Turning compassion into action to help fellow Sickle Cell Warriors

Passion, Passion, Passion!

Jason Moore exudes passion as he talks about Sickle Cell Warriors of Buffalo.

The vice president of the non-profit explains that “Sickle Cell Disease is the most commonly inherited disease in the world.”

Red blood cells carry oxygen throughout the body; in Sickle Cell Disease, the red blood cells are mutated into a crescent or sickle-shaped form, and therefore cannot carry enough oxygen to the tissues and organs of the body – potentially leading to anemia, and tissue and organ damage. This often requires regular blood transfusions to manage extreme pain and life-threatening complications.

Jason explained that having Sickle Cell disease is a lonely life. Each patient presents with different symptoms, requiring treatment to be adjusted accordingly. Jason is happy to have wonderful providers in Buffalo to manage his care.

Jason and and his colleague, Sickle Cell Warriors of Buffalo president Juanita McClain experienced their journey side-by-side while undergoing treatments at Children’s Hospital, and at specialized camps for children living with Sickle Cell. Their care when they were younger was overseen by social workers. When they “aged out” around 21 years of age, there was no one to guide their care. They came to realize how helpful their social workers were and how much they did for them. Thus, the idea for Sickle Cell Warriors of Buffalo was born.

Sickle Cell Warriors of Buffalo programs include Education to the Community, Transitions – a program to assist teens and parents in moving into adult medical care, Care Coordination – assisting adults in finding qualified practitioners, and Support Groups for Warriors and their families.

On Jason’s good days, he states that he accomplishes so much. He’s a Community Health Worker assisting others along their journey, while guiding the Transitions participants. But on other days, he is in pain and exhausted. However, he appreciates what goodness will come about and knows there is a light at the end of the tunnel.  Optimistic and passionate!

This Sickle Cell Awareness Month and year-round, you can help support Jason’s work and Sickle Cell patients just like him in your community, by making an appointment to roll up a sleeve and donate lifesaving blood. Visit RedCrossBlood.org, call 1-800-REDCROSS or download the free RedCross Blood Donor app to make an appointment nearest you.

 Written by: Ginny Scott, American Red Cross of WNY Communications Volunteer

"Much more than living with Sickle Cell": How a Buffalo teacher's healing journey is helping to heal others

Juanita McClain is many things: a mother, educator, friend, author and a warrior – in every sense of the word.

“I was diagnosed early on. At just a few months old I had my first crisis,” she explained. “I spent a lot of time in the hospital growing up. I went through a lot of the complications. Until my late 20’s, I struggled really bad.”

Sickle Cell disease is the most common genetic blood disorder in the United States, impacting an estimated 100,000 people – most of whom are of African descent. It distorts soft and round red blood cells and turns them hard and crescent-shaped. As a result, blood has difficulty flowing smoothly and carrying oxygen to the rest of the body, which can lead to severe pain, tissue and organ damage, anemia and even strokes. Patients may require as many as 100 units of blood per year to manage extreme pain and life-threatening complications.

McClain estimates that until her early 20’s she was in the hospital receiving treatment for Sickle Cell disease at least once or twice a month, every month. In that time, she received multiple blood transfusions, had surgery to remove her gallbladder and suffered the devastating loss of her son during childbirth in the midst of a difficult Sickle Cell crisis. Despite all that, McClain is quick to point out that her diagnosis does not define her.

Instead, it’s all she’s been able to selflessly accomplish in the face of it.

“I was in college, and I was sick and missing school all the time. I started researching more about Sickle Cell and journaling about how I’d like to change my life,” she explains. “And I said I want to share my story with the world, so I wrote Living with and Surviving Sickle Cell Disease. I feel like it’s an autobiography of my life. After the book came out, I felt a relief over my life and things started to look brighter, so I kept going with it.”

McClain is now the proud author of three books on Sickle Cell disease, including a children’s book titled The Monster Within Me: Surviving Sickle Cell Disease; an educational story that serves as both a way for children to learn about Sickle Cell and to inspire them to achieve their dreams.

It was during this time that McClain, armed with the knowledge of the disease and her own triggers, began her advocacy work in the community. In that time, McClain has worked tirelessly to educate the community and her students at Burgard High School in Buffalo on the impact of Sickle Cell and blood donation; and helped to organize blood drives with the Red Cross ofWestern New York where she also serves on the Red Cross Biomed Committee. In 2018, McClain also launched a Sickle Cell warriors support group which has since grown into the non-profit Sickle Cell Warriors of Buffalo.

