Red Cross Assists Lawrence Co. Resident After Storm Destroys Her Home

Mary King, whose home in Lawrence County was destroyed by the recent tornado, is greeted at the Red Cross by Faye Anderson, Executive Director of the Tennessee River Chapter of the American Red Cross, and Joseph Reed, Red Cross Youth Volunteer. 

by Red Cross volunteer, Marvin Koch

When Mary King’s sister called her, Ms. King had no idea how urgent the message was going to be. Her sister said, “Mary, you better get to that tornado shelter RIGHT NOW!” said Ms. King.  The 79 year-old resident of Lawrence County said she wheeled herself out to her underground shelter and “I wasn’t in there five minutes before the storm hit. It sounded like a huge jet plane flying directly overhead.”  A wheel-chair bound senior citizen, Ms. King said the storm tore off most of the roof, destroyed her garage, busted out all her windows, damaged her car, and completely destroyed her front porch. The local fire department, surveying the scene, told Ms. King her house was totally uninhabitable.

“I live alone,” said Ms. King, "but I keep a nice, clean home. It’s terrible when something like this happens.” Her son, Terry Swithin,  a long-distance truck driver, said Ms. King is totally self-sufficient in her home. ”We built ramps into the house and into the shelter so she has easy access. But her car was damaged by the storm and now she needs a way to get around.”

Red Cross case workers Shirley Connolly and Sandra Burnham, both from the Tennessee River Chapter of the American Red Cross, discussed the damage to Ms. King’s home and her immediate needs for transportation. The two caseworkers were quickly able to find two sources of  handicapped-accessible public transportation for Ms. King.

Red Cross volunteer caseworkers Shirley Connolly and Sandra Burnham, both of the Tennessee River Chapter of the American Red Cross, assess Ms. King’s transportation needs.

Red Cross Helps Across the South after Tornadoes, Flooding - Continues to Provide Services to Families in Tennessee

Days of severe weather have pummeled the Southeast and the American Red Cross is on the ground, helping those affected.

Over the weekend, tornadoes swept through the Dallas, Texas area, causing substantial damage. Red Cross workers opened shelters for people impacted by the severe weather and are out today helping to assess the damage to determine what other help will be needed.

“Making sure safe shelters are available is always the first priority for the American Red Cross after storms,” said Anita Foster, Chief Communications Officer, Red Cross North Texas Region. “We will provide more services in the coming days such as distributing cleaning to help families begin to sift through their belongings and salvage what they can. Additionally, Red Cross shelter teams will continue to provide safe locations until they’re no longer needed.”

Meanwhile, Red Cross workers have been responding to earlier storms in other states across the South since Christmas Eve.

In Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee, more than 180 Red Cross workers are helping families impacted by the earlier severe weather. In Mississippi, hundreds of homes are affected by flooding and possible tornadoes. More than 65 homes in Tennessee were damaged by the severe weather. Widespread damage is reported across Georgia. Both flooding and tornadoes hit the state of Alabama where more than 100 homes are damaged. The severe weather is expected to continue and officials are watching the situation for additional flooding.

Red Cross workers have shelters open and are providing meals to those needing immediate assistance. As conditions permit, the Red Cross will distribute relief supplies and work with officials to determine what other help is needed.

Here in Tennessee, 42 Red Cross staff and volunteers have provided over 400 meals and snacks, have distributed 32 comfort kits and have opened 50 cases since December 24.

“I salute the Red Cross disaster volunteers and staff who willingly put family and holiday celebrations aside to respond to multiple disasters throughout the Southeast,” said Anna Trefethen, vice president for the Red Cross Southeast and Caribbean division. “Their actions gave help and hope to those who have been affected by the multiple tornadoes and flooding which began on Christmas Eve, their selfless dedication is truly impressive.”

PLEASE HELP NOW The Red Cross will be helping people in the Southeast for weeks and months to come, at the same time responding to other emergencies, including helping people whose homes are destroyed by fire. The Red Cross responds to nearly 70,000 disasters each year in the United States – and the vast majority of these are home fires.

