Seven WNY Volunteers and Two Emergency Response Vehicles Deploying Wednesday Afternoon

Red Cross helping people after storm affects lives in multiple states

Lavallette, NJ

BUFFALO, NY, October 31, 2012 – The American Red Cross has a huge relief response underway to Sandy, providing people across a number of states with a safe place to stay, food to eat and comfort during this difficult time. Thousands of people have spent the night in hundreds of Red Cross shelters since the storm began its onslaught on the country. The Red Cross has already served more than 100,800 meals and snacks and mobilized more than 2,300 disaster workers and almost 200 emergency vehicles so far and more are being deployed.

The Emergency Response Vehicle (ERV) based in Niagara County deployed with two volunteers from the Western New York region Wednesday afternoon, and five additional volunteers and a second ERV deployed from the Jamestown office. They will be driving to the operational headquarters in White Plains, NY, where they will then be assigned to the affected areas.

A total of 25 volunteers from the Western New York region have been deployed to assist in the Red Cross response to Sandy so far. Below is a current list, with those deploying Wednesday afternoon listed in bold:

NAME, HOMETOWN                   FUNCTION                                                             

James Collingwood, Amherst            External Relations/Government Operations

Tom Daley, Tonawanda                     Mass Care/Sheltering

Janice Davis, Friendship                    Disaster Health Services

Martin Doster, Getzville               Feeding/ERV

Marieanna Elliott, Hamburg      Disaster Mental Health

Marianne Evans, Ransomville          Mass Care/Sheltering

James France, Amherst                Feeding/ERV

Allison Hall, Buffalo                           Disaster Mental Health

Michael Hoplight, Niagara Falls        Mass Care/Shelter Supervisor

Tara Hughes, Amherst                       Disaster Mental Health Chief

Norman Kehl, Strykersville                Mass Care/Sheltering

Jose Latalladi, Buffalo                        Financial & Statistical Information

Rosalind Lind, Medina                        Mass Care/Sheltering

Margaret McGee-Smith, Kenmore    Disaster Mental Health

Hollyann Moffett, Dunkirk          Mass Care/Sheltering

Diane Sargent, Lockport                     Disaster Assessment

Michael Schultz, Kenmore                 External Relations/Public Affairs

Beth Shook, Cuba                               Staff Services

Katherine Story, West Seneca            Disaster Health Services

Peter Swales, Springville                     Disaster Assessment

Terry Sweet, P0rtageville                    Mass Care/Sheltering

William Tucker, Jamestown        Mass Care/Sheltering

SWNY Volunteer, Bemus Point   Feeding/ERV

SWNY Volunteer, Bemus Point   Feeding/ERV

Dawn Zaker, Niagara Falls                 Mass Care/Sheltering

“This response to Sandy is just getting started. The storm has left devastation in its wake and we will be helping people for weeks to come,” said Nancy Blaschak, Executive Director of the American Red Cross, WNY Region. “This will be very costly and the Red Cross needs help now. We ask everyone to support us as we help people recover from this massive storm.”

HOW TO HELP The response to Sandy is very large and very costly and the Red Cross needs the public’s help now. People can make a financial donation by visiting www.redcross.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Contributions may also be sent to someone’s local Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013.

PLEASE GIVE BLOOD The storm has also caused the cancellation of hundreds of Red Cross blood drives, resulting in a loss of as many as 11,000 blood products and people are eligible are asked to schedule a blood donation now, especially if they live outside the areas impacted by the storm.

To schedule a donation time or get more information about giving blood, people can visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). To give blood, someone must be at least 17 years of age, meet weight and height requirements and be in general good health. Donors should bring their Red Cross blood donor card or other form of positive ID with them.  Some states allow 16-year-olds to give with parental consent.