“It opens up doors for Sickle Cell warriors who have to get those frequent blood transfusions to be able to get the blood type they need, of their own blood type or race,” she explained. “My background and experience with the disease, I used those to help me grow as a person and to help me get healthier and live with the disease. And when that sparked, it made me want to do more to help others do a turn around in life and look at the disease in a different manner and want to be more than just living with Sickle Cell disease. And here we are today, and we’re doing so much!”

This fall, McClain’s students will help her to organize two blood drives with the Red Cross of Western New York as she also plans a number of community events with Sickle Cell Warriors of Buffalo, including a walk for Sickle Cell awareness, now in its fifth year, and a holiday event to help support local families impacted by Sickle Cell.

As for the mother of three and her own battle, she has this to say of her journey: “I feel the best that I’ve ever felt in my life these days. Things have improved drastically.”

Making an Impact: How One Mental Health Volunteer is Making a Difference During the Pandemic

Throughout Red Cross Month we are spotlighting those volunteers within the Western New York region who help to make a difference in our community and truly define the humanitarian spirit that shapes the mission of the American Red Cross.

As we mark one year of the COVID-19 pandemic, Allison Keller and her extraordinary work as a Disaster Mental Health volunteer showcase the importance of mental health services and human connection and her efforts are one of many reasons why the Red Cross has been able to fulfill its mission in the face of a global pandemic.

For Keller, her volunteer journey began in 2014 when she was looking for opportunities to give back to her new community following a move from Rochester. Originally starting out in Disaster Relief, Keller continued to look for ways to utilize her skills as a school psychologist and eventually made the transition to Mental Health Services.

Shortly after COVID-19 hit last year, her first assignment in Disaster Mental Health was with a start-up pilot group, where she offered phone calls of support and resources to families who were impacted by COVID-19. 

At that time, Keller like many others, didn’t know what to expect.

“We respond to disasters all the time, but in this case it was a worldwide disaster,” she recalled. “People would need face masks just to go outside their homes, but nobody had face masks. So what were they supposed to do? It was hard that they couldn’t go anywhere without the masks.”

These days, Keller says it can be a challenge to create connections with those around us while social distancing for our own safety. For Keller and her fellow volunteers, though, those efforts have and continue to make a difference. Since the onset of the pandemic, licensed mental health and spiritual care volunteers like Keller have provided emotional support, psychological first aid and referrals to community resources. In total, they have made more than 53,000 mental health and spiritual care contacts to help people during disasters. Additionally, trained volunteers continue to provide free crisis counseling through the Virtual Family Assistance Center, which offers support to grieving families during COVID-19.

Keller is quick to remind those she encounters that their emotional and mental wellbeing is equally as important as our physical health. In the COVID era, staying safe and dealing with our new normal can be stressful. It’s Red Cross volunteers like Allison Keller who can be a shoulder to lean on during these challenging times. 

If you were inspired by Allison’s story and would like to learn about ways you can make a difference and volunteer in your community visit RedCross.org. 

Story by: Maggie Wurth, American Red Cross 

"I'm grateful for the Red Cross"

This is what was left of Martinez's Bailey Avenue apartment
complex after an early-morning fire

Like all of the tenants of her Bailey Avenue apartment complex in Buffalo, Miriam Martinez was sound asleep when a fire broke out early Saturday morning.

"It all happened so fast," Martinez says. Luckily, she was awoken by a smoke alarm that had been installed by American Red Cross volunteers only three weeks earlier.

"That will save you're life," she said, explaining that she encourages others to have smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors installed. Unfortunately, Martinez knew the importance of being prepared, as Saturday's incident was the third house fire she's suffered in her life.

"I'm grateful for Red Cross, they came immediately," she told us when this latest fire broke out in her apartment. She was also pleasantly surprised to recognize some of the volunteers from her previous experience with the Red Cross as they responded to the scene of this latest disaster. She says having familiar faces around her helped her feel more at ease.

Miriam Martinez with her family and other tenants of the
Bailey Avenue apartment fire

In addition to that comfort, the Red Cross provided food, clothing and support for 17 people, including Martinez, after this fire. Volunteers also provided some residents with temporary housing, but Martinez was staying with her son and his girlfriend, who invited other tenants to stay with them as well. The residents of the Bailey Avenue complex are are one big family, all concerned for each other. Despite the tragic events, everyone was keeping a positive attitude, and in addition to the Red Cross, other community groups were also coming to help. The atmosphere was positive in a tragic event.