People can help by donating to Red Cross Disaster Relief to support disasters big and small by visiting redcross.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS or texting the word 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.

Photos by Rosemarie Asia and Johnny Hooker

Red Cross Offers Safety Steps As Severe Weather Threatens

Severe weather is threatening a large part of Tennessee and the American Red Cross has steps people can take to help stay safe if dangerous storms threaten their neighborhood.

TORNADO SAFETY A tornado watch means tornadoes are possible in the area. People should be ready to act quickly if a warning is issued or someone suspects a tornado is approaching. A tornado warning means a tornado has been sighted or indicated on radar. People should immediately go underground to a basement, storm cellar or interior room of the house.

Some signs of a tornado include dark, often greenish clouds, a wall of clouds or cloud of debris, large hail, a funnel cloud or roaring noise. Steps people should remember if a tornado warning is issued include:

Go to an underground shelter or safe room if available. A hallway on the lowest level of a sturdy building is also a safe alternative.

Mobile homes are not safe during tornadoes. Do not seek shelter in a hallway or bathroom of a mobile home. If you have access to a sturdy shelter or vehicle, get out of the mobile home immediately and go to the nearest sturdy building or shelter.

If you are caught outdoors, seek shelter in a basement, shelter or sturdy building.

If you can’t walk to a shelter quickly, immediately get into a vehicle, buckle your seat belt and try to drive to the closest sturdy shelter.

If debris is flying while you are driving, pull over and park. You can stay in the car with the seat belt on, putting your head down below the windows, covering your head with your hands and a blanket if possible.

Or, if you can get safely to an area noticeably lower than the level of the roadway, get out of the car and lie in that area, covering your head with your hands. Your choice should be driven by your specific circumstances. 

THUNDERSTORMS  If someone can hear thunder, they are close enough for lightning to be a threat. If thunder roars, go indoors and stay inside for at least 30 minutes after the thunder stops.

Listen to local news or NOAA Weather Radio for emergency updates. Watch for signs of a storm, like darkening skies, lightning flashes or increasing wind.

Postpone outdoor activities if thunderstorms are likely to occur. Many people struck by lightning are not in the area where rain is occurring.

If a severe thunderstorm warning is issued, take shelter in a substantial building or in a vehicle with the windows closed. Get out of mobile homes that can blow over in high winds.

Avoid using electrical equipment and telephones. Use battery-powered TVs and radios instead.

Shutter windows and close outside doors securely. Keep away from windows.

Do not take a bath, shower or use plumbing.

If someone is driving, try to safely exit the roadway and park. Stay in the vehicle and turn on the emergency flashers until the heavy rain ends. Avoid touching metal or other surfaces that conduct electricity in and outside the vehicle.

If outside and unable to reach a safe building, avoid high ground; water; tall, isolated trees; and metal objects such as fences or bleachers. Picnic shelters, dugouts and sheds are NOT safe. 

More information on what to do before, during and after all types of emergencies is available in the Preparedness section of redcross.org.

DOWNLOAD EMERGENCY APP The all-inclusive, free Red Cross Emergency app combines more than 35 emergency alerts to help keep the user safe, including information about what to do in case of floods, thunderstorms, hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes, wildfires and more. Users can find it in smartphone app stores by searching for the American Red Cross or going to redcross.org/apps.

Regional Executive Corner with Joel R. Sullivan - December 2015

Give Something that Means Something

This holiday season, I hope you will visit the 2015 American Red Cross Holiday Gift Catalog to give a meaningful – and enduring – gift of help and hope. Consider a gift to a family trying their best to cope after a home fire, a service member facing the holidays far from loved ones, or a child needing a blood transfusion. The Red Cross Holiday Gift Catalog is geared to offer a variety of gift choices that can be made in the name of a friend or family member to directly support the vital humanitarian services that we provide.

Hundreds of times each day, the Red Cross brings help and hope to those in need. For example, a home fire occurs every 7 minutes in this country, and smoke alarms save lives. Through the Red Cross holiday gift catalog, you can “purchase” a gift of fire safety training and the installation of 1 smoke alarm for $15.00.

