RedCrossPhillyBlog

Category: Disaster Response

  • Red Cross and partners operate Philadelphia shelter following partial building collapse

    By Jenny Farley

    American Red Cross shelter sign at Samuel Fels High School. Photo by Jenny Farley/American Red Cross
    Brenda Caple. Photo by Jenny Farley/American Red Cross.

    Brenda Caple knew exactly what she was planning to cook for dinner. A steak she and her husband could enjoy together. But she lacked an onion and green pepper so she went out. She made it back safely to her apartment at Lindley Towers and was thinking about that steak when she said, “I heard a loud BOOM!”

    When she looked out the window, destruction shocked her. She thought, “Lord, I just left from there. I had just walked past coming from the store.”

    After living at her apartment complex for ten months, Caple was forced to evacuate, along with her sister and niece, who lived on different floors. Pieces of the Lindley Towers facade, an apartment building with 105 units, had crashed to the ground below.

    John D. Smith. Photo by Jenny Farley/America Red Cross

    Navy veteran John D. Smith, who has lived at Lindley Towers since 2015, left his seventh floor apartment that morning at 7:30 am. At 82 years old, he spent the day at the Senior Center when someone said, “I heard a building fell down on your block.” Smith said, “It never dawned on me it was my building.”

    When he got home that night he said the fire department had kicked down his door during the evacuation and he had only minutes to collect his stuff while authorities waited in the hall.

    “I couldn’t think of what to take.”

    When something caused part of Lindley Towers to fall, Gail Thomas didn’t hear a thing. For nearly ten years she has enjoyed the quiet in her fourth floor apartment. She had no intention of leaving. “Then I heard people banging on doors.”

    Gail Thomas. Photo by Jenny Farley/America Red Cross.

    That morning Thomas was getting ready to do her online classes but they would have to wait. “I’m frustrated, aggravated, upset and angry.” Thomas suffers from excruciating daily migraine pain. She said being forced out of her home is the worst thing that has ever happened to her.

    “It’s devastating.”

    They lived on different floors. They all had other plans. But what happened at Lindley Towers on September 14th thrust all three people, and dozens like them, into the same river of uncertainty. Unable to go home, no time to grab much and in need of immediate refuge.

    Red Cross volunteers Neena Nash, Shelter Supervisor Hal Cohen and Mass Care Feeding Lead Janice Thomas with Red Cross Regional CEO Guy Triano. Photo by Alana Mauger/American Red Cross

    That’s when the Red Cross stepped in, partnering with the Office of Emergency Management, to open a shelter in the gym at Samuel Fels High School in Philadelphia.

    Volunteer Betty Thomas. Photo by Jenny Farley/American Red Cross.

    Volunteers like Rick Tashman and Betty Thomas worked together there to make sure tower residents got what they needed. Food, blankets, a cot and emotional support.

    Thomas has been training for the Red Cross Disaster Action Team (DAT). She said she enjoys volunteering and “Being part of society. Helping people.” And it’s not her first stint with the Red Cross. She used to deliver plasma long distances to hospitals and cancer centers.

    Her two young daughters, Kayla and Eve, want to volunteer too as soon as they are old enough. They already help by making sandwiches to feed people who are homeless.

    Shelter Supervisor Rick Tashman. Photo by Jenny Farley/American Red Cross.

    For 25 years, Tashman dreamed of volunteering for the Red Cross, but he had a lot of time commitments. Now, he serves as a shelter supervisor in the very school he attended as a child.

    An amateur ham radio operator, Tashman calls himself an “electronics nut” who has a personal philosophy to “look for the opportunity to do something magical” and said he feels blessed to be able to “make a little bit of difference.”

    For Caple, it’s not little. She said the Red Cross has given her a good experience at the shelter and treated her well.

    “Very nice. Generous people. Everyone is respectful.”

    She said she’s okay for now. And she’s praying for a good outcome.

    “At least I have a roof over my head.”

    Volunteers Daramola Gbolahan and Rahel Pachter serve lunch at the shelter on Sunday, Sept. 18.
    Photo by Alana Mauger / American Red Cross

    Smith is also grateful.