"This truly is the City of Good Neighbors," Martinez says.

The Red Cross Home Fire Campaign helped saved the life of Miriam Martinez and the other residents of this apartment complex. Experts say you have as little as two minutes to safely escape a burning home, and working smoke alarms can cut the risk of dying in a house fire in half. The Home Fire Campaign offers free smoke alarms with installation as well as fire preparedness education.If you want to learn more or sign up for a free installation then you can click here.

--Emma Reeve
Communications intern

"Smoke Detectors Save Lives"

I woke up this morning and saw this Tweet from WKBW-TV in Buffalo:

The story of a home fire is all too familiar. Volunteers Diane and Fred helped five people after that early morning fire on Ideal Street, hours after Diane and Nicole provided for the immediate emergency needs of one person after a fire on Best Street. Volunteers responded to three disasters in Syracuse overnight, and on Tuesday DAT members responded to separate fires in Olean, Jamestown and Ripley.

Here's what made this story a bit different: "A fire official told 7 Eyewitness News smoke detectors in the home were working and 'saved their lives'." 

The American Red Cross has launched a campaign to reduce the number of deaths and injuries from fires by as much as 25% over the next five years. The Red Cross is calling on everyone to take two simple steps that can save lives: check their existing smoke alarms and practice fire drills at home.

Unfortunately, not every home has a working smoke detector. Seven times a day, someone in the United States dies in a fire. The Red Cross is joining with fire departments and community groups nationwide to install smoke alarms in communities with high numbers of fires.

For more information about how you or a loved one can have a free smoke alarm installed in your home, contact Individual and Community Preparedness Specialist Veronica Chiesi Brown. Together, we can help change the statistics and wake up to more success stories.

-Jay Bonafede, Regional Chief Communications Officer

Volunteer. Lance would approve

Goo Goo Doll Johnny Resnik performs a tribute to their friend
and ours, Lance Diamond

Last Friday, I had the honor of representing the Western New York Chapter at a tribute to our friend, longtime BASH artist Lance Diamond. Lance was a true Buffalo icon, and his performances for the past 10+ years truly helped turn the BASH into the "Party of the Summer.

Lance's love for the Red Cross showed in the fact we were the only non-profit organization invited to share the stage with musicians, including Buffalo's own Goo Goo Dolls. It was truly humbling to be told, over and over again, how much Lance enjoyed being a part of The BASH and supporting the Red Cross.

Many of his fans are looking for ways to honor Lance's memory. If you're like me, you can't sing a lick, but you could still give back to your community and the Red Cross by becoming a volunteer. Volunteers make up 90% of our workforce and help turn heartbreak into hope for neighbors in need every single day. In the 26 counties that make up the Western and Central New York Region, we responded to over 1,129 house fires between January 1 and December 1 of 2014, providing food, clothing, shelter and support for people, but you don't have to be willing to go to the scene of a fire in the middle of the night to be a Red Cross volunteer. There's an opportunity to suit every skill and schedule, from helping organize blood drives to helping facilitate emergency communications between members of our military and their families. Just visit our website to get started. We'd love to welcome you to the team, and somewhere, Lance Diamond will be smiling, wearing one of his trademark suits. RIP, Lance, BASH*2015 won't be the same without you!

Red Cross to Distribute Clean-Up Kits in Storm Affected Areas

The American Red Cross will be distributing free clean-up kits and other materials to help residents as they begin to recover from last week’s devastating lake effect snowstorm. Clean-up kits-including brooms, buckets, work and rubber gloves, bleach, tarps, shovels and more- will be available while supplies last, along with information on what to do after a flood and specially-trained Disaster Mental Health volunteers to help area residents deal with the emotional impact of this storm.

WHAT:          Red Cross clean-up materials distribution

WHEN:         Wednesday, November 26, 2pm-5pm

                        Friday, November 28, 11am-2pm

WHERE:      Iroquois Middle School, 2111 Girdle Road, Elma

                        St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran, 3512 Clinton Street, West Seneca                   

The Salvation Army will be providing hot meals at both locations on both Wednesday and Friday as they continue to support the relief efforts. The Salvation Army has provided over 2,000 meals since the relief efforts began last week. Volunteers from the Southern Baptists will also be supporting the distribution, joining some of the 114 Red Cross staff and volunteers currently working on the relief efforts.