The Red Cross holiday gift catalog contains heartwarming stories from people across the world who have been helped by the Red Cross, as well as a diverse list of symbolic gifts that illustrate what a donation in honor of a loved one, colleague, or client could mean to someone in need. The tax-deductible donation will support a Red Cross program area. A donation can provide: blankets that give comfort and security to victims of disasters; fire safety training and smoke alarms to help reduce fire-related deaths and injuries in at-risk communities; reconnect families who have been separated by war or disasters; blood services to help ensure blood is safe and available for those in need.

I hope you will join me in accessing the Holiday Gift Catalog, by visiting redcross.org/gifts, make a tax-deductible donation online, or call 1-800-RED CROSS to donate.

I hope you have a blessed, safe and joyful holiday season!

Joel

Letter from East Tennessee Executive Director Michelle Hankes, December 2015

Volunteers are the lifeblood of the American Red Cross. When 90 to 96 percent of the mission work is accomplished through people who receive no paycheck, there can be no denying that a solid, trained volunteer is worth his or her weight in gold. Recruit, train, evaluate, thank. Sounds easy, right?

Think again! A volunteer is more than a person to put through a cycle of best practices. A volunteer is an individual, with individual needs, expressions and expertise. One size does not fit all. A volunteer needs more than an occasional t-shirt or pin. A volunteer needs more than a template of trainings. A volunteer needs to feel welcome, respected, and needed. A volunteer needs to know that he or she is appreciated by the clients, staff, and other volunteers!

Engagement is more than the number of hours clocked or the number of classes taken. Engagement is conversation with other Red Crossers, figuring out solutions to problems, identifying opportunities to do better, and celebrating the wins. For some volunteers, an hour a week is enough to feel engaged. For others, the Red Cross is a home away from home. Both types of volunteers are committed and passionate about the mission.

I want you to feel engaged, but you need to help me. I want to understand what I (and other staff) can do to make you feel needed…because you are!

The Volunteer and Mission Capacity Committee meets to figure out strategies around recruiting new volunteers and creating opportunities for engagement for those of you already in our family. So far, we’ve identified workshops that focus on professional development beyond the Red Cross program. We’re trying to plan fun things for recognition. But I need you to tell me what you want. You can email me at michelle.hankes@redcross.org. I can’t promise to get every idea onto the schedule, but I’m going to give it my best shot. Maybe you just want to talk about things: things you like, things you wish could happen. Again, I can’t promise the stars, but I will shoot for the moon!

American Red Cross to Honor Peyton Manning at HCA/TriStar Health Lifesaver Breakfast

NFL’s only five-time Most Valuable Player and former Tennessee Vol to Address Attendees at April 4th Fundraising Event in Nashville

NASHVILLE, Tenn., December 15, 2015 — The Tennessee Region of the American Red Cross is pleased to announce Denver Broncos quarterback, Peyton Manning, the NFL’s only five-time Most Valuable Player and a 14-time Pro Bowl selection, as this year’s keynote speaker for the HCA/TriStar Health Lifesaver Breakfast. The event will take place on Monday, April 4, at 7:30 a.m. at the Music City Center in downtown Nashville.

Each year, the Lifesaver Breakfast hosts Nashville’s most influential business and community leaders, sharing the mission of the American Red Cross and raising the financial resources necessary to provide their core humanitarian services. 

This year’s breakfast will include the theme “2-Minute Warning”, a common term in the NFL when two minutes of game time remain on the game clock in each half, and, the amount of time fire experts agree people may have to escape a burning home before it’s too late. 

“The American Red Cross is in its second year of a five year campaign to reduce the number of home fire deaths by twenty-five percent, so, we thought the tie-in to home fire preparedness and the football terminology was a perfect fit,” said Joel Sullivan, Regional CEO of the Tennessee Region of the American Red Cross.  “We are thrilled that Peyton will be joining us this year as we share the lifesaving work of the Red Cross in Tennessee and highlight the importance of having working smoke alarms and a fire escape plan in your home.”

