Red Cross Helps Allegheny County Libraries Prepare Patrons for Flu Season
PITTSBURGH – With extensive reference materials, computers and class offerings, Allegheny County libraries provide a wealth of information to the community. Amid flu season, however, the America
PITTSBURGH – The holidays are a time for excitement, celebration and laughter. With this holiday season quickly approaching, people throughout the region are decorating homes; while the American
Red Cross Urges Local Residents to Use Fire Alarms
PITTSBURGH - The American Red Cross Southwestern Pennsylvania Chapter wants you to be safe and ready in the case of a fire. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) release
August 19, 2004 Four Local Residents Travel to Florida, Help Hurricane Victims
Four Local Residents Travel to Florida,
Help Hurricane Victims
PITTSBURGH, August 19, 2004 — Four local residents and Red Cross volunteers are working in Florida to help with the relief effort in the aftermath of Hurricane Charley.
• Richard Browning, Allison Park (Allegheny County)
• Debbie Phillips, Carmichaels (Greene County)
• Peg Redmond, Brownsville (Fayette County)
• Sarah Castaldo, Scott Twp (Allegheny County)
For some, it is their first Red Cross national disaster assignment; for others, it is just one of many in their volunteer history.
The volunteers will provide mobile feeding, bulk distribution and logistics support in the affected areas. Trained and experienced in Red Cross disaster operations, the volunteers left at a moment’s notice for the three-week assignment.
In the largest American Red Cross storm response effort since Hurricane Andrew and the largest disaster response since September 11th, the American Red Cross is coordinating a massive response effort, including providing safety and shelter for the now homeless, as dry clothing to tens of thousands of people, and delivering more than 532,000 meals and snacks.
All Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the American people. You can help the victims of [this disaster] and thousands of other disasters across the country each year by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, which enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to those in need. Call 1-800-HELP NOW or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Contributions to the Disaster Relief Fund may be sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. Internet users can make secure online credit card donations by visiting www.redcross.org.
Governed by volunteers and supported by community donations, the American Red Cross is a nationwide network of nearly 900 chapters and Blood Services regions dedicated to saving lives and helping people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies. Led by 1 million volunteers and 36,000 employees, the Red Cross annually mobilizes relief to families affected by more than 70,000 disasters, trains almost 12 million people in lifesaving skills and exchanges more than a million emergency messages for U.S. military service personnel and their families. The Red Cross is the largest supplier of blood and blood products to more than 3,000 hospitals across the nation and also assists victims of international disasters and conflicts at locations worldwide.
For more local information, visit www.swpa.redcross.org.
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August 17, 2004 Red Cross Helping Pittsburgh Area Families Connect To Families In Hurricane's Path.
RED CROSS HELPING PITTSBURGH AREA FAMILIES
CONNECT TO FAMILIES IN HURRICANE’S PATH.
PITTSBURGH, August 16, 2004 — Individuals in the Pittsburgh and surrounding areas who are trying to locate immediate family members inside the affected Hurricane areas may call the Southwestern Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Red Cross at 412-263-3100.
The service, known as “Welfare Inquiry” is a free service to the public. It is offered by American Red Cross chapters across the country - during disasters - as a way to help link families together at times of crisis.
The Southwestern Pennsylvania Chapter has been receiving Welfare Inquiries from local families since Saturday.
Due to communication delays and emergency priorities, the process may take several days. The Red Cross urges local individuals to continue trying to make contact with the family members in the affected area.
“As phone service continues to be restored in the affected area – or as Hurricane victims begin getting access to phones and other communications equipment - we are noticing that local families who called us are, fortunately, connecting with their loved ones,” says Ryan Miller, Director of Social Services for the American Red Cross, Southwestern PA Chapter.
The American Red Cross presence in the Hurricane area grows each day as volunteers from across the Northeast and Puerto Rico arrive on scene to staff shelters, serve meals and comfort families.
Supply trucks are making their way through blocked roads and bridges, as well as traffic jams. Meeting immediate needs for shelter, food and necessities, the American Red Cross continues to care for people across Florida, North Carolina and South Carolina. In its largest disaster response since 9/11, the Red Cross has opened 373 shelters and served 285,000 meals and snacks.
All Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the American people. You can help the victims of this disaster and thousands of other disasters across the country each year by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, which enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to those in need. Call 1-800-HELP NOW or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Contributions to the Disaster Relief Fund may be sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. Internet users can make secure online credit card donations by visiting www.redcross.org.