The Red Cross continues to operate a shelter at Iroquois Middle School, where six people spent Monday night. Four Emergency Response Vehicles (ERVs) have been bringing food, water and additional support directly into the hardest hit areas, and Disaster Assessment teams have been assessing the damage and helping guide the response efforts.

The Red Cross continues to work with emergency officials at the state, county and local level to monitor developments and ensure that community needs are being met as the Thanksgiving holiday approaches.

You Saved My Life!

“I haven’t had sleep in 24 hours!”

Jeanette Jay with Winging It TV's Matt Snyder at
Iroquois Middle School shelter

Jeanette Jay had been evacuated from her home in the French Quarter Mobile Park in West Seneca

Thursday evening when of the snow from the lake effect storm threatened to collapse her roof.

“There was 12 feet of snow in my driveway,” Jay said. “I left my pets behind, I had to make a decision. I’m lucky to be here.”

The emergency officials that rescued Jay bused her and almost 30 of her neighbors to the Red Cross shelter at Iroquois Middle School in Elma.

“The treatment has been out of this world,” Jay said of the volunteers who provided hot meals, a place to rest, and emotional support at the shelter. “The facilities are the best they could’ve taken people to.”

This picture gives you an idea of how much snow has
piled up on people's roofs

Jay actually came to Western New York after her Pennsylvania home was destroyed by fire years ago. However, she hadn’t needed Red Cross services until this storm, and she is grateful for all the help she's received.

“You saved my life,” she said.

65 people spent Friday night in Red Cross shelters at the Iroquois Middle School, 211 Girdle Road in Elma, and Goodell Hall, 12847 Erie Street in Irving. Volunteers continue to operate those shelters as preparations are being made for potential flooding in the next few days. Please take some time to prepare yourself and your family for possible flooding, and download the FREE Red Cross Flood App for real-time alerts and additional safety tips.

Sorry, Jimmy Griffin!

Volunteers Pete Peterson and Mary Walker at a shelter
in Southwestern New York

During the Blizzard of 1985, former Buffalo Mayor Jimmy Griffin said, "Stay inside, grab a six-pack and watch a good football game." Unfortunately, during the "Polar Vortex" of 2014, our staff and volunteers from across the Western New York and Finger Lakes Regions haven't exactly had time to do that.

In Rochester, we opened nine shelters as part of the City's "Heat Sweep" program. Working in the 50 Prince Street office, it was amazing to see how quickly the volunteers came together to honor this request from City Hall to help our neighbors in need. On the western end of our region, staff and volunteers opened shelters in Ripley and Irving to help travelers stranded by Thruway and other road closures come in out of the cold. Over 70 people spend Monday night at Red Cross shelters, and warming stations were also opened in Wellsville and Cuba.

Of course, our response to this winter weather didn't end with sheltering. In Rochester, a reporter called me about an international family stranded at the airport by flight diversions and cancellations until Friday. Our emergency services team worked with the airline to ensure this story had a happy ending.

Coffee and water ready for residents at Gantt Center shelter
in Rochester (courtesy of Wegmans)

And much like the post office, neither snow nor bitter cold can stop our volunteers from helping those in need after a fire. We provided assistance including Disaster Mental Health services to three survivors of a fire in Niagara Falls, helped 11 people after an Orchard Park apartment fire, and 11 people--including some who were apparently part of a heroic rescue effort by first responders--in Middleport. Whether or not our bitter cold weather was a factor in these incidents, the Western New York and Finger Lakes Regions have responded to 10 fires since Monday, helping over 50 people who lost everything in the blink of an eye.

We are only able to provide this vital service to the community because of your support, so THANK YOU to all or our supporters, and of course the volunteers who braved the elements to help our neighbors in need this week. And don't worry, we're still ready to respond if necessary after the upcoming flood watch as well!

Giving Thanks for Safe Winter Travels!

In case you couldn't tell by the frigid temperatures and the snow some of us saw this weekend, winter is here. Just to make sure that point is hammered home, all of Western  New York is under a Winter Storm Watch from Tuesday evening through Wednesday evening. While six inches of snow may not be enough to scare us hearty Western New Yorkers, history tells us we'd do well to make sure we're prepared.

