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"As our country's leader in disaster response, the American Red Cross isprepared to support those with needs in California and the country," saidHarold Brooks, CEO of the Bay Area Chapter and California lead for disasterresponse of the American Red Cross. "The beauty of the Red Cross responsesystem is in the consistency of training and execution. The same training andexpertise utilized locally, when volunteers arrive on the scene of a singlefamily fire in your city is exactly the same as the support given in China toa family devastated by an earthquake. It's really all about Cots, Blankets andHugs -- and by having consistent training worldwide your friends andneighbors, that make up those amazing volunteers who provide their heroicservice, can get off the plane and go right to work."
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Additionally, Red Cross chapters across the state have sent volunteers toMidwestern states to provide disaster relief to people in the Midwest who havebeen hit hard by a series of tornadoes and severe flooding.
The American Red Cross trains volunteers in valuable, life-saving skillsas well as shelter operations and mass care provision so that they areprepared to quickly meet a community's needs in any disaster, anywhere. "Weare always training new volunteers, and with fire season starting so earlythis year, we encourage anyone wanting to volunteer to contact their local RedCross chapter," said Brooks. "We've dispatched our volunteers all overCalifornia and the country, but we're still ready to help the next family inour community that needs us."
In addition to responding to disasters, such as wildfires, earthquakes andfloods, the American Red Cross' largest response is to individual emergencyneeds, such as home and apartment fires. For example, in Los Angeles and theBay Area, the American Red Cross responds to an average 500 disasters a year,supporting families with shelter, food, clothing and mental health counseling.
About American Red Cross
The American Red Cross has helped people mobilize to help their neighborsfor 125 years. Last year, victims of a record 72,883 disasters, most of themfires, turned to the nearly 1 million volunteers and 35,000 employees of theRed Cross for help and hope. Through more than 750 locally supported chapters,more than 15 million people each year gain the skills they need to prepare forand respond to emergencies in their homes, communities and world. Almost 4million people give blood-the gift of life-through the Red Cross, making itthe largest supplier of blood and blood products in the United States. The RedCross helps thousands of U.S. service members separated from their families bymilitary duty stay connected. As part of the International Red Cross and RedCrescent Movement, a global network of more than 180 national societies, theRed Cross helps restore hope and dignity to the world's most vulnerablepeople. An average of 91 cents of every dollar the Red Cross spends isinvested in humanitarian services and programs. The Red Cross is not agovernment agency; it relies on donations of time, money, and blood to do itswork.
SOURCE American Red Cross
