Red Cross Volunteers Roll Out to Help

Austin, Texas, July 4, 2007 — Don and Julie Barlow notice the American flags waving and the restaurant signs flashing “Happy 4th!” Still, they continue driving through flood-ravaged neighborhoods in Marble Falls that are strewn with soaked carpets, ruined furniture and other items that used to be part of someone’s home.A week after 18 inches of rain fell on this small community outside of Austin, the Barlows are spending their holiday helping their neighbors by driving a Red Cross Emergency Response Vehicle, or ERV, and passing out snacks, work gloves, rakes, shovels and water to families cleaning out their homes. The Barlows are no strangers to disaster. Helping families in North Texas for two weeks before their hometown began flooding, they packed up and headed back to Marble Falls and went to work immediately. Although their home was spared from the rushing waters, they feel it’s their duty to help friends and neighbors who weren’t so lucky. The Red Cross has provided comfort and care to over 400 people in the four Central Texas counties affected by last week’s flooding. Nearly 100 volunteers are working through the July 4th holiday to help those who are in need.Quick facts (as of COB, 7-3-07)Yesterday To date

Families served: 14 110
People served: 77 438
Snacks provided: 2,452 4,503
Clean-up items distributed: 197 543
Mobile feeding units (Emergency Response Vehicles) 6

All American Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the American people. You can help the victims of thousands of disasters across the country each year, disasters like the Central Texas Floods, 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 to the American Red Cross, P. O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. Internet users can make a secure online contribution by visiting www.redcross.org <http://mail.centex.redcross.org/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://mail.centex.redcross.org/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.redcross.org/>

Red Cross Disaster Assistance Center Opens

MARBLE FALLS – July 2, 2007 – The American Red Cross continues to provide assistance to victims of the recent floods in Burnet, Llano, Travis and Williamson counties and is operating a disaster assistance center in Marble Falls to meet the immediate emergency needs of those affected. 

Since assistance for flood victims began Saturday, more than 70 Red Cross volunteers and staff from the Central Texas area as far away as Maine have helped more than 60 families with emergency assistance including bottled water, snacks, mental health services, cleaning tools such as rakes and shovels, and connections with appropriate agencies for additional support. 

The following outlines additional statistics for those served from the disaster assistance center to date:

• Families served:60+S
• Snacks provided 419
• Clean-up items 145 
• Mobile feeding vehicles (Emergency Response Vehicles)4 
• Red Cross volunteers and staff 70

In addition, Red Cross Emergency Response Vehicles (ERVs) have traveled throughout the Marble Falls and Granite Shoals areas to distribute clean water and food and inform residents of the resources available at the disaster center.  All residents affected by the floods are encouraged to call the flood information hotline at (830) 265-4572 or visit the disaster assistance center.  

WHO: All victims affected by the recent flooding. WHAT:Disaster assistance center where flood victims will meet one-on-one with Red Cross case workers to met emergency service needs; obtain snacks, clean water for washing and bottled water for drinking; obtain cleaning supplies such as rakes and shovels; and more

WHERE: Marble Falls Elementary School gymnasium, 2001 Broadway

WHEN: Open everyday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. until all immediate emergency needs are met. 

NOTE:Those seeking assistance are asked to bring a photo I.D. and proof of address of the affected residence. 

CONTACT: Marble Falls Flood Information Hotline: (830) 265-4572 

The American Red Cross thanks local media outlets for communicating the availability of these resources to local residents.  For media relations questions, please contact Claudia McWhorter at (512) 413-0021. 

Information for Media and Affected Residents

Red Cross services are provided in English or Spanish, 

free of charge to disaster affected residents 

Contact Info

Assistance:  Gainesville Civic Ctr, 1000 Medal of Honor Dr. 903. 465.1330   Texoma Red Cross Chapter           

Volunteer: 903. 465.1330 Texoma Red Cross Chapter

Donate:        1-800-REDCROSS (733-2767)

