Fires on 3-30-10

 

NEWS RELEASE

 

Busy Day for Greater Ozarks Chapter

Fires in Taney, McDonald, Greene and Howell Counties

March 31, 2010

 

Springfield, MO – It was an unusually busy day for the Greater Ozarks Chapter of the American Red Cross as Disaster Action Team (DAT) volunteers responded to a number of fires on 3/30/10 including an apartment building fire in Branson (Taney County) that destroyed four units and affected six other units.  Thirty-one family members were provided with temporary shelter and food; some were provided with help for clothing. 

          Volunteers also responded to fires in Anderson (McDonald County), Springfield (Greene County) and Willow Springs in Howell County.  All three families lost their primary residence and a total of 8 family members were helped with temporary shelter, food and clothing. 

          Disaster Action Team volunteers respond within one hour after receiving a call from the Fire Department.  They are there to assess emergency needs and to offer emotional support to those people who have experienced a devastating loss.  Volunteers will follow-up with the families and in some situations, provide help with first month’s rent.  

 

You can help the victims of countless crises around the world each year by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross International Response Fund, which will provide immediate relief and long-term support through supplies, technical assistance and other support to help those in need.  The American Red Cross honors donor intent.  Donations can be sent to the American Red Cross, P. O. Box 37243, Washington, D.C.  20013, or made by phone at 1-800-REDCROSS or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish) or online at www.redcross.org. 

 

 

 

Joann Moore

Public Information Officer

Financial Development Assistant

American Red Cross

Greater Ozarks Chapter

1545 N. West Bypass

Springfield, MO.  65803

417-832-9500  EXT. 107

Fax 417-866-3649

Toll Free: 1-866-206-0256 EXT. 107

moorej@redcross-ozarks.org

 

                   

     

*** Floods are among the most frequent and costly natural disasters.Conditions that cause floods include heavy or steady rain forseveral hours or days that saturate the ground. Flash floods occursuddenly due to rapid rising water along a stream or low lying area.

Click on the linkwww.redcross.org/BeRedCrossReady for moreinformation!

       

 

Tornado Weather Preparedness

 

NEWS RELEASE

The American Red Cross Urges Communities to Prepare Now for Tornadoes

 

Springfield, MO – March 31, 2010.  As tornado season begins, the Greater Ozarks Chapter of the American Red Cross urges residents in the Southwest Missouri region to take steps now to stay safer when tornadoes threaten.

 

“By preparing together for tornadoes, we can make our families safer and our communities stronger,” Chris Harmon, Director of Emergency Services said.   “We can help you and your family create a tornado preparedness plan now, before our community is threatened by severe weather.”  

 

As with any disaster, preparation can be the difference between life or death. The Red Cross recommends that individuals and families prepare for tornadoes by:

• Creating and practicing a Home Tornado Plan: Pick a “safe room” or uncluttered area without windows where family members and pets could seek shelter on the lowest floor possible: a basement, a center hallway, a bathroom or a closet.  Putting as many walls between you and the outside provides additional protection.

 

• Assembling a Emergency Preparedness Kit: Kits should contain a first aid kit and essential medications, foods that don’t require cooking or refrigeration and manual can opener, bottled water, flashlights and a battery-powered radio with extra batteries and other emergency items for the whole family.
  
  
• Heeding Storm Warnings: Listen to your local radio and TV stations for updated storm information.  A tornado WATCH means a tornado is possible in your area. When a tornado WARNING is issued, go to the safe room you picked to protect yourself from glass and other flying objects. If you are outside, hurry to the basement of a nearby sturdy building. . If you are in a car or mobile home, get out immediately and head to the nearest building for safety.  If you are outside and there are no buildings, lie flat in a low lying area or ditch and cover your head with your arms and hands.

 

• Preparing for High Winds: Make trees more wind resistant by removing diseased and damaged limbs, then strategically removing branches so that wind can blow through. Install permanent shutters on your windows and add protection to the outside areas of sliding glass doors. Strengthen garage doors and unreinforced masonry. Move or secure lawn furniture, outdoor decorations or ornaments, trash cans, hanging plants and anything else that can be picked up by wind and become a projectile.
•  

For more information on tornado preparedness, contact the Greater Ozarks Chapter of the American Red Cross at 866-206-0256 or visit www.redcross.org or call 1-800 RED CROSS. 

 

 

You can help the victims of countless crises around the world each year by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross International Response Fund, which will provide immediate relief and long-term support through supplies, technical assistance and other support to help those in need.  The American Red Cross honors donor intent.  Donations can be sent to the American Red Cross, P. O. Box 37243, Washington, D.C.  20013, or made by phone at 1-800-REDCROSS or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish) or online at www.redcross.org. 

 

 

 

Joann Moore

Public Information Officer

Financial Development Assistant

American Red Cross

Greater Ozarks Chapter

1545 N. West Bypass

Springfield, MO.  65803

417-832-9500  EXT. 107

Fax 417-866-3649

Toll Free: 1-866-206-0256 EXT. 107

moorej@redcross-ozarks.org

 

                   

     

*** Floods are among the most frequent and costly natural disasters.Conditions that cause floods include heavy or steady rain forseveral hours or days that saturate the ground. Flash floods occursuddenly due to rapid rising water along a stream or low lying area.

Click on the linkwww.redcross.org/BeRedCrossReady for moreinformation!

