RED CROSS RESPONDS TO POWERFUL NOR'EASTER

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On Sunday, April 15, a powerful spring storm hammered the Northeast with heavy winds, rain and flooding. Across six states, the American Red Cross responded with the largest mobilization of personnel and material since the hurricane season of 2005, opening 75 shelters to feed and care for more than 3,500 people. The state of New Jersey was the hardest hit by the storm, and the Red Cross operated 22 shelters here, housing more than 2,400 residents whose homes flooded or who lost electricity as a result of this devastating nor'easter. Locally, the Colonial Crossroads Chapter supplied relief to four families in Berkeley Heights, Long Hill Township and Springfield who suffered storm damage, and supported other New Jersey chapters with towns that sustained more widespread damage.

As the storm approached, the chapter's Disaster Services volunteers prepared for action. "Over 100 volunteers were put on standby," according to Dan Iradi, the chapter's director of emergency services. "Each member of our team is trained in a specific area of response such as shelter management, damage assessment or client casework. We assess the immediate disaster-caused needs of the family or individual and offer aid based on those needs."

This assistance includes a safe place to stay, meals, crisis counseling, the means to obtain clothing, essential medications and disaster-related health care, and referrals to community partners and government resources.

"The Red Cross partners with community organizations as well as state governments to provide critical services to those in need," according to Iradi. "Throughout the flooding, the Red Cross continued to assess the situation and provide shelter, food, water, clean-up and comfort kits and medical and mental health services as needed." The last shelter in New Jersey remained in operation until May 16, one month after the storm hit.

Although the service area of the Colonial Crossroads Chapter was not heavily impacted by the nor'easter, the chapter was very active in response as a local volunteer staff center, providing mutual aid in the form of staff and material support to severely affected chapters in Morris, Essex, Passaic, Bergen and Hudson counties.

"We deployed more than two dozen volunteers to five other chapters and to work with the national Disaster Relief Operation," stated Iradi, "including our executive director, Christy Hodde, who assisted the executive director at the Greater Somerset Chapter, the area hardest hit by flooding."

Dan Iradi assumed the role of interim head of the emergency response effort for the Metropolitan New Jersey Chapter, headquartered in Fairfield, and went on to be the deputy director for the Disaster Relief Operation. Mary Levis, communication and marketing director, was deployed to work with the Public Affairs team at the Disaster Relief Operation headquarters, which operated out of the Metro New Jersey chapter house.

Volunteer Bruce Rights of New Providence reported to FEMA's Regional Response Coordination Center at Federal Plaza in New York City, where 22 agencies of the federal government and a representative of the Red Cross gathered to coordinate activities as defined in the National Response Plan.

Joanne Corbo, coordinator of disaster volunteers, detailed the response. "Chapter volunteers and staff performed a variety of activities," she stated. "For instance, David Fowler of Chatham worked as a shelter manager; Judy Gaudino of Summit provided mental health services. Disaster Services volunteers also provided everything from Mass Care feeding, opening shelters, shelter management, driving Emergency Response Vehicles (ERVs), damage assessment, health and mental health services, bulk distribution, community outreach, and service center client casework."

Volunteers and staff worked at the chapter houses loading the ERV, doing call downs for volunteer availability, coordinating volunteer deployment, and providing services for those affected by the storm in the chapter's service area.

"This was the first big test of the Disaster Services Department since the Southeast Morris and Summit Area chapters merged last fall," according to Corbo. "We showed that this newly merged chapter was able to work well together as a team."

In addition to personnel, the chapter sent its ERV loaded with 123 cots, 230 blankets, 200 comfort kits and many stuffed animals directly to shelters in Bound Brook." stated Julie Siciliano, the chapter's disaster chair. The ERV was also used to provide mobile feeding to members of the affected communities cleaning up after the storm.

While responding to the nor'easter, the chapter continued to respond to emergencies in its service area. "We had calls to respond to two fires in Summit and one in Berkeley Heights," according to Siciliano. "We also provided mutual aid to the Metro chapter for two fires, providing client casework, mental health services and mass care."

Iradi is looking for new volunteers to join the Disaster Services team. "Members are on call to respond to emergencies based on their availability, and free training is provided," said Iradi. "Please visit www.ccnjredcross.org for more information and for a volunteer application."

"The Red Cross responds to more than 70,000 disasters a year across the country," according to Christy Hodde. "Approximately every eight minutes, our volunteers and employees help individuals whose lives have been devastated by disaster."

All American Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the American people. "The Red Cross stands ready to turn your compassion into action through the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, which enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to those in need for this disaster and thousands of others each year," stated Hodde.

The Disaster Relief Fund allows the Red Cross to act immediately, when help is needed most. However, the Disaster Relief Fund must be replenished constantly. Because the Red Cross is not a government agency, it depends on the voluntary contributions of the American people. It is through the public's generosity that the Red Cross continues to provide the unique and vital services Americans depend on in times of crisis.

"The American Red Cross will always be there whenever and wherever disaster strikes," concluded Hodde, "but we need your help to keep our promise."

You can help the victims of thousands of disasters across the country each year, disasters like the April 2007 Nor'easter, by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, which enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to victims of disaster. The American Red Cross honors donor intent. If you wish to designate your donation to a specific disaster, please do so at the time of your donation. Call 1-800-REDCROSS or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Contributions to the Disaster Relief Fund may be sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington DC 20013. Internet users can make a secure online contribution by visiting www.redcross.org.