Disaster Response

Molly Lenz, a Tri-County Red Cross Disaster Action Team Volunteer, arrived as the Hillside firefighters were finishing up extinguishing the fire that left three families homeless. She was told the victims had been taken to police headquarters after their lives took a turn nobody expected or wanted. 

The fire started from an electrical short in an exhaust fan in the delicatessen a police officer told her and motioned to two women sitting on a bench inside police headquarters. Tiffany Townsend, Mahalia Jackson and their cat shared apartment number four on Maple Avenue in Hillside when the fire ripped through forcing everyone to evacuate.  

"They were still in shock, not knowing where they were going to sleep, how they were going to eat and what they would be using for clothing. I answered their questions and told them the Red Cross would provide lodging at a local hotel and financial assistance to purchase clothing and food," Lenz said.  

Lenz, who started volunteering with the Red Cross three years ago after Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans. With friends living in New Orleans, it thoroughly frustrated her because it seemed not enough was being done to help people in the affected areas.  So she contacted the Tri-County Red Cross, attended training, but was not able to assist in the Southern states due to work obligations.  Instead Lenz has been helping local people as a Disaster Assistance Team member.  Since July over 100 families in this area have received help during disasters, mostly house fires.   

"Molly is a great example of a concerned resident wishing to make difference during a major disaster and transitioning her energy to local victims," said Nathan Rudy, CEO of the Tri-County Red Cross.  "Local victims like Ms. Townsend and Ms. Jackson are beginning to put their life back on 'track' because our Disaster Action Team Volunteers were there when they needed it the most."   

To join Lenz as a volunteer for the Tri-County Red Cross, call 908-756-6414 or visit www.tricountyredcross.org.  

Molly Lenz, Disaster Action Team Member for Tri-County Red Cross

Every year in Tri-County Red Cross communities more than 150 families need our assistance after a residential fire.  These families stand on the sidewalk watching their homes and possessions go up in smoke, not knowing where they would sleep that night or how they would clothe their children.  What isn't destroyed by the fire itself is usually made unusable by the battle to arrest the flames. 

Whether it is the single family on Craig Place in North Plainfield who needed our assistance last week, or the 12 families who spent New Year's Eve outside in the cold instead of at a party, these families feel like they have nowhere to turn.

The parents worry about the basics of finding a place for their children to sleep that night, of caring for their families when all their clothing and food is destroyed.   Tasks that were simple the night before become daunting, the ability to focus and concentrate is practically impossible.  They are being pulled in different directions all at once - the emergency responders asking questions about the start of the fire, their kids crying about losing their favorite toy, neighbors inquiring to what they are going to do - it's overwhelming.

This is where Tri-County Red Cross volunteers step in; arriving during the disaster to offer the fundamental necessities at a time when looking ahead to tomorrow seems impossible.

Our volunteers provide the support and strength for these victims to begin to address the daunting task of life after a disaster.  From the moment they arrive at the disaster scene, they address the immediate needs of the victims - food, clothing and shelter.  The parents' relief shows as they are taken through the process.  They will have a place to stay; they will be able to provide food and clothing for their family and can now focus on the details of putting their life back together.

Volunteers are special people; they offer their time and support to neighbors in need. They come from different backgrounds, jobs, education levels, wealth, countries and age groups.  Our volunteers have different reasons for donating their time and focus on different areas of volunteer opportunities, but all receive their training free of cost from the Red Cross.

Regardless of the background, volunteering is a small investment that creates lasting results for anyone desiring to make a difference.  To learn more about volunteer opportunities, visit our page on Volunteers or call Victor Webb at 908-756-6414.

 

May 4 - 10, 2008

The American Red Cross is working with the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) along with 35 other organizations and large corporations in an alliance to focus increased attention on reducing workplace injury and illness through promotion of NAOSH week.

A special toolkit has been developed that any organization can use and adapt (see sections beginning on page 13).

Potential promotional activities include:

• Focusing on your chapter's workplace safety. Ensure employees and volunteers are trained to respond to emergencies and your worksites are hazard free.

• Locating your local chapter of ASSE. Contact one or more of the officers and ask about working with them to support NAOSH Week and, in the process, discuss other ways in which your chapter can work with ASSE to promote workplace safety. Involvement with your local chapter of ASSE (including attending meetings and exhibiting at their local or state level conferences) can be a good way to develop relationships that may lead to new customers.

• Encouraging your current workplace customers to take advantage of this special occupational safety week. Direct them to the online toolkit and to make statements to their employees about the importance of safety on the job.

• Contacting alliance organizations (see page 7 of the toolkit). If you have any of these employers or members of the listed associations in your chapter, contact them now about conducting Red Cross classes during that week as a part of their commitment. Also, ask their safety officer about other joint efforts- such as special lunch hour safety presentations, or promoting Red Cross First Aid and CPR/AED classes to all interested employees - not just those who are on the emergency response team.