Media Inquiries:  call  571.226.8063 or 202. 412.1178 

Shelter: Whaley Methodist Church  701 Rosedale 

SERVICES     

American Red Cross services can include, but not limited to

•  Food/Water, Safe Shelter, Minor First Aid

•  Crisis Counseling for adults and children

•  Clean-up supplies like brooms, bleach, mops, and trashbags

•  Personal hygiene supplies like toothpaste, deodorant and  soap  

•  Assistance for families who have disaster-caused needs

•  Replacement of lost medications

•  One-on-One interviews with Red Cross caseworkers

Note – The Red Cross cannot accept donations of material goods except in very large quantities and on pallettized                     

Si usted necesita ayuda por favor comuníquese a los siguientes números telefónicos: 

Obtener asistencia: (940) 665-4365

Voluntarios: (940) 665-4365 

Donaciones: 1 (800) REDCROSS (733-2767)

Información de prensa: Relaciones Públicas (571) 226-8063 / (202) 412-1178 celular

Centro de Servicio: Centro Cívico de la Ciudad de Gainsville (940) 668-4530   

 Albergue: Iglesia Metodista Whaley (202) 550-2226 / (202) 258-6253   

Servicios ofrecidos:La Cruz Roja Americana puede proveer los siguientes servicios: Alimentos diarios – Desayuno, Comida y Cena)   Albergue seguro y con servicios básicos (regaderas y sanitarios) Primeros auxilios  Terapia para niños, adultos y familias    Artículos de limpieza tales como cubetas, cepillos, cloro, guantes, etc  Artículos de aseo personal tales como desodorante, cepillo de dientes, jabón, etc. Ayuda económica para las familias que sufrieron daños debido al desastre.  Ayuda económica para reemplazar medicamentos.  Entrevistas individuales con un trabajador social Nota: La Cruz Roja no puede aceptar donaciones materiales. ** Todos los servicios son ofrecidos en ingles y en español

Fast Facts

Red Cross Disaster Relief Operation at a Glance Numbers as of End of Day 7/01/2007
	Last 24 Hours	To Date
Total Cases Opened	19	634
Number of Clients Served	7	2,595
Meals and Snacks Served	2,061	58,068
Clean Up Kits Distributed	15	1,002
Comfort Kits Distributed	2	920
Bulk Items Distributed to Clients	300	2,399
Mobile Feeding Units	6	18
Mental Health Contacts	99	803
Health Services Contacts	63	610
Shelters Open	2	12
Total Volunteers and Staff Assigned	123	379

Red Cross Extends Hand to Flooded North Texas

June 21, 2007 – Gainesville, Texas - Residents coming to Red Cross shelters throughout north central Texas have been up to their armpits in water for more days than they care to remember.  Response volunteers from throughout the state and beyond have been homing in the affected communities organizing an enormous relief operation that will cost the organization more than $300,000 to support.  The money will be used to feed, clothe and shelter thousands of Texans who have lost more than their homes – they’ve seen their crops and animals destroyed, some have even lost family members in this violent weather.

The American Red Cross continues to respond to the needs of these communities with personnel and material assets, as well as health and psychological support. The resources of the national organization are brought to bear in disasters in such as this and that is the reason for the Disaster Relief Fund which makes deployment of volunteers and paid staff possible – sometimes before the disaster has occurred.  The Disaster Relief Fund is a pool of funds come to Red Cross, free of strings, to disperse in on any disaster.  When people make a donation to Red Cross in response to a disaster like these North Texas floods, they often specify that the funds are to be used for that disaster. That limitation is removed when a person writes a check or makes a donation to the “Disaster Relief Fund”. That allows the American Red Cross to use the funds as necessary.  

The warehouses, food supplies, vehicles and electronic communications that are necessary to field an operation such as the North Texas floods require funding year around in order to be available quickly to those who need it most. The floods, coupled with tornadoes in the Killeen-Copperas Cove area will put a dent in the overall fund which must be replenished to meet the hurricane season and other unforeseen emergencies.

 All American Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the American people. You can help the victims of the North Texas floods and thousands of other disasters across the country each year 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 those in need. 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 to the American Red Cross, P. O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. Internet users can make a secure online contribution by visiting www.redcross.org.

Welcome

All of this information is available to the public. It is designed to provide media with the latest information about the American Red Cross response to the floods of June 2007. Latest information is provided about how those affected can get help and how their neighbors can help.