Photos: Winter Storm in Oklahoma
February 10, 2011
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Photos, Winter Storms (February 2011) | Tagged: oklahoma, red cross, snow, winter storm | 
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Posted by amrecro
Video: Winter Storm in Kansas City
February 4, 2011American Red Cross volunteer Sherri Odell shares her experiences responding to open a shelter during the 2011 blizzard.
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Posted by amrecro
Disaster Update: Winter Storm in Oklahoma
February 3, 2011Disaster Update
Oklahoma – Well before the blizzard of February 2011 hit, the Tulsa Red Cross was implementing well-developed logistics plans to come to the aid of people who would undoubtedly be displaced by what was shaping up to be a storm of historic proportion.
Emergency preparedness information was supplied to, and broadcast by, area media…
Red Cross staff and volunteers participated in briefings by the National Weather Service and emergency response agencies, monitoring the developing situation…
Personnel and critical supplies were deployed to areas likely to be hardest hit…
And the Tulsa Area Chapter prepared to operate its emergency operations center 24/7, if necessary, to respond to the disaster.
Fortunately, the storm did not create extended power outages. However, the record snowfalls experienced in many of the 31 counties served by the Tulsa chapter stranded vehicles and closed major highways, leaving many travelers unable to reach their destinations.
The Tulsa Area Chapter activated its emergency operations and mobilized “Ready When the Time Comes” teams to open and operate 11 shelters in 9 counties for stranded drivers. The travelers found comfort, a safe place to stay, hot meals and compassion at the Red Cross shelters. And as conditions improved and roads re-opened, the Red Cross helped those in the shelters get back to their vehicles and safely on their way.
By the end of the sheltering operation, the Red Cross had housed 89 people in overnight stays, served 181 meals, distributed 412 snacks and provided 62 comfort kits containing essential toiletries.
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Posted by amrecro
Disaster Update: Winter Storm Shelters in OK
February 2, 2011Disaster Update
Oklahoma – Red Cross is closing its stranded motorist shelters in all communities except Vinita and Miami. The Red Cross, working with local and area emergency, law enforcement and other agencies has been successful in helping people get back to their vehicles and safely on their way.
We expect that the shelters in Miami and Vinita will remain open at least through tonight.
The next Red Cross operations briefing will be Wednesday afternoon at 4:30 in our Emergency Operations Center. Media is welcome to attend the briefing at the Tulsa Area Chapter, located at 11th & Hwy. 169.
Red Cross Stranded Motorist Shelter locations remaining open:
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Posted by amrecro
Stories: Shelter Resident in Chicago Tells Her Story
February 2, 2011
This story comes from Chicago, where the local chapter housed over 360 people in various shelters overnight on February 01, 2011.
Barbie lives in Wriglyville and teaches preschool in Hide Park. After school let out she got onto Lake Shore Drive like usual and it began to back up. As traffic moved slowly she turned on her turn signal and thought she exited onto Belmont but about a half an hour later she realized she had only made a lane change and was still on Lake Shore Drive. The white out was so bad that she had passed the Belmont exit. The cars ceased to move.
She was stalled on the roadway until about 1:30 a.m., at which point she began to see firemen coming to each car and rescuing people. They took her to a warming bus where she waited until about 4:00 a.m. From there she was transferred to another bus that took her and others who were stranded on Lake Shore Drive to the Red Cross shelter located at Malcom X college. Upon arrival at the shelter, she was offered water, coffee, blankets, food and a cot by the Red Cross volunteers.
“The experience itself was horrible but I cannot tell you how thankful I am that the Red Cross was there. I am still in awe about this whole experience, but the Red Cross support was the shining moment in my night.”
Leave a Comment » | Stories, Uncategorized, Winter Storms (February 2011) | Tagged: chicago, disaster, red cross, shelter, weather, winter storm | Permalink
Posted by amrecro
Disaster Update: Winter Storm in Chicago
February 2, 2011Disaster Update
Illinois - Yesterday the American Red Cross sheltered more than 367 stranded travelers and people displaced by the blizzard in 10 shelters across the Greater Chicago. More than 300 people registered at the American Red Cross shelter at Malcolm X College in Chicago early this morning, many of whom were motorists who had been stranded on Lake Shore Drive when it closed.
