Red Cross Daily Operations Summary

Red Cross Flood Relief Services Transition
Disaster Relief Continues for Flood-impacted Residents 

The following service centers are open to provide disaster relief assistance to flood-impacted residents in north and central New Jersey:

Winemasters of Somerset
12 Church Street
Bound Brook, NJ

Manville Public Library
100 S. 10th Avenue
Manville, NJ

Fairfield, New Jersey April 27, 2007 – Almost two weeks after a Nor’easter storm blew through northern New Jersey, the American Red Cross is still running shelters, service centers and helping thousands of residents clean up their homes and businesses.

New Jersey Shelter List updated Friday 4/27/07 @ 4:00 p.m.

Red Cross to Open an Additional Service Center Friday
Flood impacted residents in Manville area may receive help with their immediate relief needs

FAIRFIELD, NJ, April 26, 2007 – Flood impacted residents living in the Manville area may be eligible for disaster relief assistance from the American Red Cross. The second service center serving the Raritan River watershed will open on Friday, April 26 in Manville to support clients who suffered home structural damage or total loss of clothing. Homeowners who suffered flood damage may also receive assistance for minor home repairs. The Red Cross service center will be staffed by caseworkers as well as healthcare and mental health teams. In addition to direct assistance, the Red Cross will refer qualified clients to additional community services for long-term recover assistance.

The Manville service center is located in the Manville Municipal Library at 100 South 10th Street. Beginning Friday, the center will accept applicants from 8 a.m. until 7 p.m. The Manville service center supplements a service center in Bound Brook which opened Tuesday, and another in West Patterson which opened on Monday.

The Bound Brook center is located in the Winemakers of Somerset building, 12 Church Street. The West Paterson service center is located on the Fourth floor of the PNC Bank building at 1 Garrett Mountain Plaza. Effective Friday, all three service centers receive applicants from 8 a.m. until 7 p.m.

The Red Cross has activated its toll free information line. Anyone with questions about flood relief is urged to call 1-866-GET-INFO. Hearing impaired callers may call TDD 1-800-526-1417.

END

New Jersey acting Governor Richard Codey expressed his thanks for the American Red Cross disaster relief effort to Marita Wenner, director of the Red Cross disaster relief operation in northern New Jersey. Wenner and several Red Cross representatives joined acting Governor Codey and other state, federal and local officials at a press conference hosted by FEMA in Bound Brook, New Jersey.

Adriana Campbell’s husband recruited her to serve as a translator at a Red Cross shelter in North Branch, New Jersey. The shelter has a large population of people who speak Spanish.

Red Cross still helping Northeast recover from storm

Areas of New Jersey still flooded, more than 4,400 people go to shelters 

April 24, 2007 – More than a week after a Nor’easter storm blew through the Northeast, the American Red Cross is still running shelters and helping thousands of residents clean up their homes and businesses. The Red Cross is actively helping people in Maine, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, Connecticut, New Jersey and New York. In New Jersey, which was hit the hardest, shelters are still open for many people who cannot return home. In Mamaroneck, NY, two buildings began to collapse over the weekend, forcing people out of their homes and into Red Cross shelters. 

In Maine, Massachusetts and New Hampshire, the Red Cross has been out in communities, serving food and delivering clean-up kits – which contain items such as a bucket, mop, detergent, broom and other cleaning supplies. Employees and volunteers have also handed out comfort kits, containing toiletries. Some facts:

• More than 4,400 people have sought refuge in Red Cross shelters from flooding or power outages.
• The Red Cross has handed out more than 7,900 clean-up kits, containing items such as a bucket, mop, detergent, broom and other cleaning supplies.
• More than 5,700 comfort kits, containing toiletries, have been distributed.
• More than 50,000 meals have been served in shelters and in the community.
• More than 48,500 snacks have been served in shelters and in the community.

The storm will cost $5 million in Red Cross relief across the Northeast, according to initial estimates. Affected Red Cross chapters are reaching out to their donors and communities and asking for contributions to help provide assistance to victims of flooding in the Northeast. People interested in making a financial contribution can do so by contacting their local chapter or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS or go to www.redcross.org. 