Warming station for stranded drivers at the Cheektowaga
Senior Center on 12/1/10

This is one of the busiest travel weekends of the year, with over 43 million Americans expected to hit the roads. During Thanksgiving week 13 years ago, I was working at Channel 7 when this happened. Looking outside the downtown Buffalo studios, the streets looked like a war zone, with abandoned cars spread across the highways, blocking travel even for those trying to brave the massive snowstorm. Thousands were stranded. I spent the night with dozens of stranded travelers in the lobby of the hotel across the street, since every room had long been filled by other stranded travelers. I was only a month into my Red Cross career when a lake effect snowstorm forced the closure of parts of the Thruway near Cheektowaga on December 1, 2010, giving me my first shelter experience as we set up a warming station for the thousands of stranded motorists. (It wasn't over the holidays, but I was also a senior in the Marion Jr-Sr High School when an ice storm knocked out power to thousands and kept us out of school for a week in 1991. Not to date myself or anything...)

Volunteers serve a hot meal to drivers, some of whom had
been stranded over 24 hours when a snowstorm closed
portions of the Thruway in December 2010

It's almost as if winter storms are part of the Thanksgiving tradition in this region. And even if you can handle the snowy driving, other drivers or road closures can still leave you stuck. Try to wait until things are clear to hit the roads--I'm sure your family will keep the turkey warm for you. But if you must drive in wintry conditions, here's some safety tips to help you arrive safely:

• Pack emergency supplies like blankets, water and snacks, flashlight and first aid kit.
• Vehicles should be in good working order before heading out. Fill the fuel tank, check air pressure in tires and top-off windshield fluid.
• Buckle up and obey all traffic signs.
• Avoid distractions while driving like using mobile phones to talk or text.
• Designate a driver who won’t be drinking whenever alcohol is served.

If your using planes and trains instead of automobiles this Thanksgiving, we've got some safety tips for you as well. And of course, this is just the beginning of the winter season, so make sure you're prepared to make it through the snow at home and on the roads!

Western New York/Finger Lakes Red Cross Assisting 26 People Following Weekend Disasters

Volunteers providing shelter, food, clothing and support after six incidents

BUFFALO, NY, November 4, 2013 – American Red Cross volunteers are assisting with the immediate emergency needs of 26 people following six separate fires or other disasters in the Western New York/Finger Lakes Regions over the weekend. Red Cross assistance typically includes vouchers for temporary housing, food and clothing as well as mental health support. The families will then meet with caseworkers at their local Red Cross headquarters to develop a long-term recovery plan. Several of these incidents took place at multi-unit buildings, so it is possible additional residents will come forward seeking assistance.

Fire scene on Steuben St. in Corning.
Photo courtesy Corning Leader

On Saturday, volunteers from the Disaster Action Team (DAT) were called to Gasport Road in Lockport, where they assisted two adults affected by a house fire. Also Saturday, volunteers assisted three people displaced after a car drove through their Williams Street home in Elmira. Sunday, DAT members assisted seven people after an apartment fire on Steuben Street in Corning. Also Sunday, volunteers responded to a fire at the Russo Building on Park Place in Fredonia, assisting 11 people who had been displaced, while a separate team of volunteers assisted two people following a fire on Webster Road in Brocton. Early Monday morning, DAT members responded to the scene of a fire on North Division in Buffalo to provide assistance to one person that had been displaced.

The American Red Cross spends an average of just over $1,000 when responding to a single house fire affecting a family of four.  To support people affected by house fires and other disasters, please consider making a donation to the Disaster Relief Fund at www.redcross.org, by calling 1-800-REDCROSS, or texting the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation (charges will appear on your cell phone bill).

BASH*2013 Raises Over $352,000 to Support Red Cross Disaster Services

Local volunteers assisting 23 area residents following weekend fires

BUFFALO, NY, June 11, 2013 – BASH*2013 was a huge success, raising $352,00 to support American Red Cross Disaster Services in Erie & Niagara Counties. Over 4,000 “soldiers” marched on the grounds of Red Cross headquarters last Friday, June 7 for the 15^th Anniversary of this unique military-themed event, bidding on auction items donated by various members of the community, enjoyed food and drink from some of Western New York’s finest restaurants, all while dancing to the music of the DJs from Signature Entertainment and a live performance from the one and only Lance Diamond.

