Monday, July 8, 2013

Niagara Falls Emergency Response Vehicle Deploying to CNY for Flooding Response

Third ERV from WNY/Finger Lakes Regions to assist in relief efforts

BUFFALO, NY, July 8, 2013 – The American Red Cross, Serving Erie & Niagara Counties is deploying an Emergency Response Vehicle (ERV), based in Niagara Falls, to the Central New York region to assist in the ongoing relief efforts following massive flooding in the area. Volunteers Joy Bidlack of East Aurora and Diane Sargent of Lockport will be meeting the ERV at the Chapter’s Administrative Headquarters at 786 Delaware Avenue in Buffalo Monday at approximately 9:30am and driving to the Utica headquarters to receive specific assignments.

Flooding in Oneida as seen by
Diane Sargent last week.
This is the third ERV from the Western New York and Finger Lakes Regions to deploy to the Utica area to assist in this response. The ERVs, including those deployed earlier from Jamestown and Rochester, will deliver food, water, clean-up kits and other supplies directly into some of the hardest-hit areas. Through Saturday night, the American Red Cross had provided 315 overnight shelter stays, nearly 20,000 meals and snacks, and more than 2,100 clean-up kits and comfort kids to residents affected by the floods.
The American Red Cross on Sunday continued mobile feeding in Oneida and Herkimer Counties, and it will provide mobile feeding and mobile distribution of clean-up supplies in the city of Oneida Monday.
Also on Sunday, the Red Cross closed its shelter at the YMCA of the Greater Tri-Valley at 701 Seneca St., Oneida. Other Red Cross shelters that were opened last week have been closed. The Red Cross has shelters on standby if more flooding creates the need for additional shelters.
A total of 28 volunteers from the Western New York and Finger Lakes Regions have been deployed to assist in this relief effort, with one additional volunteer deploying to Arizona to assist in the ongoing wildfire relief efforts there. This also marks Diane Sargent’s second deployment as part of the Central New York relief efforts. A full list of deployed volunteers is below, listed in order of their deployment date (two ERV drivers from Southwestern New York have asked to remain anonymous):

Stephen Erbland      
Dansville
Logistics
Ari Gottlib          
Rochester    
Logistics
Michael Hoplight
Niagara Falls
External Relations
Tony Muscolino
Finger Lakes
External Relations
Sarah Perkins
Pittsford    
Disaster Assessment
Diane Sargent
Lockport    
Disaster Assessment/ERV
Gary Thompson
Finger Lakes
Disaster Assessment
Mary Walls
Williamsville
Disaster Assessment (Returned Home)
Patricia Jung
Wellsville
Staff Services
Stuart Moore    
Allegany    
Sheltering
Marianne Evans
Ransomville
Sheltering
Jennifer Godbout
Olean
Sheltering
Norm Kehl
Stykersville
Disaster Assessment
Carmella Bartimole
Olean
Disaster Mental Health
Edward Steinhauer
Elmira
Disaster Assessment
Emily Upham
Rochester
Health Services
Tom Daley
Tonawanda
Client Casework
Ruth Walters   
Bath  
Disaster Assessment
Kenneth Turner
Buffalo
Operations Management
Elizabeth Shook
Cuba
Staff Services
Leslie Mangano
Stow
Client Casework
Peggy McGee-Smith
Kenmore
Disaster Mental Health (Arizona)
Sharon Scarafia-Kimble
Lockport
Bulk Distribution
Arline Cookingham
Webster
Health Services
Joe Louis
Rochester
Staff Services
Joy Bidlack
East Aurora
ERV
Stephen Brown
Finger Lakes
Staff Services


HOW TO HELP Those who would like to help people affected by disasters like floods, wild fires and other crises can make a donation to American Red Cross Disaster Relief. People can donate by visiting www.redcross.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS or texting the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. These donations help provide food, shelter and emotional support to those affected by disasters.

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