Disaster Alert
New York – A tour bus returning from Mohegan Sun early morning on Saturday slammed into a pole killing fourteen passengers and injuring many in Bronx. Cause of the accident is under investigation.
The ARC in Greater New York Chapter set up a Family Assistance Center and provided mental health, disaster health services and mass care to the affected and first responders. Chapter also had public affairs and partner services on the scene.
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Disaster Alerts | Tagged: crash, disaster, new york, red cross, transportation | 
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Posted by amrecro
Greater NY Red Cross Helps Hundreds Affected by Building Fires and Vacates over President’s Day Weekend
New York – Over a long President’s Day Weekend that saw the weather change from spring-like warmth to frigid, wind-swept cold, the American Red Cross in Greater New York provided immediate humanitarian support—including food, clothing, blankets, temporary housing, emergency funds for basic needs and health and mental health services—to over 400 people affected by 26 fires and other incidents in the five boroughs of NYC and the Lower Hudson Valley.
The first of the weekend’s two largest responses occurred on Friday afternoon, when a full vacate order was issued for 552 Academy Street, a 5-story building in the Inwood section of Manhattan. The Chapter opened a reception center at nearby Junior High School 52, where Red Cross relief workers provided food and beverages, and health and mental health support for those affected by the vacate. A total of 36 families (89 adults and 16 children) registered for Red Cross services, and of those, 15 families (44 adults and 5 children) received emergency funds for food and other basic necessities.
Leave a Comment » | Press Release | Tagged: new york, red cross | Permalink
Posted by amrecro
Disaster Alert
New York – A house exploded in the town of Horseheads resulting in three injuries and the evacuation of eight homes yesterday.
The Southern Tier chapter’s Disaster Action Team conducted a Disaster Assessment and provided Mass Care to the affected residents and first responders.
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Posted by amrecro
Disaster Alert
New York – A gas leak in Ulster County prompted the evacuation of over 1,000 residents within the affected area on Thursday.
The Ulster County Chapter deployed a Disaster Action Team, opened a shelter and collaborated with other local organizations to provide Mass Care.
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Posted by amrecro
The American Red Cross Greater NY Region Responds to Winter Blizzard
Sunday, December 27, 2010 – The Greater New York (GNY) Regional Chapters—Greater New York, Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, Shelter Island and Greenwich, Connecticut—are assisting residents affected by the fierce winter storm that blanketed the region. The storm covered New York City, Long Island, Westchester, Connecticut and the Lower Hudson Valley with between 12 and 24 inches of snow, disrupting rail and air travel and causing a number of power outages.
In advance of the storm, all Chapters within the GNY region immediately urged New Yorkers to stay safe by providing important winter storm safety tips on Chapter websites and issuing media releases. Additionally, in preparation for a seamless response effort, Chapters prepositioned emergency supplies and identified relief workers by functional area—mass care (feeding), shelter operations, health and mental health services, disaster assessment, logistics and public affairs—to assist as needed. Working with government agencies and community partners, a number of shelters were opened throughout the region to provide affected residents with a warm, safe place to stay, a hot meal and a shoulder to lean on.
At the height of the storm, the Greater NY Region provided humanitarian assistance as follows:
Leave a Comment » | Press Release | Tagged: blizzard, new york, Press Release, red cross, snow storm, weather | Permalink
Posted by amrecro
Disaster Alert
A winter storm brought snow, high winds and coastal flooding throughout several portions of the states that stranded
travelers and left thousands of residents within the affected areas without power on Sunday. Governors declared a State of Emergency in Massachusetts and New Jersey.
All chapters within the impacted areas conducted call downs of volunteers and CEO’s were apprised.
The ARC of Northeastern New York Chapter staffed the state EOC to provide assistance as needed.
The ARC of Massachusetts Bay Chapter and placed shelters staffed the state EOC on stand-by for affected-area residents.
Disaster Action Team members from the ARC of Northern New Jersey Chapter collaborated with emergency management to open two shelters and provided Mass Care for scores of stranded travelers.
The Rhode Island Chapter deployed Disaster Action Team, staffed EOC, opened a shelter and placed other shelters on stand-by for affected-area residents. Disaster Action Team members from the Connecticut Chapter supported a shelter for residents affected by the storm
Leave a Comment » | Disaster Alerts | Tagged: blizzard, connecticut, disaster alert, massachusetts, new york, red cross, shelters, snowstorm, winter weather | Permalink
Posted by amrecro
Disaster Alert
New York – A winter storm that began Wednesday and continued through Thursday buried parts of Western New York with accumulations of 30” – 32” of snow. The storm left approximately 60,000 customers without power, causing the closure of parts of I-90 and stranding motorists. NW winds will produce colder temperatures.
Greater Buffalo American Red Cross and the American Red Cross of Southwestern New York opened shelters. Chapters will begin Disaster Assessment when conditions permit and are in contact with local Emergency Managers.
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Posted by amrecro
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.
Leave a Comment » | Press Release | Tagged: apartment, family fire, fire, new york, red cross, shelter | Permalink
Posted by amrecro
Disaster Alert
South Carolina to New York – Remnants of Tropical Storm Nicole continued to dump several inches of rain that caused flooding throughout many states along the Eastern seaboard. Multiple fatalities reported in North Carolina.
Chapters deployed Disaster Action Teams, placed others on stand-by, opened over a dozen shelters, supported several others, and collaborated with local and state Emergency Operation Centers to assist affected-area residents as needed.
Chapters continue to monitor the situation as additional rainfall is expected.
Leave a Comment » | Disaster Alerts, Fall Floods 2010 | Tagged: disaster relief, flooding, new york, red cross, south carolina, storms | Permalink
Posted by amrecro
As Phyllis Ebanks and Sherry Dowling, who lived on different floors of the same apartment building on Quincy Street in Brooklyn, made their way home on the evening of September 16th, they had no idea that a tornado had touched down on their street or their buildings.
They each arrived home sometime after 7 pm, only to be greeted by the chaotic sight of blown-out windows, fire trucks lining the street, yellow police tape cordoning off the building and the sounds of people hysterically crying. Neighbors soon explained that they were struck by this “freak” form of nature. Phyllis looked up and was astonished by what she saw: “The roofs from the buildings next to ours had blown onto the top of our building, caving in the ceiling of the room where I sleep!” she said.
She and Sherry soon learned that due to possible structural damage, all tenants were barred from the building, and it could take weeks for that situation to change. Neither knew what they were going to do. After learning that the Red Cross might be able to assist, the women, who had not met before the storm, separately made their way to NY Red Cross Chapter headquarters in Manhattan, hoping for real help.
“The Red Cross gave me a sense of relief,” said Phyllis. “Desperate for information, I poured out questions like crazy and not once did the Red Cross people tell me that I’d have to wait for the answers. They helped me with money for food and put me in a hotel right away; they didn’t leave me wondering where I was going to stay.”
“I love the Red Cross,” said Sherry, who received emergency housing, a stipend for food, and referrals to city agencies for further services. “If it wasn’t for them, I probably wouldn’t know my next step—what I was going to eat, where I was going to sleep. They really helped a lot.”
Phyllis added, “I’m grateful to the Red Cross. They gave me peace of mind.”
Leave a Comment » | Summer Tornadoes 2010 | Tagged: new york, storm, tornado | Permalink
Posted by amrecro
