WNY is #BostonStrong!

One week ago Monday, explosions rocked the finish line at the Boston Marathon. We've all seen the news coverage of these tragic events, from the bombings to the manhunts to the vigils. Clearly, this has been a difficult week for the entire Boston community, and the Red Cross has been there to support that community since the bombings. And Western New York is here to support the Red Cross.

Yes, I said here. I flew in on Friday to support the local Public Affairs team. I must say it was surreal to watch TV on the plane to see the city I was about to land in was on lockdown. But any hesitation I may have had about coming in to that situation was quickly dashed when I got to the headquarters and got a feel for the amazing work being done to support this community. In the past week, over 200 Red Cross workers have served nearly 20,000 meals and snacks, handed out hundreds of relief items such as blankets and comfort kits, and perhaps most importantly have made over 2,200 health and mental health services. Here's a story I wrote about some of the dozens of Boston area social workers, psychologists and other clinicians who have taken the training and become Red Cross Disaster Mental Health workers in the past week, and have already begun doing some amazing work helping this community heal emotionally following the events of April 15.


Tara Hughes shares coping tips with WCVB-TV viewers
outside a makeshift memorial set up near the Marathon
Bombing scene at Boylston and Berkeley

And who's in charge of the Disaster Mental Health operations during the Boston Marathon relief efforts? Our very own Tara Hughes of Amherst. Tara arrived last Tuesday--"I missed my flight Monday," she says--and has been leading this vital part of the response ever since. She worked to set up a Family Assistance Center to support victims and their families, and has helped lead Disaster Mental Health workers out into the community to support area residents during these trying times. She's put together tips for coping with stressful situations in the aftermath of the bombings, and woke up bright and early Monday morning to share some tips with viewers of Boston's ABC affiliate, WCVB. She also spoke of the importance of this emotional support at a press conference I helped arrange to announce that some of these Red Cross coping tips are going to be posted on subway cars throughout the area, thanks to the generosity of The Boston Foundation and the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.



L-R: Red Cross of Eastern MA CEO Jarrett Barrios and
Emergency Services Director Leighton Jones stand with
Tara Hughes holding coping tips that will be
posted on Boston subway trains during
a photo with the Boston Herald 



When I checked into the hotel, who should I find as my roommate but Dominic DiGirolamo. While it's been nice to talk about the Sabres and Bills with someone here, the really nice thing has been hearing about the amazing work he has been doing supporting the families of those affected by the bombings. I can't share the details because it wouldn't be fair to the clients, but just know WNY should be proud of the work he is doing here.

It's not just here in Boston. The Red Cross is helping people after an explosion in West, Texas and flooding throughout the Midwest. And of course, Western New Yorkers are on the way to help, with Diane Sargent heading to Chicago and Tom LeBeau on the way to West. So while we're all #BostonStrong, we're also with everyone dealing with difficult situations all across the country.

WNY Red Cross Deploys Two Volunteers to Boston

Response efforts continue in Boston and Texas

BUFFALO, NY, April 18, 2013 - The American Red Cross is supporting people in West, Texas after the plant explosion there while continuing to help first responders and those affected by the marathon bombings which occurred earlier this week in Boston.

Jay Bonafede of Tonawanda will be flying to Boston Friday morning to work in Public Affairs. Volunteer Tara Hughes of Amherst, the Red Cross NYS Disaster Mental Health chair, has been in Boston since Tuesday morning, providing emotional support to those affected by this tragedy.

MARATHON BOMBINGS In Boston, the Red Cross is providing emotional support and health and spiritual care services at the various community vigils and supporting a family assistance center. Red Cross Blood Services has provided about 500 blood products to several hospitals in the Boston area. Nearly 150 disaster workers have deployed to provide support and comfort. Since Monday, the Red Cross has served about 7,000 meals and snacks, distributed relief items like blankets and comfort kits and provided hundreds of mental health and health services to those affected.

WEST, TEXAS EXPLOSION Within hours of the plant explosion in Texas, the Red Cross opened a shelter and began supporting a community response center. Red Cross disaster workers have been deployed from all over the state and are providing emotional support and health services with relief items such as comfort kits and water enroute to the region. Red Cross Blood Services is providing blood products to help those injured in the explosion.

