In the Days Leading to Thanksgiving, Red Cross Responds to Local Disasters 14 Times

The region is averaging two local disaster responses every day.

Educating residents about home fire safety is a large part of Red Cross disaster response and a key element of the Red Cross Home Fire Preparedness Campaign. Photo: Red Cross Newport

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - Red Cross volunteers in the Cascades Region responded to 14 incidents this past weekend, starting Friday evening in southeast Portland and culminating with seven home fire responses on Monday across Clark, Jefferson, Josephine, Lane, Multnomah, Polk and Washington counties.

The Red Cross provided support to more than three dozen people and pets, to meet basic immediate needs such as temporary lodging, food, medical support, clothing and personal hygiene items.

Mental health services were also offered to provide comfort and help those affected by these local disasters to begin their recovery.

"This has been a very busy fall season for our local Red Cross," said Amy Shlossman, chief executive officer for the Red Cross in Oregon and Southwest Washington.

"Our volunteers have been amazing in stepping up at all times of the day and night to help those in need."

She noted that wind and rain storms earlier in the month also resulted in a high volume of calls, and that the region is averaging two local disaster responses every day.

"Every eight minutes the Red Cross responds to a disaster across this country," said Shlossman, "and the services we provide are free."

Working smoke alarms can double a person's chance of surviving a fire. Through the Home Fire Preparedness Campaign, the Red Cross offers free smoke alarm installations and fire prevention education to families across Oregon and Southwest Washington.

Interested residents can schedule an appointment to request a free smoke alarm installation online at www.redcross.org/cascades or by calling (503)528-5783.

"As we enter the holiday season, we encourage people to make a donation to the Red Cross -- as a gift in someone's name and to support the great work that our volunteers do throughout the year.

"The generosity of donors enables us to help the nearly 70,000 people to turn to the Red Cross every year for assistance with disasters big and small."

Donations to the American Red Cross Cascades Region, which serves Oregon and Southwest Washington, can be made online at www.redcross.org/cascades, by mail (P.O. Box 4125, Portland, OR 97208) or by phone (800-RED-CROSS FREE).

Source: News Release from American Red Cross - Cascades Region