The American Red Cross helps people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies. Last year, almost a million volunteers and 35,000 employees helped victims of almost 75,000 disasters; taught lifesaving skills to millions; and helped U.S. service members separated from their families stay connected.  Almost 4 million people gave blood through the Red Cross, the largest
U.S. supplier of blood and blood products.  The American Red Cross is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.  An average of 91 cents of every dollar the Red Cross spends is invested in humanitarian services and programs.  The Red Cross is not a government agency; it relies on donations of time, money, and blood to do its work. 

RED CROSS RESPONSE TO APRIL 2007 NOR’EASTER 

The most recent figures state by state: 
New Jersey

Shelters opened:  12

Meals served:  19,023

Snacks served:  33,781

Clean-up kits distributed:  5,935

Comfort kits distributed:  4,239

Total employees and volunteers:  979

New York

Shelters opened:  30

Meals served:  11,791

Snacks served:  6,835

Clean-up kits distributed:  1,144

Comfort kits distributed:  976

Total employees and volunteers:  507

Massachusetts

Shelters opened:  8

Meals served:  3,786

Snacks served:  2,719

Clean-up kits distributed:  72

Total employees and volunteers:  214

New Hampshire

Shelters opened:  13

Meals served:  13,078

Snacks served:  3,356

Clean-up kits distributed:  620

Comfort kits distributed:  119

Total employees and volunteers:  299

Maine

Shelters opened: 5

People sheltered:  412

Meals served:  1,930 

Snacks served:   1,160

Comfort kits distributed:   386

Total employees and volunteers:   115

Connecticut

Shelters opened:  7

Meals served:  368

Snacks served:  652

Clean-up kits distributed:  143

Comfort kits distributed:  47

Total employees and volunteers:  176

Mamaroneck Village Church Members Work Together to Resume Services

by Tara Lynch

Westchester County, NY – In the Washingtonville section of Mamaroneck Village Sunday, parishioners of St. Vito’s Church were anxious to return to their place of worship following last week’s devastating nor’easter. Community volunteers and members of the parish worked hard all week to clean up the church, ravaged by the storm.

In the days leading up to what residents hoped to be the first church services following the disaster, the St. Vito’s community was hard at work. Last Friday, NY Sen. Charles Schumer met with St. Vito’s leader the Rev. James Healy to tour the property and listen to Healy’s story. Both the Church and St. Vito’s School sustained significant damage last week, when heavy rains brought massive flooding to the entire area. As the sunny skies on Saturday helped to dry out homes and businesses, St. Vito’s also used the beautiful weather to begin the recovery process, arranging salvageable items on their welcoming steps, providing hope to parishioners eager to return to their place of worship.

The front steps of St. Vito’s Church in Mamaroneck on Saturday

Photo credit: Tara Lynch

Both the weather and the hard work of local volunteers sustained the community, as parishioners got their wish – church services were conducted Sunday at St. Vito’s, a testament to the strength and resiliency of neighbors pulling together for their parish.

Other areas of worship, such as the First Baptist Church, have also been looking to local partners to help with the clean-up. Today, the Rev. Jackson and his First Baptist Church in Mamaroneck continued to dry out the pews and remove debris from his beloved church. Visits from NY Sen. Hilary Clinton, Sen. Balboni, and Westchester County officials Andy Spano and Nita Lowey included tours of the First Baptist neighborhood, along with the opportunity to meet residents and survey flood damage. Community partners such as the United Way, Habitat for Humanity and the American Red Cross work side by side with local residents to support their recovery efforts. Local Red Cross relief teams continue to work with the Rev. Jackson, providing hot meals, blankets and individual assistance to his collective congregation still without power.

Local workers continue provide assistance at the Red Cross shelter, where residents have access to the resources they need.

Photo credit: Tara Lynch

Many residents displaced by the floods remain in an American Red Cross shelter on the grounds of Mamaroneck High School.  Dedicated local residents have been seen returning to their neighborhoods during the day to help their neighbors in need. Red Cross volunteers continue to provide outreach to the community as well, driving throughout the area with food, water and clean-up kits to help with the relief effort. “We’ll continue to support the communities affected by this disaster until they no longer need us,” says Susan Rounds, acting COO at the Westchester County Chapter of the American Red Cross. “We’ve been able to reach deep into these communities to help get individuals and families the help they need.”

Residents of this home have begun to clean up, removing furniture damaged by flood waters last week.

Photo credit: Tara Lynch