RED CROSS PARTNERS WITH SOUTHERN BAPTISTS TO PROVIDE RELIEF TO WASHINGTON STATE FLOOD VICTIMS 

 

Convoys of Red Cross Emergency Response Vehicles and trucks bearing the Red Cross emblem are traveling throughout Lewis County distributing warm meals, bottled water and clean up supplies to residents affected by the flood. Bringing these essential items directly to individuals and families working to clean up and repair their homes allows them to stay focused and move forward in the recovery process.

 

Red Cross vehicles will be staging out of the following Southern Baptist-operated kitchen locations:

 

519 N. Second Street

Pe Ell, WA 98572

 

Gray's Harbor County Fairgrounds

32 Elma-McCleary Road

Elma, WA 98541

 

Additional supplies and vehicles are being staged at:

2821 Ocean Drive (Hwy 101)

Raymond, WA 98577

 

Clean up supplies are also available to the public at:

American Red Cross Serving King & Kitsap Counties – Bremerton Office

811 Pacific Avenue

Bremerton, WA 98337

Office Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

 

INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE & EMOTIONAL SUPPORT AVAILABLE

The American Red Cross Service Center opened today to provide assistance to individuals and families affected by the Washington flood. This center will allow people who live in affected areas to meet one-on-one with a Red Cross caseworker to discuss their immediate emergency disaster-caused needs.

 

Location:

Bethel Church

132 Kirkland Road

Chehalis, WA 98532

 

Hours of Operation:

Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

 

At Red Cross service centers, trained relief workers - including nurses, crisis counselors and caseworkers will talk confidentially with residents affected by the flood. The Red Cross may be able to help disaster victims with basic emergency needs such as groceries, clothing, rent and essential household items.

 

Individuals or families who apply to the Red Cross for assistance must bring with them some form of identification showing their address, as proof that they lived in the area affected by the disaster. Those who are unable to get to the service center may call the Red Cross disaster assistance hotline at 1-866-GET-INFO.

 

SHELTER UPDATE

As of this morning, Red Cross-managed shelters remain open at:

• CLOSING AT 5 PM: Grays Harbor County Fairgrounds, 32 Elma-McCleary Road, Elma

• Centralia National Guard Armory, 309 Byrd Street, Centralia

• Westminster Presbyterian Church, 349 North Market Blvd, Chehalis

• Centralia LDS Church, 2801 Mt. Vista Road, Centralia

 

FAST FACTS ABOUT RED CROSS DISASTER RELIEF IN SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON (Last 24 hours/Total through 12/09/07, 8 a.m.)

• Shelters: 5/12

• Overnight Stays in Shelters: 80/1,112

• Fixed Feeding Sites: 14/15

• Meals and Snacks Served:7,167 (total only)

• Red Cross Disaster Workers: 291/291

• Clean up kits: 128/167

• Emergency Response Vehicles: 14/16

• Calls to 1-866-GET-INFO line: 27/239

 

 

SUPPORT RED CROSS RELIEF EFFORTS

All American Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the American people. You can help the victims of thousands of disasters across the country each year, disasters like the Washington Floods, by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, which enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to victims of disaster. The American Red Cross honors donor intent. If you wish to designate your donation to a specific disaster please do so at the time of your donation. Call 1-800-REDCROSS or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Contributions to the Disaster Relief Fund may be sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. Internet users can make a secure online contribution by visiting www.redcross.org.

American Red Cross urges safety as flood recovery process begins 

 

While families sift through their belongings and remove their water-logged furniture in neighborhoods across Western Washington, the Red Cross urges residents to take caution as they begin the flood recovery process.

 

The best way to stay safe is to follow the advice of local authorities. Find out if it is safe to enter your community or neighborhood. Do not enter your home unless officials have declared that it is safe to do so.

 

Some things to remember:

 

• Check the outside of your home before you enter:

 

• Look for loose power lines, broken or damaged gas lines, foundation cracks or other damage. See if porch roofs and overhangs still have all their supports.

 

• If you see damage on the outside, it could indicate that your home is unsafe. Ask a building inspector or contractor to check the structure before you enter.

 

• Stay out of any building if floodwater remains around the building.

 

• Parts of your home can be collapsed or damaged - approach entrances carefully.

 

• Wear long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, closed-toed rubber- soled shoes or boots and work gloves. 

 

• Smell for gas. If you smell natural or propane gas or hear a hissing noise, leave immediately and then call the fire department or utility company.

 

• If there is no power, do not step in standing water because it could be electrically charged. Check to make sure the main breaker is on.  If it is and there is still no power, contact the utility company.

 

• Carbon Monoxide-Because of the risk of CO poisoning, never operate un-vented fuel-burning appliances in any closed room or where people or animals are sleeping. Never use gas appliances such as ranges, ovens, or clothes dryers for heating your home.

 

• Never use a portable generator in an enclosed or partially enclosed space, including in your home or in a garage, basement, crawl space, or other partially enclosed area, even with ventilation. Locate a generator outdoors and away from doors, windows, and vents that could allow CO to come indoors. Generators can produce high levels of deadly CO very quickly.

 

• Follow public health guidance on safe cleanup of materials in contact with floodwater.

 

• Materials such as kitchen and bathroom cleaning products, paint, batteries, contaminated fuel, and damaged fuel containers are hazardous and need to be properly handled to avoid risk. Check with local authorities for assistance with disposal.

 

• Watch out for wild animals, especially poisonous snakes, that may have come into your home with the floodwater.

 

• Discard food and drinking water that has come in contact with floodwater, including canned goods, capped bottles, and cartons. When in doubt, throw it out!

 

• Discard wooden spoons, plastic utensils and baby bottle nipples and pacifiers if they have been covered by floodwater.

 

• Watch or listen to your local news for reports on the safety of your water.  Do NOT ever use water that you think may be contaminated to wash dishes, brush teeth, prepare food, wash hands, make ice, or make baby formula.

 

• Realize that, sometimes, recovery can take time.

 

• Contact community mental health or the American Red Cross for additional information and help.

 

For more information on flood safety or if you need assistance visit www.redcross.org or call 1-866-GET-INFO.

 

All American Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the American people. You can help the victims of thousands of disasters across the country each year, disasters like the Washington Floods, by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, which enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to victims of disaster. The American Red Cross honors donor intent. If you wish to designate your donation to a specific disaster please do so at the time of your donation. Call 1-800-REDCROSS or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Contributions to the Disaster Relief Fund may be sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. Internet users can make a secure online contribution by visiting www.redcross.org.