The American Red Cross shelters at Malcolm X College, located at 1900 W. Van Buren and, the Des Plaines shelter, located at Prairie Lake Recreation Center are anticipated to remain open today and a decision will be made on the others later today based on need. The 10 shelters open last night were located in Des Plaines, New Lenox, Sauk Village, St. Charles, Chicago, Oak Lawn, Kankakee area (three locations) and Lisle. Shelter locations are likely to change due to weather conditions and need so please check the Chicago Red Cross http://www.chicagoredcross.org web site for up to date locations before going to a shelter and follow @chicagoredcross on twitter.
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Posted by amrecro
Disaster Update: Winter Storm Operations in Tulsa, OK
February 2, 2011Disaster Alert
Oklahoma – The Red Cross housed 65-70 people overnight in its stranded motorist shelters, providing people who could not reach their destinations with a safe, warm place to stay, a cot, and hot meals.
Today, the Red Cross will focus on assisting our shelter residents get back to their vehicles and safely on their way as soon as possible, although our shelters will remain in operation as long as needed. Red Cross will work with area and local emergency, law enforcement and other agencies on transportation for the shelter residents.
The stranded motorist shelter that was opened in Warner will close this morning due to lack of need.
The next Red Cross operations briefing will be Wednesday afternoon at 4:30 in our Emergency Operations Center. Media is welcome to attend the briefing at the Tulsa Area Chapter, located at 11th & Hwy. 169.
Both Red Cross Centers in Tulsa and all Red Cross blood drives in Oklahoma have been cancelled today.
This will increase the number of units lost since the storm started to 500+.
Blood deliveries are being made to area hospitals as they requested it.
Red Cross Stranded Motorist Shelter locations:
Leave a Comment » | Disaster Alerts, Winter Storms (February 2011) | Tagged: disaster, shelters, sklahoma, snow, snowstorm, stranded, weather, winter storm | Permalink
Posted by amrecro
Disaster Alert: Winter Storm in Massachusetts / Connecticut / Pennsylvania / New Jersey / New York
February 2, 2011Disaster Alert
Massachusetts / Connecticut / Pennsylvania / New Jersey / New York – A massive winter storm affected several states throughout the northeastern states with heavy snow, ice, and gusty winds that may cause power outages and road closures today.
Chapters activated Winter Storm Plan, convened on state coordinating calls to ensure all chapters were aware the of level of response in their region, conducted call downs to identify human and material resources, communicated with local and state emergency management and staffed Emergency Operation Centers.
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Posted by amrecro
Disaster Alert: Winter Storm in Indiana / Illinois / Missouri / Ohio / Kansas / Michigan / Arkansas / Nebraska / Wisconsin
February 2, 2011Disaster Alert
Indiana / Illinois / Missouri / Ohio / Kansas / Michigan / Arkansas / Nebraska / Wisconsin – A massive winter storm affected several states throughout the central states with heavy snow, ice, severe thunderstorms and gusty winds that closed roads, cancelled thousands of flights, stranded travelers and left millions of residents without power on Tuesday.
A State of Emergency was declared for Missouri, Illinois, Kansas, Arkansas and Oklahoma.
Chapters deployed Disaster Action Team members, opened or supported at least 51 shelters, placed others on standby, dispatched Emergency Response Vehicles, provided Mass Care, communicated with local and state emergency management and staffed Emergency Operation Centers on local and state levels.
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Posted by amrecro
Disaster Alert: Winter Storm in Texas / Oklahoma
February 2, 2011Disaster Alert
Texas/Oklahoma – A massive winter storm affected several states throughout the southern states with heavy snow, ice, severe thunderstorms and gusty winds that closed roads, cancelled flights, stranded travelers and left residents without power on Tuesday.
A State of Emergency was declared for Oklahoma.
Chapters deployed Disaster Action Team members, opened or supported at least 12 shelters, placed others on standby, dispatched Emergency Response Vehicles, provided Mass Care, communicated with local and state emergency management and staffed Emergency Operation Centers at the state and local level.
Leave a Comment » | Disaster Alerts, Winter Storms (February 2011) | Tagged: oklahoma, red cross, shelter, texas, winter storm | Permalink
Posted by amrecro
