Western and Central NY Region Responding to February 2019 Windstorm

UPDATE AS OF Tuesday, February 26:

Red Cross Shelters in Erie County Scheduled to Close at 4 p.m. Tuesday
Coordinating with regional officials on response to windstorm, preps for winter storm

In consultation with area officials, the American Red Cross shelters at Grand Island Golden Age Center and the Harlem Road Community Center will be closing at 4 p.m. Tuesday, February 26. A shelter at the David F. Gantt Center in Rochester closed on Monday. The Red Cross would like to thank all the volunteers, partners, and supporters who helped provide a safe place to stay, food and water, comfort and support our neighbors in need.

With winter weather advisories issued for later this week and power restoration efforts ongoing, the Red Cross remains in constant contact with emergency officials across the region to coordinate the most efficient and effective response, and is prepared to provide additional relief services as needed.

People can download the Red Cross Emergency App for instant access to winter storm and other disaster safety tips, as well real-time weather alerts and a map of shelter locations. Expert medical guidance and a hospital locator are included in the First Aid App in case of hypothermia, frostbite, and other emergencies. Both apps are available to download for free in app stores or at redcross.org/apps.

You can help people affected by disasters like winter storms and countless other crises by making a donation to support American Red Cross Disaster Relief. Your gift enables the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from disasters big and small. Visit redcross.org, call 1-800-REDCROSS or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.

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Red Cross Responding to Hurricane Sandy

Nine volunteers deployed downstate; shelter locations and volunteers on standby across WNY Region

BUFFALO, NY, Monday, October 29, 2012 — The American Red Cross is responding across multiple states as Hurricane Sandy bears down on the East Coast. A High Wind Warning is in effect for all of Western New York from 5pm Monday until 2pm Tuesday, with winds gusting as high as 60mph, and these potentially damaging winds could cause widespread power outages. A Flood Watch is also in affect for the entire region during that same timeframe, with two to three inches of rainfall expected, and a Lakeshore Flood Warning is in effect for Niagara, Orleans and Chautauqua Counties.

The American Red Cross has potential shelter locations and volunteers on standby throughout the eight counties of the Western New York region, ready to respond as needed. The Red Cross is also working closely with government officials to plan and coordinate the relief response.

Important information about how to get ready for the storm – steps to take for emergencies like flooding, power outages, even winter weather - is available on the Red Cross web site. Videos are also available to help people get prepared, including information on severe weather preparedness and how to get ready for winter weather. To find a shelter, people can download the Red Cross Hurricane app, visit the Red Cross web site, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767), or check local media outlets. They should also register on the Red Cross Safe and Well website, a secure and easy-to-use online tool that helps families connect during emergencies. To register, visit www.redcross.org or call 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767). This site also connects with the Twitter and Facebook accounts of users.

In addition, nine volunteers from the Western New York Region have been deployed to White Plains, NY to assist in the Red Cross relief efforts, and Emergency Response Vehicles (ERV’s) from both Niagara County and Jamestown are on alert. Here is a full list of local volunteers currently deployed to assist in the response to Hurricane Sandy:

·         James Collingwood of Amherst for External Relations/Government Operations

·         Tom Daley of Tonawanda for Mass Care/Sheltering

·         Janice Davis of Friendship for Disaster Health Services

·         Marianne Evans of Ransomville for Mass Care/Sheltering

·         Michael Hoplight of Niagara Falls as a Logistics Supervisor

·         Tara Hughes of Amherst as Disaster Mental Health Chief

·         Margaret McGee-Smith of Kenmore for Disaster Mental Health in Harrisburg, PA

·         Beth Shook of Cuba for Staff Services

·         Dawn Zaker of Niagara Falls for Mass Care/Sheltering

The large and powerful storm could affect as many as 60 million people in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast, and the Red Cross has workers and relief supplies in place to provide help to people in the path of Sandy.

The effects of the storm are already being felt with 128 people spending Saturday night in Red Cross shelters in North Carolina and Virginia. Red Cross workers are preparing to open and support more shelters today as the storm moves northward.

Almost 100 Red Cross emergency vehicles are mobilizing to distribute meals and relief supplies after the storm passes. Thousands of ready-to-eat meals and relief supplies such as cots and blankets are also being sent into the region.

