Salem Red Cross Volunteers Will Provide Emergency Relief in Florida

The local chapter of the American Red Cross frequently assists disaster victims in other regions of the country.

(SALEM) - Three volunteers of the Willamette Chapter of the American Red Cross have been assigned to the Red Cross tornado relief effort in Florida.

A national appeal was made late Saturday afternoon for 426 Red Cross volunteers, needed to assist with the tornado relief effort underway in Florida.

All three of the Salem area volunteers are experienced disaster relief workers who have worked nationally and locally. They have committed to three week assignments. One of those volunteers, Sherry Hinkle of Monmouth, will report to Daytona Beach to work in Staffing for the relief effort. She will be responsible for coordination of local disaster volunteers.

Volunteer Red Vanis of Keizer will also report to Daytona Beach, where he will work in Procurement. Red will help coordinate the acquisition of items such as food, water, personal hygiene kits, and clean-up kits. Red Cross officials say these will will be needed in the coming weeks to help Floridians.

Another Salem area volunteer, George Booth of Nehalem, will report to Daytona Beach to help feed people in the communities affected by the tornadoes. Red Cross volunteers provide food for shelters and deliver meals in communities where power and water has been disrupted.

The American Red Cross helps people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies. Last year, almost a million volunteers and 35,000 employees helped victims of almost 75,000 disasters; taught lifesaving skills to millions; and helped U.S. service members separated from their families stay connected.

Almost 4 million people gave blood through the Red Cross, the largest supplier of blood and blood products in the United States. The American Red Cross is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. An average of 91 cents of every dollar the Red Cross spends is invested in humanitarian services and programs. The Red Cross is not a government agency; it relies on donations of time, money, and blood to do its work

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Albert Marnell February 5, 2007 8:41 am (Pacific time)

Land Developers have hyped this state for 100 years. They bought cheap swamp land and marketed it to the public as "The Sunshine State." Finally, people are beginning to see what the terrain is all about only in the last few years. Miami is only 10 feet above sea level. The hightest point is in Northern Walton County near Alabama, there the highest point in the whole state is only 345 ft above sea level. You can blame the officials at the state and federal level for not telling the truth about Florida. Don't blame me! But then it is all about money. Is it not? Again, I wish the people who have lost loved ones my condolence. Those that have lost property, my sympathy. My applause to the people that work to help the suffering. When this dies down, I suggest you consider other places to live. There is no safe place in Florida. It is very similar to the themes in Alfred Hitchcock movies. If it makes anyone feel better, the condominium that I sold out of and the building before Wilma hit had extreme damage from the storm and the tornados it spawned. The woman that I sold my unit to thanked me for putting in PGT large missle impact glass. She said it saved her life and her daughter's. But everyone made fun of me for worring about putting in high grade windows in a hurricane zone as dangerous as Florida. Now I have the last laugh. I got out of the state before the storm and the people that suffered the most damage were scratching their heads wondering, "How did he know?" I am trying to help people wake up and get out of The Nile.

Albert Marnell February 4, 2007 9:03 pm (Pacific time)

I did not mean to disrespect the people of the Red Cross. If they are offended or people who read this are offended, that was not my intent. Of course people who decide to live in a realistically uninhabitable place have my sympathy and when a disaster like this strikes, I feel for the people. I am just trying to tip people off not to move there because I know the state very well. I also take the comment from Billy Blade as racial regardless of his skin color. Georgia is another place I would warn people to stay away from. I also detest the way people read into things. Did I say that the Red Cross of Salem does not do good work? Of course I did not. I am doing people a favor by warning them about states like Florida. Over fifty years I had the chance to travel around the state and 90% of it is a disaster area even without a tornado. Yes, please help the people there immediately! For those that love it...stay. Every person that I can talk out of living in Horida in almost all cases is a life that I have saved a great deal of grief. I now expect to hear comments from people who say that they love it so. So love it! When I was young I had no idea how the state really works. I was just attracted to the warm air, sunshine, beaches and what appeared to be a free and open spirited environment. As the years past, upon closer observation, I could see things more clearly through more mature eyes.

Jasmine Breeze February 4, 2007 7:22 pm (Pacific time)

Thank you Red Cross volunteers for all that you do. We know you go in harm's way and your families miss you when you live among tragic circumstances so that you can help your fellow man. Please ignore the empty ramblings that have no place here, it is sad that people express such unkind statements when a tragedy has occurred. Keep up the good work Red Cross of Salem.

Billy Blade February 4, 2007 2:37 pm (Pacific time)

Albert needs to move to Atlanta , Georgia and walk the streets at night. That will perk him up.

Albert Marnell February 4, 2007 7:44 am (Pacific time)

Florida was purchased from Spain in 1819 for 5 million dollars. We got ripped-off. Can you imagine before high-tech equipment could even begin to detect deadly storms (they still are not accurate), the basically not so early Spaniards never knew when a hurricane, windstorm, tornado or flood was going to wipe them out. Think about it. If you put all of the time together, I spent over a year of my life in Horida over 5 decades. Don't be fooled by the Palm trees and nice beaches. Florida is rotten to the core...convicts from all over the country that are fleeing, did their time, are done with parole, flee to Horida. If they can not get jobs or housing, it is easier for them to sleep outside and because there are so many of them they network. They government is corrupt, the police are corrupt, even the grandmothers on condo boards are corrupt. If you must, go there for 2 weeks, watch your back, then get the hell out. I am so glad that I sold my beautiful property in the STATE OF HORIDA. Catherine Harris and John Ellis Bush welcomes you to the STATE OF HORIDA! The youngest son of Jeb Bush has been arrested twice already. What a great place to raise your kids. Don't forget the sunscreen!

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