2011) Water Main Break in LA (Feb 2011) Water Main Break in LA (Feb 2011)

See entire “Water Main Break in LA (Feb 2011)” set in Flickr >>


Press Release: American Red Cross Volunteers on Standby to Respond to Flooding in St. George

December 21, 2010

American Red Cross Volunteers on Standby to Respond to Flooding in St. George

Tuesday, December 21, 2010 – The Utah Region of the American Red Cross is on standby to respond to the flooding in the St. George area. Along with our partners across the state, the Red Cross is ready to respond should assistance in the form of shelter, food and clothing be needed.

The American Red Cross in Southern Nevada opened a shelter last night at Virgin Valley High School in Mesquite, NV for residents affected by the flooding. The shelter hosted 15 individuals over night and will remain open for as long as needed. For information about shelters open near you, go to www.redcross.org and click on “Find a Shelter.”

Red Cross Chapters in Utah responded to 139 local disasters this past year, some of them rendering multiple families homeless. Nationwide, the American Red Cross helps victims of major and minor disasters by offering immediate comfort, which may include food, a warm place to stay, clothing and other life necessities. Volunteers give comfort kits to victims of fire, flood or other disasters. The kits include helpful items like toothbrushes, soap and a toy for children.


Disaster Alert: Flooding in California

December 20, 2010

Disaster Alert

California – Heavy rainfall caused flooding in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties that closed roads and prompted the evacuation of residents within the affected area on Sunday.

The San Luis Obispo County Chapter deployed a Disaster Action Team, placed a liaison on stand-by, opened a shelter and partnered with a local vendor to provide Mass Care to affected-area residents.

Disaster Action Team members from the Santa Barbara County Chapter opened a shelter, dispatched a shelter trailer and provided Mass Care to shelter residents.

The Santa Barbara County and Ventura County Chapters are on Mutual Aid alert for the San Luis Obispo County Chapter.


Disaster Alert: Flooding in Maine

December 15, 2010

Disaster Alert

Maine – Rain and melting snow flooded parts of the state yesterday. The hardest hit area was Washington County.

The Pine Tree Chapter opened a shelter for displaced residents and will do Disaster Assessment when conditions permit.


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