|
Disaster Services- General Information
Disaster Services Provided
Each year, the American Red Cross responds immediately to more than 60,000 disasters, including house or apartment fires (the majority of disaster responses), hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, tornadoes, hazardous materials spills, transportation accidents, explosions, and other natural and man-made disasters. Red Cross disaster relief focuses on meeting people's immediate emergency disaster-caused needs. In addition to providing relief to victims of disaster, the American Red Cross mission directs us to help people prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies. Your preparedness and planning is critical to your abililty to be ready when disasters hit. BellSouth, the Real Yellow Pages joins the Red Cross in providing important preparedness information. Look in the "Community Information" section of the Hendersonville, NC "Real Yellow Pages" or click here.
When a disaster threatens or strikes, the Red Cross provides shelter, food, and health and mental health services to address basic human needs. In addition, individuals and families affected by disaster are provided support to enable them to resume their normal daily activities independently. Call our local chapter to see how you can get involved and help with Disaster Services.
|
Summary of Disaster Services Provided by Henderson County Chapter in 2006
-
In Henderson County, we responded to 20 local disaster cases including home fires, flooding, and power outages resulting from storms. Response included assisting with the emergency needs of individuals and families affected. (i.e. temporary housing, clothing replacement, food needs, assistance in re-establishing permanant housing, referrals and coordination with other helping agencies). This included 37 adults and 26 children who were were suddenly left homeless due to an unexpected disaster.
-
We were a significant part of the largest domestic disaster response in the history of the American Red Cross as we sent 88 local DSHR volunteers (Disaster Services Human Resources) to the Gulf States to help with the hurricane relief efforts. Our involvement began as Hurricanes Katrina and Rita hit in 2005 and continued through the spring of 2006.
-
During this year's "quiet" hurricane season, we had 8 local DSHR volunteers who were deployed in preparation for, and in response to, Hurricane Ernesto. After the initial storm strike, we had three DSHR in Richmond, VA due to the severe flooding that Ernesto caused there. In October we had DSHR in Indiana, Texas and Lousiana assisting with flood and tornado responses. Then, right before Thanksgiving, one of our local DSHR was called in to supervise services following the record rains and flooding in Olympia, Washington.
-
We opened an emergency shelter in January to provide food, warmth and a place to sleep for those who were displaced during that icestorm and resulting power-outages (just a couple weeks after the big, weeklong shelters during the major December '05 storm).
-
Began a cooperative effort with the local Salvation Army for overflow disaster shelter support and disaster feeding services. In August, local Red Cross volunteers and staff assisted the Salvation Army in an exercise of their newly-renovated mobile kitchen and developed an agreement to work together to distribute meals in the event of a disaster.
-
Maintained a team of almost 90 trained, certified DSHR (Disaster Services Human Resources) to respond to disasters here at home, and nationwide, as needed.
-
Provided 24/7 immediate response coverage for local disaster needs with our DAT (Disaster Action Team) personnel. DAT is who is called in, at 3am or whenever the disaster occurs, to assist the Henderson County family who's standing beside their house that just burned down with no where to go! |
 |
DAT members, Bill and Debbie Rutten assessing damage of Etowah-area home destroyed in November by fire. Photographed by Henderson County Chapter ARC. |
| Gulfport Mississippi area home destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. Photographed by Henderson County DSHR, Art Smith. |
 |
| |
. |
|
|
|
Volunteer Opportunities in Disaster Services
Henderson County Red Cross volunteers assist victims of hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes, floods, winter storms and other disasters, including families forced from their homes by fire. They work here in Henderson County and some may work throughout the United States when needed. We had almost 90 local DSHR (Disaster Services Human Resources) volunteers respond to Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma this past fall. We have a rotating team of on-call volunteers, DAT (Disaster Action Team), who respond to local fires and other disasters to provide critical assistance. In response to the December 15, 2005 ice storm, our disaster volunteers and staff opened and operated an emergency shelter (coordinating with the Henderson County Emergency Manager and with the support of Social Services, the Health Department and other community partners). That shelter was open for seven days providing shelter, hot meals, hot showers and other essential needs while power outages continued across the county. On June 26th of this year, we opened another emergency shelter due to the sudden flooding that effected many parts of our community. Partnering with the Salvation Army we were able to ensure that safe and dry sleeping space, meals, bathrooms and showers would be available for anyone forced to evacuate their homes.
You can be a part of the Red Cross in Henderson County. Get involved and make a difference!
For more information or application information, please see "Volunteers" under the "Who We Are" section to the left. |
The Red Cross is a volunteer-driven, humanitarian service organization. Even our Disaster Services Director is a volunteer! This photo shows Phil King, Disaster Services Director, receiving the Volunteer of 2006 Award from our executive director.
Contact Phil and find out how you too can become a part of the American Red Cross disaster response team!
. |
