The Red Cross Always Responds

Sometimes it’s easy to forget the American Red Cross is always there. It may be because we don’t necessarily hear about it every day and like most things when you don’t hear about it you forget.

 

In the midst of weeks of unsettled weather and the busyness of summer, volunteers were hard at work in the Finger Lakes and Wayne County. Below is a list of incidents our volunteers responded to and provided help to those in need.

 

July 29^th:

·         Volunteers assisted two adults with food and housing after a single family home collapsed on West River Road in Waterloo, Seneca County

·         Volunteers assisted two families (two adults and six children) with food, clothing and transportation after an apartment building hazmat incident on West Bayard Street in Seneca Falls, Seneca County.

July 31^st:

·         Volunteers assisted two adults and one child with food following an apartment fire on West Main Street in Palmyra, Wayne County

August 2nd:

·          Volunteers assisted two adults and one child with food and housing after a tree fell onto a home on West Maple Street in Newark during a thunderstorm.

August 3rd:

·         Volunteers assisted two adults, six children and one infant with food, clothing and housing after their home flooded on Seybolt Road in Seneca Falls, Seneca County.

·         Volunteers assisted two adults and one child with food and housing after their home flooded on East Elisha Street in Waterloo, Seneca County.
 

Incidents from house fires to floods happen often and the Red Cross is always there. It is not a question of if they respond, it is when. As long as the need is there, volunteers will be there too. The good work these people do is made possible through and only through the generosity of donors. Please consider being a volunteer or making a donation to the Red Cross to help people like these who need help when the unexpected happens.

 

How You Can Help

 

 

-Veronica R. Chiesi Brown
Communications Specialist
American Red Cross WNY/Finger Lakes Region

 

 

Twilight Run Races to Success!

Who knew so many people love to run? Hundreds of people turned out to support the Red Cross Thursday night for the annual Twilight run. This year’s event featured two changes from previous years:  Sonnenberg Gardens played host for the first time, and organizers added a 10k for those long distance-loving runners in addition to the traditional 5k.

The race and post-race party turned out to be a roaring success. It included several different vendors, a live band, food the Red Cross kitchen staff provided and drinks generously donated for the event. All of this happened on the historic grounds of Sonnenberg.

I myself did participate in the 5k. The route was well laid out and it took us through Sonnenberg to the VA hospital grounds (which are very beautiful as well) and some of the gorgeous neighborhoods in the City of Canandaigua.  The weather was almost perfect, even if it was a touch humid, and although earlier in the day some dark clouds loomed, Mother Nature even appeared to smile down on the event. 

  

The people who attended seemed to have lots of fun from, the very small to the very tall. Friendly faces and happy people abound in a place which holds its own kind of heavenly appeal. So many came out to not only run in support of the American Red Cross, but also came to celebrate the runners at the after party.  All of these people-from the attendees to the numerous volunteers to the staff-helped raise more than $15,000 for disaster relief. 

Thank you to all who attended the event and congratulations to the winners in the various categories. We couldn’t have done it without you and as always appreciate your support for this fun and family-friendly event!

-Veronica R. Chiesi Brown
Communications Specialist
Western New York/Finger Lakes Region

Another unfortunate first

Every time I respond to a disaster, be it a single-family house fire here in Western New York or a massive response like Hurricane Sandy, chances are I'll see or experience something completely new. That's the nature of disasters: no two are completely alike, and yesterday was no exception.

Monday afternoon, fellow Disaster Action Team member Julie and I drove to the scene of a fire in Hamburg, Erie County. The fire department had already done its job, so we were looking at house numbers to find the correct location. As we pulled up, I said to Julie, "Oh man, it's the one with the 'sold' sign in front." As we began talking with the current resident, we found out he had just moved in and was still in the process of closing on the home. Thankfully, he and his son were not injured, but he was understandably devastated as the "perfect" home he had searched long and hard for was suddenly uninhabitable.

Thanks to your support, we were able to provide this man and his son with food and lodging so they could take a couple days to catch their breath, and the Red Cross will continue to provide support and referrals as they figure out the next steps in their recovery. As always, I am so proud to be a part of an organization that provides a glimmer of hope to people in their darkest hours.

This situation also proves that disasters are never convenient. They can happen anytime, anywhere, so please take the time to prepare now and keep your loved ones as safe as possible.

Tornado App "interruptions" can be life-saving

I was having a nice, leisurely Sunday dinner with the family yesterday afternoon when our meal was interrupted by a phone going off. Normally, I would be embarrassed to admit it was my phone that ruined the conversation, but not in this case. You see, it wasn't just a text or an email I was getting, it was a tornado warning alert from my Red Cross Tornado App, and it could have been a life-saver.

Because of my role with the Western New York/Finger Lakes Region, I have set my app to monitor all 17 counties that we cover. This alert did not affect Wayne County, where my family was enjoying dinner with my folks, so no action was needed on our part. However, had we been in Schuyler or Chemung Counties, we would've known it was time to take immediate action and head to the basement until the danger had passed.

This morning, the National Weather Service has confirmed that an EF-1 Tornado did touch down in Schuyler County on Sunday. Thankfully, the Red Cross has only been asked to help one family whose home was severely damaged in the Town of Reading, but this storm comes just a week our Central New York neighbors were devastated by a tornado that unfortunately claimed four lives in Smithfield.

Clearly, the danger of tornadoes is real for those of us in Western New York and the Finger Lakes, and the time to prepare is now. Please download the FREE Tornado App for your iPhone or Android device today and get real-time severe weather alerts and information wherever you currently are. Once you have the App, follow the preparedness tips it provides, things like putting together an emergency kit and creating a household plan. Then, should the tornado warning alert where you are--and trust me, no one will be upset about that interruption--you'll be prepared to keep your family safe.