In addition to addressing breakfast attendees, Peyton, a member of the Red Cross National Celebrity Cabinet, will receive the Crystal Cross award in honor of celebrities who have shown exemplary support of and service to the Red Cross mission.  Past Crystal Cross recipients are Amy Grant, Sean Penn, Trace Adkins, Betty White, Niki Taylor and Jamie Lee Curtis, among others.

For the second year, Nashville-based Hospital Corporation of America (HCA) /TriStar Health is the Title Sponsor.  A leading provider of healthcare services, HCA/TriStar Health is committed to the care and improvement of human life.

"HCA has a deep-rooted history of caring for its communities—not only through the patient care we provide, but also by supporting the efforts of organizations like the American Red Cross," said HCA chairman and CEO Milton Johnson. "The Red Cross continues to expand its impact in the Nashville area, this year helping more than 243 families recover from disasters and teaching life-saving skills to nearly 8,400 people. HCA is proud to sponsor the 2016 Lifesaver Breakfast.”

                                                           

Jan and Harry Jacobson will serve as chairpersons of the 2016 Lifesaver Breakfast. The Jacobson’s have had tremendous impact within the community and beyond with their charitable involvement with non-profit organizations including Family Foundation Fund, Middle Tennessee Council of the Boy Scouts of America, Shoot for the Future and Hospital Hospitality House.

Last year’s event raised nearly $750,000, a record-setting amount to support the vital mission of helping the community prepare, respond to and recover from disasters.

For more information on the HCA/TriStar Health Lifesaver Breakfast or to learn about sponsorship opportunities, please contact Jitka Pilar at 615-250-4288 or visit www.lifesaverbreakfast.org.

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.

Chapter Chairs: Then and Now - Northeast Tennessee

Chapter Chair (1947-1954) W.J. McAuliffe
In a July 1949 Times News article, the Kingsport Red Cross Chapter Chair, W. J. McAuliffe announced the Red Cross was ready to respond if a large disaster struck the community.  He stated, “until a few months ago, about all we could do about a disaster was hope and pray there would not be one.”

In collaboration with the Disaster Chairman, J.R. Thomas, Executive Secretary, Ella Dixon, and various other chapter leaders, McAuliffe said a plan with written commitments was now in place.  Their plan was to use cars with loud speakers to drive around directing refugees to safety.  There were commitments for “special railroad cars, taxicabs, moving vans, ambulances, wreckers, diesel shovels, bulldozers, boats, barges, searchlights, welding and cutting equipment and all types of first aid and rescue equipment.”

In 1949, the city was divided into 6 zones with trained personnel ready to respond in each zone. Plans were in place for communication between identified stations and a Red Cross headquarters, which would be set up at the Civic Auditorium or the main office building of Tennessee Eastman Corporation.  The article notes the Red Cross had no intention of “running the city in time of disaster”, but would provide citizen relief allowing the city workers to carry on their professional duties.

Numerous other Red Cross activities including first aid classes, volunteer services at the hospitals, and sewing programs would be offered.  One item noted was the newest board member, James H. Quillen, had headed the most recent Red Cross membership campaign.  The goal for the membership campaign was $10,895 and ended with pledges of $18,293.

In his life outside the Red Cross, W. J. McAuliffe was the editor of the Kingsport Times News.

Notes:
 #1 James H. (Jimmy) Quillen served as U. S. House of Representatives member for TN District 1 from 1963-1997
 #2 from 1917 until 1951 the Red Cross Chapter conducted their own annual fundraising campaign.  In 1951 The Red Cross partnered with the Kingsport Community Chest to become the United Fund.  The United Fund later became the United Way.


Chapter Chair (2015) Clark Parker
After reading excerpts from the July 1949 newspaper article, Northeast Tennessee Red Cross Chapter Chair, Clark Parker responded, “You know, at the heart of the mission of the American Red Cross, not a great deal has changed in 66 years.  We still hope and pray to avoid a large disaster in Northeast Tennessee and we still have specific response plans in place in case one does occur.”

Radio and TV and even Facebook® and Twitter® have replaced cars with loud speakers.  Specially designed Emergency Response Vehicles (ERVs) now serve as mobile Red Cross headquarters on-site when needed.  With cell phones and tablet computers, communication is almost instantaneous, now.