“I can’t thank our staff, volunteers, sponsors and supporters enough for making The BASH Buffalo’s party of the summer for the past 15 years,” said Nancy Blaschak, Regional Executive Director. “I especially want to thank our BASH Chairman, Mr. John Yurtchuk, for helping us bring in a record amount of corporate sponsorships this year, and the most important thing is that all the money raised at The BASH will help us prevent, prepare for and respond to disaster right here in Western New York.”

Since BASH*2013 wrapped up at midnight Friday, Red Cross volunteers have responded to three fires in the City of Buffalo, providing immediate emergency assistance including vouchers for temporary housing, food and clothing as well as emotional support to 23 of our neighbors in need. Our Disaster Action Team responds to an average of a fire a day in Erie & Niagara Counties, providing an average of just over $1,000 in direct financial assistance when responding to a single family house fire affecting a family of four. 

More information on BASH*2013, including a full list of sponsors, participating restaurants and other supporters, is available at www.redcross.org/buffalobash. And save the date: the 16^th annual BASH is scheduled for Friday, June 6, 2014!

Busy day!

We just finished another planning meeting for The BASH (coming June 7!! Get your tickets now at www.redcross.org/buffalobash!), while at the same time we are deep in preparations for next Tuesday's Reverse Draw Event & Dinner in Niagara Falls. Sometimes, we get so busy putting together these great events that it's easy to forget why we do them in the first place. Then, a day like Tuesday comes along to remind us.

It started with a call to a fire on Wakefield in Buffalo to help 23 people from multiple families who had been affected. Just as volunteers arrived at that scene, a second incident took place at Briscoe in the City, where two more household with 11 total people needing assistance. Things then slowed down for a few hours but picked back up just after dinner, with a call to assist a family of four after a fire on Sunset Blvd in Angola. A couple hours later, our volunteers were called to May St in Buffalo to assist nine more people who were displaced by a fire there. Just as our team was leaving that scene, they were called to another fire on South Park Ave in Buffalo, where two more families had been displaced.

In all, volunteers Jose, Nicole, Julie, Widad, Diane and James provided temporary housing, food, clothing and support to 52 people from 12 families in less than 24 hours, and those numbers could still grow as some folks were not home at the time our team was on the scene. None of these disasters received much media attention, but that doesn't make them any less devastating for the people who were forced from their homes. Your local Red Cross was there to help these neighbors in need, thanks to your support.

So while you're anxiously waiting to see when your ticket will be pulled during the Reverse Draw or celebrating The BASH's 15th Anniversary with over 4,000 of your closest friends, take a moment to think about the real reason we hold events such as these, and know that you're helping give people such as these 12 families somewhere to turn in their most difficult moments. We promise to do the same the next time we're ready to bang our heads on our desks as we try to plan these parties!

Red Cross Assists 110 People in Erie and Niagara Counties Following Fires in February

During Red Cross Month, Honor the Everyday Heroes Who Help Our Community

BUFFALO, NY, February 28, 2013 — During Red Cross Month this March, the American Red Cross recognizes the nation’s Everyday Heroes who give of themselves and in some way help their community. Those heroes include everyone who volunteers to be part of our Disaster Action Team (DAT), which has responded to 21 separate fires in Erie and Niagara Counties in February, providing immediate emergency assistance to 110 people.

“Please remember those who help all of us here in Western New York by giving their time to help their neighbor,” said Kenneth Turner, Chief Programs Officer. “We want to thank all our heroes during Red Cross Month – our volunteers, blood donors, class takers and financial supporters who help us assist those in need.” 

DAT volunteer Diane Sargent on the scene of
a fire on Cazenovia St in Buffalo on February 23

Red Cross assistance following a fire typically includes vouchers for temporary housing, food and clothing, as well as emotional support from trained Disaster Mental Health volunteers. On Friday, February 22, volunteers opened a shelter for more than 27 residents displaced when their Forest Avenue apartment house in Buffalo was destroyed by fire. Earlier that morning, DAT volunteers responded to a call on Timon Street in Buffalo to assist ten people, and the Red Cross continues to support those affected by this tragic fire which claimed the lives of a young child and his mother. The Disaster Action Team was called to a third fire later that afternoon on Rose Street in Buffalo. Those are just three of the 11 fires volunteers have responded to in Erie County in February. During that same time frame, 35 Niagara County residents have received Red Cross assistance following ten separate fires.

The Red Cross responds to nearly 70,000 disasters a year in this country, providing shelter, food, emotional support and other necessities to those affected. It provides 24-hour support to members of the military, veterans and their families – in war zones, military hospitals and on military installations around the world; collects and distributes about 40 percent of the nation’s blood supply and trains more than seven million people in first aid, water safety and other life-saving skills every year.