Governed by volunteers and supported by community donations, the American Red Cross is a nationwide network of nearly 900 chapters and Blood Services regions dedicated to saving lives and helping people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies. Led by 1 million volunteers and 36,000 employees, the Red Cross annually mobilizes relief to families affected by more than 70,000 disasters, trains almost 12 million people in lifesaving skills and exchanges more than a million emergency messages for U.S. military service personnel and their families. The Red Cross is the largest supplier of blood and blood products to more than 3,000 hospitals across the nation and also assists victims of international disasters and conflicts at locations worldwide.
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August 16, 2004 Local Red Cross Volunteers Help In Florida Hurricane Aftermath
Local Red Cross Volunteers Help In Florida Hurricane Aftermath
Southwestern PA Red Cross Chapter Called to Provide Volunteers in coming days.
PITTSBURGH, August 16, 2004 — Two local residents left Saturday for Florida to help with the relief effort in the aftermath of Hurricane Charley.
The volunteers will provide mobile feeding and bulk distribution in the affected areas as well as logistics support. Trained and experienced in Red Cross disaster operations, the volunteers left at a moment’s notice for the three-week assignment.
In the largest American Red Cross storm response effort since Hurricane Andrew, the Southeast Service Area of the Red Cross is coordinating a massive response effort focusing initially on providing safety and shelter for the now homeless, as well as food and dry clothing to tens of thousands of people. At the moment, hundreds of trained disaster volunteers are converging on the affected areas, where already some 80 Emergency Response Vehicles are moving though damaged neighborhoods offering food and drink. The Red Cross will also be providing clean-up kits and other relief supplies. More than 45,000 people sought refuge overnight in one of the more than 250 Red Cross shelters.
The local volunteers going ‘out on assignment’ are part of the Red Cross national disaster assignment program called DSHR. DSHR gives local citizens the opportunity to provide care to disasters anywhere in the country through 22 job functions. To be called for a disaster assignment, the citizen must:
1) Have completed the appropriate Red Cross training and already have a relationship with the local Red Cross chapter
2) Possess a valid drivers license
3) Be in good health and be flexible about travel plans
4) Be willing to live and work in adverse conditions and willing to work long hours daily for extended periods with little free time.
While the American Red Cross looks to the disaster site’s surrounding areas – first – to aid in relief efforts, it is not unusual for the organization to call on communities across the country for reinforcements - especially in a disaster of this magnitude.
The Southwestern Pennsylvania Chapter currently has 50 trained DSHR members.
“I anticipate that in the coming days, we will be notified to provide trained DSHR members,” says Red Cross Southwestern PA Chapter COO Rob Skertich. “Already, we’ve been asked to help staff 730 positions in everything from counseling support, medical care, volunteer coordination, food distribution, family financial assistance, and call center support.”
If you are interested in knowing more about DSHR, call 412-263-3100.
About the (national) American Red Cross
Governed by volunteers and supported by community donations, the American Red Cross is a nationwide network of nearly 900 field units dedicated to saving lives and helping people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies. Led by over 1 million volunteers and 30,000 employees, the Red Cross annually mobilizes relief to families affected by more than 70,000 disasters, trains almost 12 million people in lifesaving skills and keeps U.S. military families connected worldwide. The Red Cross is the largest supplier of blood and blood products to more than 3,000 hospitals across the nation and also assists victims of international disasters and conflicts at locations worldwide. Marsha J. Evans is the President and CEO of the American Red Cross.
About the (Southwestern Pennsylvania Chapter) American Red Cross
The American Red Cross Southwestern Pennsylvania Chapter helps families stay safe in Allegheny, Washington, Greene and Fayette Counties. A humanitarian service organization currently servicing more than 1.5 million people, the American Red Cross Southwestern Pennsylvania Chapter annually mobilizes relief to victims of more than 300 disasters and sends nearly 1,000 emergency messages to U.S. service members separated from loved ones. The local Red Cross trains more than 45,000 people in vital lifesaving skills such as First Aid and CPR and locally sponsors senior volunteer services such as the Foster Grandparent Program and the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program. To donate or volunteer, call the American Red Cross Southwestern Pennsylvania Chapter by phone at (412) 263-3100, by mail at 225 Boulevard of the Allies, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222 or online at swpa.redcross.org.