Four families in Elizabeth, Union and North Plainfield were the victims of fires last week.  15 people were affected including seven children.  The Tri-County Red Cross Disaster Action Team was on the scene for all three disasters to provide support and relief to the families.

Red Cross volunteers make up the Disaster Action Team volunteers give their time at all hours of the day to go to disaster scenes, offering help and support to the victims during their time of need.  The Red Cross provides special training at no cost to the volunteers. 

Training includes first aid and CPR, handling the chaos of a disaster, managing a shelter operation, driving and operating the Red Cross Emergency Response Vehicle, maintaining organization of files, and providing a sympathetic shoulder to lean on for disaster victims and more.   

If you are interested in becoming a part of this exciting team of volunteers or would like to learn more about the volunteer opportunities at the Tri-County Red Cross, you can contact our Director of Volunteer Services, Victor Webb at 908-756-6414 or email. 

Volunteering with the Tri-County Red Cross Disaster Action Team (DAT) offers an exciting opportunity to go inside the lines during a disaster and work directly with the victims in their most desperate of times.  DAT volunteers are there on the scene providing immediate relief to the victims to satisfy their primary needs: food, clothing and shelter.

They work closely with the men and women who put their lives on the line rescuing these victims.  Firefighters, police and EMT's all receive Red Cross DAT support including canteen services, victim relief and blood services. 

Local disasters happen.  Fires, building collapses, floods are all common to our area and can happen at any time. Below is a map of the local disasters our DAT volunteers have responded to since the beginning of 2008.

Joining our Disaster Action Team is fast and easy. Call Victor Webb at 908-756-6414 and make difference to your neighbors in need and change a life today.    

For more information visit: http://tricountyredcross.org/volunteer/2008/03/become-a-disaster-response-vol-1.html

Below is a Google Map of the disaster responses for the Tri-County Red Cross this calendar year as of March 24, 2008.  The map will be expanded to include all disaster responses since July 1, 2007 to match our fiscal year.

Many families receive shelter, food and clothing from the Red Cross, all funded by our very generous local individual, business and foundation donors. The Red Cross does not receive governmental funds for its services.

View Larger Map

To assist in replenishing the Disaster Fund, please consider donating online.

ELIZABETH, NJ (March 18, 2008) - Fires in Cranford, Roselle and Union on Monday sent Tri-County Red Cross Disaster Action Team (DAT) volunteers responding to the disaster and providing support to all the victims.

"Multiple fires in one day will not deter the Red Cross," said Nathan Rudy, Tri-County Red Cross CEO.  "Our volunteers are trained to respond to multiple disasters ensuring disaster victims are provided with the essentials when the disaster occurs."

All 17 victims, including 10 children, of the fires were offered shelter, food and clothing. 

 "Our volunteers are very special people," explains Victor Webb, Director of Volunteer Services.  "As local residents, they go through specialized training to provide the compassion, respect and expertise needed to help victims when they are most vulnerable."

Support for these services is provided by the Tri-County Red Cross Disaster Fund.  Financial contributions from local citizens wishing to make a difference, supply the fund.  When multiple disasters occur in one day, our fund is depleted rapidly.  Help ensure our fund is available for future disasters by donating online at http://www.tricountyredcross.org/donate.shtml, or by calling (908) 756-6414. 

The Tri-County Chapter of the American Red Cross, celebrating its 91st anniversary in 2008, has headquarters in Plainfield and Elizabeth, NJ. The Chapter provides health and safety, disaster response and military communications programs and services to more than half a million residents of 22 towns in Union, Somerset and Middlesex Counties.

Union: Clark, Cranford, Elizabeth, Fanwood, Garwood, Hillside, Kenilworth, Linden, Plainfield, Rahway, Roselle, Roselle Park, Scotch Plains, Union, Winfield Middlesex: Dunellen, Edison (NW), South Plainfield Somerset: Green Brook, North Plainfield, Warren, Watchung

Since its founding in 1881, the American Red Cross has become the nation's premier emergency response organization. It has built a reputation around the world as the organization to turn to when faced with a disaster. Its nationwide network of more than 800 chapters is dedicated to saving lives by helping people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies.

 

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Today the Tri-County Red Cross responded to two families who were displaced from their homes by fires.  Disaster Action Team Leader Terri Esposito and Senior Director Santiago Soto responded to a fire in Cranford, and Disaster Services Director Joseph Depoala supported a family in Roselle.

In Roselle, Depoala worked with a family of four including three children with hotel rooms for three days, changes of clothing and food for a week.  Their homeowner's insurance covered their needs, happily.

In Cranford, Esposito and Soto arranged for a family of three, including one teenage son, with shelter, clothing and food.

If you wish to support the disaster programs of the Tri-County Red Cross, you can contribute online.