March was first proclaimed as Red Cross Month 70 years ago by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Since 1943, every president, including President Obama, has designated March as Red Cross Month. The American Red Cross is synonymous with helping people, and has been doing so for more than 130 years.

“Red Cross Month is a great time for people to become part of the Red Cross and there are many different ways to do it,” Turner said. “They can develop a preparedness plan for their household, become a Red Cross volunteer, give blood, or take a Red Cross class, just to name a few.”

The Red Cross is not a government agency and relies on donations of time, money and blood to do its work. An average of 91 cents of every dollar given to the Red Cross is invested in helping people in need.

For more information on how to become an Everyday Hero during Red Cross Month, please visit www.redcross.org/buffaloniagara. 

Red Cross Opening Shelter for Residents Displaced by Forest Avenue Fire

Disaster Action Team also assisting residents following fire on Timon St

Red Cross shelter at St. Paul's Cathedral in downtown
Buffalo for residents displaced by an apartment fire on
Forest Avenue

BUFFALO, NY, February 22, 2013– Volunteers from the American Red Cross, Serving Erie & Niagara Counties are currently opening a shelter for residents displaced by an apartment fire on Forest Avenue in the City of Buffalo overnight which displaced a total of 27 people. That shelter is located at St. Paul’s Cathedral, 128 Pearl Street in Buffalo.

“The Red Cross would like to thank St. Paul’s Cathedral for opening its doors to these neighbors in need who have lost everything,” said Kenneth Turner, Chief Programs Officer. “We also want to thank the NFTA, who provided a warm bus for our volunteers to meet with these clients on scene and is providing transportation for our clients to Social Services and to the shelter as needed, as well as our amazing volunteers for answering the call to help those in need in the middle of the night.”

Earlier Friday morning, Disaster Action Team volunteers responded to a separate fire on Timon Street in Buffalo. Four residents have been placed in a local hotel on a temporary basis, and it is possible additional residents may need assistance. Red Cross assistance typically includes vouchers for temporary housing, food, clothing, and emotional support for those displaced by a fire. Clients are then expected to meet with caseworkers in the coming days to work out a longer-term recovery plan.

The Disaster Action Team is a group of specially trained volunteers who respond to the scene of a local disaster when called upon 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. For more information on how to Join Us as a Disaster Action Team member, please call (716) 878-2140 or visit www.redcross.org/buffaloniagara.

The American Red Cross, Serving Erie & Niagara Counties spends an average of just over $1,000 when responding to a single house fire affecting a family of four.  To make a financial donation to those affected by house fires and other disasters down the street, across the country, or around the world, please visit www.redcross.org, call 1-800-REDCROSS, or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation (charges will appear on your cell phone bill).   

This is your Warning to Watch for an Advisory!

This is Buffalo. We know about winter storms, and we're quite familiar with the fun of lake effect snow. Like how the grass is still green at my house in Tonawanda, but there's enough snow to close some schools in the southern tier. But sometimes, even with our vast experience, the weather forecast can be a bit confusing. Take this morning, for example. Depending on where in Western New York you live, you may be under a Lake Effect Snow Warning, a Lake Effect Snow Advisory, or a Lake Effect Snow Watch. Pop quiz--do you know the difference?? Okay, you're not being graded on this, so go ahead and check out the answers below the picture:

Photo courtesy: wivb.com

• Winter Storm Outlook - Winter storm conditions are possible in the next 2 to 5 days.
• Winter Weather Advisory - Winter weather conditions are expected to cause significant inconveniences and may be hazardous. When caution is used, these situations should not be life threatening.
• Winter Storm Watch - Winter storm conditions are possible within the next 36 to 48 hours. People in a watch area should review their winter storm plans and stay informed about weather conditions.
• Winter Storm Warning - Life-threatening, severe winter conditions have begun or will begin within 24 hours. People in a warning area should take precautions immediately.

Alright, so these refer to generic "winter storms", not lake effect snow. And us WNYers don't normally consider 4-6" of snow to be "life threatening". Still, when you add high winds and low visibility to the snow and ice, the roads become dangerous, power outages can occur, and it really can be a dangerous situation. So whether you're in an Advisory, Watch or Warning, follow these tips to make sure you're ready to ride out the storm safely!