Local Red Cross deploys volunteer responders to Alabama and Arkansas; more relief funding needed

From the American Red Cross:

GREENVILLE, SC, May 6, 2014 – Red Cross of the Western Carolinas deployed two volunteer disaster case workers this morning to support storm recovery efforts in Alabama. A local registered nurse volunteer deployed to Arkansas last week, shortly after returning from a two-week deployment near the mudslide recovery site in Oso, Washington. A second registered nurse volunteer is scheduled to deploy to Arkansas this Thursday. She will function in supervisory role.

For the past ten days, a group of 11 trained volunteers and staff have functioned as a Virtual Planning Team in support of the tornado recovery efforts in eastern North Carolina. The team is responsible for managing the daily and long term incident planning process for the ongoing operation, along with supporting data collection, mapping, and reporting support.

This brings the total number of local Red Cross personnel assigned to operations related to the recent severe spring storms in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic to 15.

There is an urgent need for disaster response funding in upstate South Carolina and western North Carolina.

• Local Red Cross direct financial assistance to disaster victims is more than $85,000 over- budget in the first 9 months of FY14. These expenses include the cost for temporary lodging, food and clothing for individuals who have been displaced from their homes by a disaster. This amount does not include the increase in indirect support which includes the costs of disaster response and training volunteer case workers and other responders.
• While major catastrophes such as the recent severe weather outbreak in the South and Mid-Atlantic capture national media attention, the local Red Cross continues to respond to daily disasters in its own region. These include residential fires, floods and severe weather.
• A local, anonymous donor has come forward with a pledge to match, dollar- for-dollar, any contributions from the Western Carolinas Region, up to a total of $25,000. Gifts can be made at www.RedCross.org or by calling (864) 271-8222. The gift must be received by May 30th and designated to support either “Where it is Needed Most” or “Disaster Relief”.

The Red Cross is providing comfort and hope to thousands of people across 13 states whose lives have been turned upside down by the devastating severe weather that swept across the country over the past week.

• Trained Red Cross workers are providing shelter, food, relief supplies, health services, emotional support and other assistance to those in need.
• Red Cross workers are helping people in Florida, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas and North Carolina.
• Hundreds of people are staying in Red Cross and community shelters in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Kansas, Mississippi and North Carolina.
• As people begin the monumental task this weekend of starting to clean up their neighborhoods, the Red Cross will be distributing relief supplies like brooms, buckets, gloves, shovels, rakes and tarps throughout many affected communities.
• In total, more than 1,200 trained Red Cross workers and more than 60 emergency vehicles are helping in the hardest hit communities. As of Friday, volunteers have already served more than 70,000 meals and snacks, and handed out more than 11,000 essential relief items to people in need.
• This has been a difficult week for many families and Red Cross disaster mental health workers are helping people cope in the aftermath. Volunteers are also helping to replace prescription medications and eyeglasses.
• More workers, supplies and equipment are ready in case they are needed.

Over the past week, storms have left a wide swath of damage, devastation and despair from the Great Plains to the Gulf Coast and across the Mid-Atlantic. The Red Cross has been there every day to help – and our work is really just beginning.

• The Red Cross will be on the ground for weeks supporting those affected.
• This weekend the Red Cross will be out in neighborhoods handing out relief supplies like rakes, shovels, mops and trash bags to help people clean up debris.
• In the days ahead, the Red Cross will also be working with local community partners to provide additional services to help families get back on their feet and begin to recover.
• For example, in some areas the Red Cross will help to open community resource centers bringing all of the organizations and agencies together in one convenient location to help those affected.
• Red Cross caseworkers will also be available to meet one-on-one with people to create recovery plans, navigate paperwork and locate help from other agencies.

Learn what it’s like to be a Red Cross disaster volunteer.

The local Red Cross is in urgent need of disaster volunteers. It regularly conducts New Disaster Volunteer Orientations that include an overview of Red Cross services, its mission and purpose, volunteer opportunities and information on how to get started.

Pre-registration is required and may be completed online at:
https://arcwcrdcs.wufoo.com/forms/disaster-cycle-services-new-volunteer-orientation/

For more information, please email: wcrdvmt@redcross.org or call (864) 271-8222.