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21 Clemons Road South, Montesano

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American Red Cross Mount Rainier Chapter / Grays Harbor Office
2007 December Winter Storm Briefing

The American Red Cross Mount Rainier Chapter began its response to the December storm early in the morning on Monday, December 3. Volunteers were been activated and asked for their availability, emergency supplies were being mobilized, and plans were being set into motion.

Red Cross representatives were sent to all area Emergency Operation Centers to help coordinate response and relief efforts. Despite Red Cross staff members – employees and volunteers – being trapped in their homes due to closed roads and rising floodwaters –
the disaster relief operation continued with volunteers activated not only throughout the jurisdiction of the local Red Cross chapter, but throughout Washington State.

During the first days of the storm, local officials were asking people to stay off the roads
and to shelter in place. The Red Cross heeded their warnings not wanting to place anyone
in danger – those seeking assistance from the storm or our volunteers wanting to help. With downed power lines, water over roadways, and closed roads due to the heavy rains and winds, the situation was dangerous.

With the storm raging, many people experienced power outages for several days. Without heat or electricity, many residents were unable to stay warm or eat a warm meal. With the infrastructure of roads closed and power out, shelters could not open without generators or access since many of the roadways were closed. People were safer in their homes during that period.

This is why, public safety organizations including the Red Cross encourage local residents
to be prepared for emergencies by assembling their disaster supplies – extra food, water, batteries, flashlights, blankets, medication, first aid kits, etc… with enough supplies for a minimum or three to seven days if not more.

During every step, Red Cross representatives were communicating with local officials at the Emergency Operations Centers to locate neighborhoods needing assistance and coordinate our disaster response and relief efforts.

As soon as local authorities said the conditions were safe, the Red Cross opened up or supported shelters in coordination with our community partners and worked with the
National Guard to deliver Red Cross supplies to other areas in the community in need.
Many people did not always know how the Red Cross was helping because of our various partnership agreements and the scope of the disasters. Unfortunately because of the size and scope of the response, Red Cross disaster supplies, vehicles, and volunteers were not always easily identifiable.

As a reminder, the majority of those working for the Red Cross are volunteers – your neighbors who are working to helping their own neighbors in need. Despite being affected by the storms themselves, they chose to step forward and spend long hours helping their community to respond and recover from this and other disasters throughout the year.

Moving forward – we hope that we can take lessons learned from this experience and work together as a community to be better prepared for the next disaster. The Red Cross continues to need more people involved – volunteers and partners (community organizations and businesses) to help further this endeavor.

For more information, contact the American Red Cross Mount Rainier Chapter:
(253) 474-0400 Pierce County / (360) 352-8575 Thurston-Mason Counties
(360) 748-4607 Lewis County / (360) 241-2341 Grays Harbor Counties