INFORMATION UPDATE: Red Cross Response: Wildfires, Flooding & Transportation Incident Monday, July 8th, 2013 at 01:40 PM ET The American Red Cross remains a presence of comfort to communities affected by wildfires, flooding and transportation incidents throughout the country. Red Cross disaster workers are providing shelter, food, clean up items and emotional support to people impacted by flooding in New York, Pennsylvania and North Carolina, wildfires in Arizona and Nevada, as well as the Asiana Airlines crash in Northern California. The Red Cross had 7 shelters opened during the weekend across the country providing 40 overnight stays on Sunday night. For much of the Northwest, flash flood watches and warnings remain in effect. A combination of heavy rain and saturated ground will increase chances of flooding. A tropical storm watch is now in effect for Puerto Rico for Tropical Storm Chantal. Maximum sustained winds are at 45 mph, with higher gusts. Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 60 mph. Tropical Storm conditions are expected within the Puerto Rico Watch area by early Tuesday. The Red Cross is mobilizing volunteers and materials to support this response. Red Cross Response – New York Floods The Red Cross continues to provide aid and relief assistance to people impacted by flooding that started nearly two weeks ago. The focus of the Red Cross has been distributing bulk distribution relief items such as water, food, hygiene kits, mops, shovels and work gloves. Health service volunteers are providing first aid, medical assessments and referrals. Mental health professionals are also on-site to offer emotional support and education on what people may experience in the days, months and even years ahead. In response to the floods, the Red Cross has: · Opened 4 shelters providing more than 300 overnight stays · Served over 22,400 meals and snacks · Distributed nearly 20,000 bulk items and comfort kits · Provided more than 1,500 health services and mental health contacts. Red Cross Response – Pennsylvania Flooding Major flooding affected areas throughout Clearfield and Jefferson counties at the end of June, the Red Cross has been on the ground, providing assistance to affected residents. Disaster workers continue to perform damage assessment in impacted areas to help inform our service delivery and casework. The Red Cross has been able to coordinate relief response with partners like the DuBois First United Methodist Church and the Western Pennsylvania United Methodist Church Disaster Response Ministry to provide bulk distribution of clean up supplies, and provide physical labor for families who need clean up assistance. The Tri County Church and Salvation Army have also worked alongside the Red Cross to provide food, snacks and food gift cards. Red Cross volunteers continue to meet with individuals and families in affected communities to determine the full extent of their needs as they begin the path to recovery. To date, the Red Cross has: · Opened 2 shelters providing more than 160 overnight stays · Served nearly 1,100 meals and snacks in partnership with the Salvation Army · Distributed over 700 comfort items and clean up kits · Mobilized more than 100 Red Cross disaster workers to assist in damage assessment, case work, and mobile distribution. Red Cross Response – North Carolina Flooding The Red Cross is providing aid and relief assistance to residents impacted by the mudslide and severe flooding in upstate and western North Carolina over the weekend. Ongoing threat of flooding and landslides remain. The Red Cross shelter in Jackson County is providing warm meals, personal hygiene kits and emotional support to residents evacuated from their homes. Additionally, Red Cross workers remain on the scene, and are conducting damage assessment, distributing relief supplies and meeting one-on-one with residents in the impacted areas. In response to earlier flooding in Chapel Hill, the Red Cross continues to meet with families and individuals in affected communities to determine and support their needs on their road to recovery. To date in response to the Chapel Hill Floods, Red Cross has: · Opened 1 shelter, providing more than 100 overnight stays since the initial floods · Served more than 5,000 meals and snacks · Distributed nearly 300 relief items such as mops, brushes, bleach and work gloves. Red Cross Response – Nevada Wildfires The fire which began on July 1st, one mile southwest of Kyle Canyon, Nevada has consumed over 14,000 acres with 15% containment. Mandatory evacuations remain in effect for 520 residents. Approximately 400 residences, 1 commercial property and 100 outbuildings remain threatened in Trout Canyon and Kyle Canyon. Highway 156 and 157 routes into Mount Charleston are closed. The Red Cross has 2 shelters open and have served over 500 meals and snacks to members of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, Nevada Department of Transportation, Nevada Highway Patrol and Forestry personnel. Red Cross has 50 volunteers on the ground, ready to distribute bulk supplies if needed. Red Cross Response – Asiana Air Crash, San Francisco, California On Saturday, July 6th at approximately 11:30am, Asiana Flight 214 en route from Seoul, Korea’s Incheon International Airport crash landed at San Francisco, International Airport. There were two fatalities and at least 100 injured people transported to local hospitals. The Red Cross has 15 disaster health and disaster mental health workers on-site, supporting the airport’s family reunification center. Two emergency response vehicles have been mobilized to support first responders. Red Cross mass care feeding operations are also underway to provide canteen services and meal support to first responders working on the airfield. Since the Air Crash, the Red Cross has served more than 1,700 meals and snacks, distributed 40 personal hygiene and comfort kits, and provided over 300 health services and mental health contacts. Red Cross Response – Arizona Wildfires The Dean Peak Fire, which began on July 1st, 10 miles southwest of Kingman, Arizona in Mohave County has burned over 5,400 acres is now 90 percent contained. As of Sunday, the Yarnell Hill Fire has burned over 8,400 with 90 percent containment. Displaced Residents who were displaced are cleared to return home as of Noon today. State Highway 89 remains closed from the north and Yarnell town limits, and from the south at the intersection of Arizona Highways 71 and 89. Red Cross volunteers will be in attendance for the Arizona firefighter memorial service tomorrow providing first aid and hydration stations as well as mental health services. As people return to their communities, the Red Cross will be there to help them by providing relief supplies, health and emotional comfort. In response to the Arizona wildfires, the Red Cross has: · Opened 4 shelters providing more than 250 overnight stays · Served more than 21,800 meals and snacks · Provided over 700 health services and mental health contacts. For additional information, visit redcross.org
Posted on: Wed, 10 Jul 2013 03:24:10 +0000
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