HOW TO HELP  Donations help the Red Cross provide shelter, food, emotional support and other assistance to those affected by disasters like Hurricane Sandy. To donate, people can visit www.redcross.org, call 1-800-RED-CROSS, 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.

Volunteer Diane Sargent in Florida
earlier in 2012

PLEASE GIVE BLOOD The storm has already caused the cancellation of Red Cross blood drives in the region, and more cancellations are expected. This has resulted in the loss of several hundred units of blood and platelets so far. The Red Cross has shipped blood products to hospitals in the affected area in advance of the storm as patients will still need blood and platelets despite the weather. If anyone is eligible, especially in places not affected by the storm, they are asked to please schedule a blood donation now.

To schedule a blood donation 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.

RED CROSS APPS People should download the free Red Cross Hurricane and First Aid apps for mobile devices to have emergency information at their fingertips. The Hurricane App keeps people up to date on the situation with weather alerts, locations of Red Cross shelters, and features a toolkit with a flashlight, strobe light and alarm. The “I’m Safe” button lets someone use social media sites to tell family and friends they are okay. And it’s available in Spanish by changing the language setting on someone’s smart phone to Spanish before downloading.  The First Aid app includes expert advice for everyday emergencies. The apps can be found in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store for Android by searching for American Red Cross.

Another umbrella bites the dust!

Aside from just being a pain to walk and drive in, high winds can also cause downed power lines and trees, flying debris, power outages and damage to buildings, vehicles, and even people. If you've looked out your window or taken out your ear buds, you know that it’s pretty darn windy outside! Not that getting tossed around in the wind is anything that we’re not used to here in Buffalo, but when the weather channels start announcing High Wind Warnings I often wonder… how much more windy can it really get?! According to the National Weather Service though, this particular warning is calling for sustained winds between 20-30 mph with gusts up to 50mph.

How to prepare for high winds?

·         Remove dead trees

·         Remove overhanging branches near structures

·         Remove loose roofing materials

·         Make sure all of your outdoor lawn furniture, garbage cans, and other objects are secured to prevent them from blowing away

·         Make sure all of your windows and doors are securely attached and latched closed

What should you do during a high wind warning?

·         Stay indoors, it’s the safest place for you to be

·         If outdoors, watch for flying debris, falling tree limbs, and any objects that are not properly secured

·         Stay away from the roads and/or train tracks

·         Use handrails wherever available

·         Don’t touch anything near a downed power line, including vehicles, tree branches, puddles, and snow

·         Don’t touch anyone who has been shocked who could be in direct or indirect contact with a power line

·         If driving, keep both hands on your wheel and slow down! Cars, debris, and even people may come into your path 

o   If the wind is too severe for you to maintain control of your car, pull over onto the shoulder of the road, stop, and turn on your hazard lights… make sure that you’re away from trees and other tall objects that could fall

o   If a power line falls onto your car: 

§  Stay inside of your vehicle

§  Don't touch any of your car's metal frame

§  Honk your horn

§  Roll down the window and warn anyone who may approach of the danger

§  Call the police

§  Do not exit the car until help arrives

·   If your car catches fire, open the door and JUMP without touching any of the metal parts of your car and get away quickly

Wondering what the different levels of wind speed mean? Take a gander at the Beaufort Wind Scale to see how our local meteorologists define our windy weather!

Beaufort Wind Scale

·         25 - 31 mph: Strong Breeze

o   Large branches in motion

o   Whistling in telephone wires

o   Umbrellas used with difficulty

·         32 - 38 mph: Near Gale

o   Whole trees in motion

o   Resistance felt while walking against the wind

·         39 - 46 mph: Gale

o   Twigs break off of trees

o   Wind impedes walking

·         47 - 54 mph: Strong Gale

o   Slight structural damage to chimneys and slate roofs

·         55 - 63 mph: Storm

o   Seldom felt inland

o   Trees uprooted

o   Considerable structural damage

·         73 + mph: Hurricane

o   Widespread structural damage

o   Roofs torn off homes

o   Weak buildings and mobile homes destroyed

o   Large trees uprooted

Click here to learn more about the Beaufort Scale.

For more information on how to prevent, prepare for, and respond to wind related emergencies, visit us online or call us here at the Chapter at 716-886-7500 to schedule a presentation for your school, organization, or church.

Information for this article was provided by LIPA.  To learn more, visit them online!