“Our emergency response mission is really two-fold,” noted Parker. “We work to educate and equip Northeast Tennessee residents to help prevent localized disasters like home-fires but also to respond to bigger things like flooding and tornadoes.”  Parker said American Red Cross volunteers from our region are often deployed to disasters around the country including hurricanes in the Gulf Coast region and wildfires in the western U.S.

Baby-Sitting and even Pet First Aid classes have replaced sewing programs, but the American Red Cross continues to provide one of the most widely recognized first aid training programs in the world.   Also, the American Red Cross continues to provide services to our veterans and military personnel, whether they’re on active duty, returning from active duty or under Veterans Administration (VA) care in a local hospital.

With the passing of 66 years and the expansion from Kingsport to all of Northeast Tennessee - including Sullivan, Carter, Unicoi, Johnson, Washington, Greene, Hamblen, Claiborne, Hancock, Hawkins, and Grainger Counties - the fundraising goals have grown.  The 2015 fundraising goal for the Northeast Tennessee area was $586,000 - 92% of which went directly to provide services.

 Article credit: Jane Harris

Letter from Northeast Tennessee Executive Director, Glenda Bobalik - December 2015

'Tis the season for hurrying about, spreading good cheer, and sharing time with family and friends.  What a wonderful spirit is present as we gather to celebrate the holidays.

As we come to the end of this year, I want to thank each of you for the support you have provided to the American Red Cross of Northeast Tennessee during 2015.

Those who support us financially make it possible for us to help the family who lost their home to fire. When volunteers gather and head for the site of a disaster, you have made it possible for them to have the training and materials needed to help our neighbors.  Thank  you.

Others provide support by giving their time and talent to serve those in need like the family who lost their home to falling trees during a storm.  At all times ,day and night, volunteers respond when called to help people impacted by emergencies.  Thank you.

Today, volunteers are delivering holiday cards to veterans as part of the support they provide to active duty, retired and veterans of military service all year long. Emergency communications provided to active duty military helps to keep our families strong.  Thank you.

Building a more resilient community is an important role of the Red Cross.  Preparedness presentations educate people on steps to take to prepare for emergencies.  Disaster education, First Aid, CPR, water safety, and so much more are provided in our communities by volunteers making our community safer. Thank you.

So many volunteers do a variety of unique activities that support our ability to provide Red Cross services in the community.  Data entry, vehicle management, facility upkeep, special projects, administrative support, and many more critical services are provided by these dedicated volunteers.  Thank you.

Whatever your role with the American Red Cross of Northeast Tennessee, you are an important member of our team.  Together, we are an unbeatable force of good in our community, making this an even better place for all of us to live. 

I wish you the very happiest of holiday seasons.

Glenda

Give with Meaning

This holiday season, visit the 2015 American Red Cross Holiday Gift Catalog to give a meaningful – and enduring – gift of help and hope. Consider a gift to a family trying their best to cope after a home fire, a service member facing the holidays far from loved ones, or a child needing a blood transfusion. The Red Cross Holiday Gift Catalog is geared to offer a variety of gift choices that can be made in the name of a friend or family member to directly support the vital humanitarian services that we provide.

Hundreds of times each day, the Red Cross brings help and hope to those in need. For example, a home fire occurs every 7 minutes in this country, and smoke alarms save lives. Through the Red Cross holiday gift catalog, you can “purchase” a gift of fire safety training and the installation of 1 smoke alarm for $15.00.

The Red Cross holiday gift catalog contains heartwarming stories from people across the world who have been helped by the Red Cross, as well as a diverse list of symbolic gifts that illustrate what a donation in honor of a loved one, colleague, or client could mean to someone in need. The tax-deductible donation will support a Red Cross program area. A donation can provide: blankets that give comfort and security to victims of disasters; fire safety training and smoke alarms to help reduce fire-related deaths and injuries in at-risk communities; reconnect families who have been separated by war or disasters; blood services to help ensure blood is safe and available for those in need.

To access the Holiday Gift Catalog, visit redcross.org/gifts, make a tax-deductible donation online, or call 1-800-RED CROSS.