Letter from Northeast Tennessee Executive Director, Glenda Bobalik - August 2017

The Red Cross responds to nearly 64,000 disasters a year, the majority of which are home fires. Working smoke alarms in a home cut the risk of death by half, and having an escape plan further improves the odds of survival. The Red Cross wants to end these tragedies and save lives, the reason why the organization launched the Home Fire Campaign in 2014.

We are asking everyone to help Sound the Alarm in Northeast Tennessee and be part of the nationwide Red Cross effort to help reduce the number of deaths and injuries caused by home fires. 

Here in Northeast Tennessee, we are holding a Sound the Alarm home fire safety and smoke alarm installation event on September 23^rd in Bristol and again on October 7^th in Morristown.  Events are also taking place in Johnson and Hawkins Counties during late August and early September. Red Cross volunteers and local partners will be canvassing neighborhoods, installing free smoke alarms, replacing batteries in existing alarms and helping families create escape plans. Last year we worked together to install 1,395 smoke alarms.

There are many roles that you can fill at a smoke alarm event.  You may want to register the volunteers participating, serve the lunch provided at the conclusion, or be on a home visit team.  Please contact Angela Morris at 423-765-4218 to discuss the many opportunities.

Join us as we all work to have an impact on the safety of our community.  Please join this important effort. Together, we can Sound the Alarm about fire safety and help save lives.

Glenda