The biggest disaster threat in the United States isn’t floods, hurricanes or tornadoes; it’s home fires.
Every
night in America, while most of us are sleeping, American Red Cross
disaster volunteers are standing on the lawn of someone who has just
lost their home and everything they own in a fire. Our volunteers give
them a warm blanket, a hot cup of coffee, a place to stay for the night
and a plan to help them get back on their feet.
A Night in the Life of Our Disaster Volunteers
The
Red Cross responds to help a family affected by a home fire every 8
minutes. Follow the typical journey of our disaster volunteers as they
respond to a home fire:
1:10 a.m.
A Red Cross disaster volunteer receives a call from the local Fire
Department that there has been a home fire in their community. She
quickly gets up, gets dressed and calls another volunteer to meet her at
the location of the home fire.
1:30 a.m.
The disaster volunteer arrives at the scene of the home fire. She talks
with the fire chief to find out who has been affected and what their
needs may be. She also touches base with the EMS captain and leaves a
case of water for the firefighters.
1:35 a.m.
The fire chief introduces the Red Cross disaster volunteer to the
family of four whose home has been destroyed. The two parents and two
children are standing out on the lawn watching as the firemen work to
put out the fire. The volunteer immediately wraps warm Red Cross
blankets around each of them, and offers them hot coffee or cocoa which
she has brought with her as well.
1:50 a.m.
Another Red Cross disaster volunteer arrives to help the affected
family. With a smile, he hands the parents two stuffed animals to give
to the children. He then helps watch the little ones so that his
volunteer partner can talk with the parents about next steps.
2:15 a.m.
The Red Cross volunteers contact a nearby hotel and secure a room for
the family to stay in for the next couple nights. They give the family
four comfort kits which each contain a toothbrush, tooth paste, soap and
other personal hygiene items. They also hand them an emergency gift
card to help the family purchase clothes, food, and other items they may
need to replace.
2:30 a.m.
The disaster volunteers help the family pack some of the personal items
that the firefighters retrieved from the home and a few additional Red
Cross supplies and snacks into their vehicle, which thankfully has not
been damaged so they can drive to the hotel.
2:50 a.m.
The family says goodbye and embraces the Red Cross volunteers. Before
they drive off, one volunteer hands her card to the parents and sets up a
time to talk the next day.
2:55
a.m. Finally, the disaster volunteers check back with the fire chief to
tell him the family is taken care of. They then depart the scene of the
fire and head back to their homes. In a few hours, they will have to get
up and go about their day.
How You Can Help Home Fire Victims
You
can help people affected by fires and countless other crises by making a
donation to support Red Cross Disaster Relief. Your gift enables the
Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from
disasters big and small. Visit redcross.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS or
text the REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.
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