The Gateway Area Chapter gears up for the Disaster Tour
May 26, 2010 by Executive Director ·
In order to help prepare the community for the time when disasters do strike the Gateway area, the local chapter of the American Red Cross is holding Disaster Tour 2010, the first event of its kind in this area. Disaster Tour 2010 will take place Saturday, June 5, 2010, from 10 am to 2 pm at Camanche High School.
This event is FREE and open to the public. It will be an interactive event to provide information and demonstrate what happens in times of major disasters – highlighting the work of the American Red Cross and its community partners. Attendees will find information about what households and businesses can do to prepare for disasters as well as get a hands-on experience with these valuable community resources.
In commemoration of the 150th anniversary of a tornado that destroyed much of Camanche and Albany on June 3, 1860, the Disaster Tour will partner with the Camanche Historical Society to highlight what our community can do today to be better prepared.
Because vendor fees and sponsor donations will help cover the cost of the Tour, the Red Cross is looking for interested businesses, organizations, and groups who would like to take part in this one-day event. The event is in the planning stages. Volunteers interested in assisting in the successful launch of this event or vendors interested in participating should contact Heather Keyt at (563)242-5223, vista@gatewayredcross.org, or visit http://gatewayredcross.org/?page_id=1094.
On average, the American Red Cross responds to about 70,000 disasters every year; the Gateway Area Chapter has helped 109 people affected by home fires since July 1, 2009. Being prepared for disasters can help individuals respond efficiently with a minimum of stress. A kit, a plan, and a way to be informed save time and lives during a disaster, when every minute is precious.
About the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to survivors of disasters; supplies nearly half of the nation’s blood; teaches lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization — not a government agency — and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit www.redcross.org or join our blog at http://blog.redcross.org.
Jason and Megan – Heroes!
May 14, 2010 by Executive Director ·
A student from Ashford University and I, an employee of Per Mar Security that works at Ashford, have embarked on a journey of not only distance…but one of sacrifice!
We plan to perform a Run/Walk from Preston to Maquoketa, a distance of 15 miles, in the third week of May.
The reason we chose this route is because there are so many families, who’s lives have been interrupted due to a disaster of some kind; Right here in our own neighborhoods! This journey Megan and I will take will also attempt to resemble what it takes for someone or a family to keep going…even though it may seem too much!
You can also help their cause by joining their team and donating!
The Red Cross and Disaster
May 13, 2010 by Executive Director ·
For several weeks, the American Red Cross has been providing relief on a very large scale to people affected by severe flooding and tornadoes in Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Tennessee.
Thousands of lives have been disrupted by the severe weather in the Midwest and across the South. Many have lost their homes; everything they own. American Red Cross workers from all over the country are on the scene, providing food, shelter, and basic necessities such as clean-up items and toiletries.
The Red Cross relies on donations to help pay for disaster services. Donations to the Disaster Relief Fund allows the Red Cross to pay for disasters of all sizes and kinds, regardless of geographic boundaries. We need your help to respond to these recent disasters.
There are three ways that people can make a donation: Visit redcross.org to donate online, call 1-800-REDCROSS, or make a $10 donation by texting REDCROSS to 90999.
For more information about how you can be more prepared when disaster strikes please visit our Preparedness page or click here
For more information about the disasters affecting our country please visit the American Red Cross Newsroom.