HOW TO HELP This week’s tragedies prove that an emergency can happen anywhere, at anytime. While the Red Cross helps in Texas and Boston, it is preparing to respond to severe weather and flooding in other areas of the country. To support Red Cross disaster response, people can donate to Red Cross Disaster Relief at www.redcross.org or by texting REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. People who want to make a donation to directly support victims of the Boston Marathon bombings can visit www.theonefundboston.org.       

The Red Cross has enough blood in its inventory now to support both the situation in Texas as well as Boston but reminds everyone that the need for blood is constant. Those who are eligible to give blood are strongly encouraged to schedule an appointment to give in the days and weeks ahead by calling 1-800-RED CROSS or visiting www.redcrossblood.org.     

Many rushed in to provide immediate help for victims of the explosions in Texas and Boston. People can register for a Red Cross First Aid/CPR class at www.redcross.org or take the Family First Aid and CPR class online by visiting www.redcross.org/takeaclass. They can also download the free Red Cross First Aid App which puts simple lifesaving information for first aid emergencies in the hands of smart phone and tablet users. The app is available in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

STEPS TO HELP COPE It has been a difficult week for people across the country. In times like these, it is important for people to connect with and support each other. The Red Cross has information people can use to cope in the aftermath of these tragedies. For free counseling or support which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, people can contact the Disaster Distress Helpline at 1-800-985-5990 or text “TalkWithUs” to 66746.        

April Showers Bring Weather Warnings

We're getting some really interesting weather in Western New York right now. You can hear the rain pouring down and the thunder booming in downtown Buffalo at the moment. A Flood Watch has been issued starting at 7pm, and there's even a Freezing Rain advisory issued for 2am-11pm Thursday. This has the potential to be our first big spring storm, so make sure you are prepared.

Volunteer Diane Sargent looking over
flooded areas while deployed to Florida
in 2012

Flooding can happen quickly, and just six inches of swiftly moving water can sweep you of your feet! Freezing rain means ice spots on the road, which could make travel difficult. If we get more than more ice than expected it could bring down trees and power lines, which of course could cause widespread power outages, as could the lightning we've been seeing.

Now's the time to follow our three steps to disaster preparedness--get a kit, make a plan, be informed. Take a moment to read these safety checklists and make sure you're ready, then monitor local media for updates. Hopefully you won't need your disaster kit this time, but it's better to be safe than sorry!

Wildfire? There's an app for that!

There are media reports this morning regarding a swamp fire burning in Lewiston. Officials say there's no danger to people or buildings at this time, but what if that were not the case? Wildfires may not be everyday occurrences in WNY, but they can happen, and the Red Cross has an app for that (and other potential disasters, too)!

Our FREE Wildfire App--available in English and Spanish for use on both iPhone and Android platforms-- includes the “Blaze Tracker” trio of features, which can be customized for alerts specific to locations where they live, travel or have loved ones:

•        “Blaze Warnings” which let users see areas where NOAA has issued warnings that conditions are favorable for potential wildfires;
•          “Blaze Alerts” inform users when a wildfire has begun within 100 miles of any locations monitored; and
•          “Blaze Path” from Inciweb.org which provides users with a current view of an existing wildfire’s perimeter, how it has spread and the fire’s current location when available.

Additional features include:

•        One touch “I’m safe” messaging that allows users to broadcast reassurance to family and friends via social media outlets that they are out of harm’s way;
•          Locations of open Red Cross shelters;
•          Preloaded content that gives users instant access to critical action steps, even without mobile connectivity;
•          Toolkit with flashlight, strobe light and audible alarm; and
•          Badges users can earn through interactive quizzes and share on social networks.

The Wildfire App--along with the Tornado, Earthquake, Hurricane, and First Aid apps--can be found in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store for Android by searching for American Red Cross. Apps can help prepare people for disasters, but they are not a substitute for training. Red Cross First Aid and CPR/AED training empowers people to know how to respond to emergencies in case advanced medical help is delayed. People can go to redcross.org/takeaclass to find a course near them.