1545 N. West Bypass
Springfield MO 65803
417-832-9500 Ext. 1107
Contact: Nigel Holderby
Red Cross and Partner Agencies
Support Missouri Hotel Fire Victims
American Red Cross Southern Missouri Region: 1/22/2012
January 20, 2012 - American Red Cross; Southern Missouri Region
responded to a fire at The Missouri Hotel on Commercial St. in
Springfield, Mo. Two shelter locations were identified within a few
hours and Red Cross Volunteers were contacted to begin set up. The
Dayspring shelter, and the COX North facility opened at approximately 6
pm on 1/20. The City of Springfield provided a City Utilities Bus to
transport the families to COX and the individuals to Dayspring. Greene
County Emergency Management is providing continual support as new needs
arise, such as the bus transportation to showers at Baptist Bible
College, from the Dayspring Shelter.
Currently Dayspring Worship Center is housing 34 individuals, and COX
North Hospital is housing 25 families. (86 adults and children) Red
Cross Volunteers, 14 per day, are staffing the Daysprings Shelter, 7 for
the day shift and 7 for the night shift. The Red Cross is supporting COX
North with staff assistance of 5-6 Volunteers per day alongside the CERT
(Community Emergency Response Teams) from Greene, Webster, and Christian
Counties, to provide coverage for staffing needs.
As of Saturday evening 1/21/2012 the Red Cross had delivered 700 hot
meals that are being prepared by partner agencies. The Salvation Army
has been providing and cooking food over the weekend and Red Cross
Volunteers are transporting the meals to both locations. Daysprings
Worship Center staff and volunteers have been manning the kitchen at the
church helping serve meals and snacks. Going forward, Franciscan Villa
will begin providing food and preparation of meals on Monday 1/23/2012,
while the Red Cross will continue to provide the transportation of food
to each location.
NOVA (National Organization of Victim Assistance) of CCTO (Community
Crisis Team of the Ozarks) providing crisis counseling in both locations
as needs have been identified, and the Missouri Hotel Caseworkers are
continuing to support the residents, by meeting with the families and
individuals at each location.
The Red Cross has provided 1500 snacks and bottled waters as well as
multiple bulk items such as diapers, formula, and clothing packs that
have been sent to both locations. Accommodations for 236 overnight stays
have been provided to date. Donations can be made by visiting
redcross.org or by mailing monetary donations to: American Red Cross;
1545 N. West Bypass, Springfield, MO 65803
Donations of formula, diapers, diaper wipes, toilet paper, paper towels,
and blankets, will be accepted at the Red Cross Disaster Service office
as our stock is low. We are currently staffing this operation with
trained Red Cross and partner volunteers. To find out how you can help
in future relief operations please contact your local Red Cross office.
For additional information please contact Nigel Holderby:
holderbyn@redcross-ozarks.org
About the American Red Cross:
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
<http://www.redcross.org/> or join our blog at http://blog.redcross.org
<http://blog.redcross.org/> .
-End-
K. Nigel Holderby
Chief Communications Officer
American Red Cross
Southern Missouri Region
(417) 832-9500 ext 107 (p)
(417) 207-6349 (c)