ELIZABETH, NJ (March 7, 2008) - Four Elizabeth families are without homes today after a fire ripped through their apartment building last night.  Tri-County Red Cross Disaster Action Team (DAT) volunteers responded to the disaster and provided support to all the victims.

"Fires can happen at any time," said Nathan Rudy, Tri-County Red Cross CEO.  "Our volunteers are on call 24-7, to ensure disaster victims are provided with the essentials as soon as the disaster occurs."

Vouchers for food, clothing and lodging were provided to all four families, including four children, affected by this disaster. 

To provide relief services to local families affected by disasters such as fires, the Tri-County Red Cross relies on the local Disaster Relief Fund.  This fund is sustained by financial contributions by local residents and businesses.  Since Christmas 2007, the Tri-County Red Cross has responded to 30 local families affected by disasters.  This is nearly double the typical amount of disasters the Tri-County Red Cross normally responds to during this time. 

Due to the high number of disasters the Tri-County Red Cross Disaster Fund is lower than normal and we need assistance from the community to restore it to optimal levels.  Please donate today to the Disaster Relief Fund to ensure our services will continue to be available to all future disaster victims.

"By donating to the Tri-County Red Cross, your money will go to help local victims - our neighbors," said Corinna Krauskopf, Development & Marketing Officer.  "You can see first hand what your money is supporting.  It's an amazing opportunity to be able to make a direct and immediate impact on someone's life during a tragedy.

To replenish the Tri-County Red Cross Disaster Fund, donate online at http://www.tricountyredcross.org/donate.shtml, or by calling (908) 756-6414.  Together we can make a difference.

The Tri-County Chapter of the American Red Cross, celebrating its 91st anniversary in 2008, has headquarters in Plainfield and Elizabeth, NJ. The Chapter provides health and safety, disaster response and military communications programs and services to more than half a million residents of 22 towns in Union, Somerset and Middlesex Counties.

Union: Clark, Cranford, Elizabeth, Fanwood, Garwood, Hillside, Kenilworth, Linden, Plainfield, Rahway, Roselle, Roselle Park, Scotch Plains, Union, Winfield Middlesex: Dunellen, Edison (NW), South Plainfield Somerset: Green Brook, North Plainfield, Warren, Watchung

Since its founding in 1881, the American Red Cross has become the nation's premier emergency response organization. It has built a reputation around the world as the organization to turn to when faced with a disaster. Its nationwide network of more than 800 chapters is dedicated to saving lives by helping people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies.

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PLAINFIELD, NJ (February 19, 2008) - Tri-County Red Cross Disaster Action Team (DAT) volunteers responded to home fires in Dunellen and Plainfield this weekend. The devastating fires tore through the homes leaving both families homeless and one family member dead.

"The Tri-County Red Cross responded to both families in need by providing hotel rooms and vouchers for new clothing and food," said Nathan Rudy, Tri-County Red Cross CEO.  "These fires are devastating to everyone and with the support of the Red Cross; both families can start putting their lives back together."

To provide relief services to local families affected by disasters such as fires, the Tri-County Red Cross relies on the local Disaster Relief Fund.  This fund is sustained by financial contributions by local residents and businesses.  Since Christmas 2007, the Tri-County Red Cross has responded to 30 local families affected by disasters.  This is nearly double the typical amount of disasters the Tri-County Red Cross normally responds to during this time. 

Due to the high number of disasters the Tri-County Red Cross Disaster Fund is lower than normal and we need assistance from the community to restore it to optimal levels.  Please donate today to the Disaster Relief Fund to ensure our services will continue to be available to all future disaster victims.

"By donating to the Tri-County Red Cross, your money will go to help local victims - our neighbors," said Corinna Krauskopf, Development & Marketing Officer.  "You can see first hand what your money is supporting.  It's an amazing opportunity to be able to make a direct and immediate impact on someone's life during a tragedy."

To replenish the Tri-County Red Cross Disaster Fund, donate online at http://www.tricountyredcross.org/donate.aspx, or by calling (908) 756-6414.  Together we can make a difference.

The Tri-County Chapter of the American Red Cross, celebrating its 91st anniversary in 2008, has headquarters in Plainfield and Elizabeth, NJ. The Chapter provides health and safety, disaster response and military communications programs and services to more than half a million residents of 22 towns in Union, Somerset and Middlesex Counties.

Union: Clark, Cranford, Elizabeth, Fanwood, Garwood, Hillside, Kenilworth, Linden, Plainfield, Rahway, Roselle, Roselle Park, Scotch Plains, Union, Winfield Middlesex: Dunellen, Edison (NW), South Plainfield Somerset: Green Brook, North Plainfield, Warren, Watchung

Since its founding in 1881, the American Red Cross has become the nation's premier emergency response organization. It has built a reputation around the world as the organization to turn to when faced with a disaster. Its nationwide network of more than 800 chapters is dedicated to saving lives by helping people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies.

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