       

 

Platelet Drive

 

 

NEWS RELEASE

3/15/2010

Disaster Relief Office Will Hold Platelet Drive

Springfield, MO – The Springfield American Red Cross blood bank will hold a platelet drive at the Greater Ozarks Disaster Relief chapter office. 

          DATE:                 Tuesday, March 23, 2010

          TIME:                  10 a.m. till 4 p.m.

          LOCATION:        Greater Ozarks Chapter office

                                      1545 N. West Bypass, Springfield

          For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 417-823-4001.

 

You can help the victims of countless crises around the world each year by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross International Response Fund, which will provide immediate relief and long-term support through supplies, technical assistance and other support to help those in need.  The American Red Cross honors donor intent.  Donations can be sent to the American Red Cross, P. O. Box 37243, Washington, D.C.  20013, or made by phone at 1-800-REDCROSS or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish) or online at www.redcross.org. 

 

 

 

Joann Moore

Public Information Officer

Financial Development Assistant

American Red Cross

Greater Ozarks Chapter

1545 N. West Bypass

Springfield, MO.  65803

417-832-9500  EXT. 107

Fax 417-866-3649

Toll Free: 1-866-206-0256 EXT. 107

moorej@redcross-ozarks.org

 

                   

     

*** Floods are among the most frequent and costly natural disasters.Conditions that cause floods include heavy or steady rain forseveral hours or days that saturate the ground. Flash floods occursuddenly due to rapid rising water along a stream or low lying area.

Click on the linkwww.redcross.org/BeRedCrossReady for moreinformation!

       

 

Babysitter's Training - Red Cross

NEWS RELEASE

 (FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE)

 

3/16/2010

Red Cross Offers Babysitter’s Training

 

Springfield, MO. – Due to classes filling quickly and an increase in demand for trained babysitters, your American Red Cross has added another opportunity for future babysitters.  Local pre-teens and teenagers have the opportunity to become American Red Cross certified babysitters by attending a day-long training session on Wednesday, March 24, 2010 from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.  This one-day interactive class trains young people to be responsible caregivers.  Skills gained will be valuable to those caring for siblings and/or those who want work as babysitters. 

 

Babysitter’s Training covers the following topics:

 

            Safety and Responsibility              Holding

            Leadership                                        Safe Play

            Preventing Accidents                      First Aid

            Basic Care                                        Bleeding

            Hygiene                                             Wounds        

            Feeding                                             Sudden Emergencies

            Diapering

 

Date:                                      Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Time:                                     8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Location:                              American Red Cross, 1545 N. West Bypass, near corner of West Bypass & Division, Springfield

Age Requirement:              Need to be 11 years of age or older

What to Bring:                     A sack lunch, snacks (or money for snacks from on-site vending

 Cost:                                    $49 per student

Registration:                        Must call the American Red Cross at 417-832-9500, ext 117 (toll free 1-866-206-0256)

 

                                     Class size is limited and will fill quickly

 

*Students will not be permitted to leave the facility during or after class dismisses without a parent or guardian.

 

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies nearly half of the nation's blood; teaches lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization — not a government agency — and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit www.redcross.org or join our blog at http://blog.redcross.org.

 

 

 

 

Joann Moore

Public Information Officer

Financial Development Assistant

American Red Cross

Greater Ozarks Chapter

1545 N. West Bypass

Springfield, MO.  65803

417-832-9500  EXT. 107

Fax 417-866-3649

Toll Free: 1-866-206-0256 EXT. 107

moorej@redcross-ozarks.org

 

                   

     

*** Floods are among the most frequent and costly natural disasters.Conditions that cause floods include heavy or steady rain forseveral hours or days that saturate the ground. Flash floods occursuddenly due to rapid rising water along a stream or low lying area.

Click on the linkwww.redcross.org/BeRedCrossReady for moreinformation!

       

 

Red Cross Volunteers - The Definition of Awesome!

Yesterday morning, we got word that a line of severe storms was predicted to sweep through many of the communities in our territory. We sent an eMail out to our volunteers requesting them to send us their availability for the next few days, should a large scale Red Cross response be necessary.

As they always do, our volunteers stepped up to the plate. Within a matter of hours we had over 70 volunteers respond that they were willing to help, most of which said that they would "do whatever needs to be done". It's always so inspiring to see the response whenever we ask our volunteers to update their availability for a possible response. Each and every one of them shows the true Red Cross spirit...the spirit of being there for the communities when they need you the most.

All of our volunteers inspire me day after day, and I couldn't ask for a better group of people to work with!
I opened my eMail this morning, and had several eMails from people just like these:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What a response! Thank God we didn’t have to activate last night but I know it will be a busy tornado season. It makes me excited to see so many respond and willing to help! Please send my appreciation!

Chris Harmon

American Red Cross

Greater Ozarks Chapter

Director of Emergency Services

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What an amazing group of volunteers we have – THANK YOU! THANK YOU! for all you do!!

Debi Meeds

Executive Director

American Red Cross Greater Ozarks Chapter

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

You make all of us proud to be Red Crossers. Thank you for your response last night, and each time that you 'step up to the plate' to help your communities. You really do Rock my Socks off!

Luke
Director of Volunteer Services

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I think I speak for the entire Greater Ozarks Chapter when I say our volunteers ROCK!