    “They helped an awful lot because I would have been homeless. If it hadn’t been for the Red Cross, I would have been on the street.”

    Gail Thomas also appreciated the treatment she received at the shelter. “Got socks, food.” Volunteers even turned the music down to help her head.

    Every eight minutes, The Red Cross responds to a disaster and is ready to leap into action 24/7. Shelters must be able to open within hours. If you would like to donate, visit redcross.org.

  • Hurricane Ida: One Year Later

    By Dave Skutnik

    It’s hard to believe it’s already been one year since Hurricane Ida left a path of destruction from Louisiana to Pennsylvania and beyond. In this update, you’ll read about the massive relief operation launched by the Red Cross here in Southeastern Pennsylvania, as well as the stories of survival from just a few of the thousands of people we helped. For more on relief operations in other areas, including Louisiana, New Jersey and New York, click here.

    The Vine Street Expressway in Philadelphia remained underwater for several days after Ida hit our region. Photo courtesy of Siobhan Keefe

    On August 29, 2021, Hurricane Ida made landfall in Louisiana as a powerful Category 4 storm, causing damage there that is second only to Hurricane Katrina. But the storm wasn’t done there. Three days later, on September 1, the remnants of Ida arrived in Southeastern Pennsylvania, unleashing tornadoes and torrential rainfall.

    The flooding that followed was widespread, affecting the Brandywine Creek in Chester County, the Perkiomen Creek in Montgomery County and the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia, just to name a few. In the City of Philadelphia, the flooding was the worst along the Schuylkill River since 1869!

    More than 180 American Red Cross disaster workers mounted a massive response to help the thousands of people whose homes were flooded or damaged by falling trees.

    One of those homes belonged to Lisa McAllister and her family. What started as an exciting first day of school for twin sisters Caty and Dani ended with terror as a tornado tore through their Fort Washington neighborhood. Huddled in the lowest floor of their home, they recall hearing “what sounded like 50 freight trains” and crashing overhead. Then, there was silence, followed by the sound of pouring water. As they emerged, they found their home had been trashed by the twister, with trees taking out large sections of the roof and sides. Read the full story.

    Jeff and Eileen Moran performed hundreds of disaster assessments throughout Southeastern PA. Photo by Alana Mauger/American Red Cross

    Red Cross damage assessment teams found more than 900 homes had either major damage or were destroyed in Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties. For weeks, Red Cross volunteers served warm meals, provided safe shelter and offered emotional support to survivors whose lives were changed forever by this storm. Families shared stories of their harrowing escapes from flooded homes, wading in chest-deep waters or climbing out second-story windows and into rescue boats. 

    Desiree Nicholls and her nephew found themselves in that situation as creeks around their Hatboro home became raging rivers within minutes. Desiree remembers wading through 4 feet of water as they left their home with nothing but the clothes on their backs. Desiree says she’s very thankful for the Red Cross volunteers who helped her navigate the complex disaster recovery process. She spent more than four months living in hotels as she worked through getting her home repaired. Read the full story.

    From sheltering to financial assistance, Red Cross services helped bridge the gap between heartbreak and hope. More than 1,500 people in Southeastern Pennsylvania received financial assistance from the Red Cross. This assistance is critical, as a 2019 study showed that nearly 40% of U.S. adults would need to borrow money or sell personal items to cover an unexpected expense of $400 or more. In addition, Red Cross workers helped serve more than 3,500 meals and snacks and distributed some 2,100 relief supplies.

    The Red Cross staffed 4 shelters in Southeastern Pennsylvania for displaced residents in the days and weeks following Ida. Photo by Alana Mauger/American Red Cross

    Meanwhile, nearly a year later, the McAllister family is still in the process of rebuilding their home. But they continue to be appreciative for the kindness of Red Cross volunteers throughout their ordeal.

    All this support is made possible by the generosity of donors and the volunteers who donate their time and talents to the Red Cross. We thank you for your continued commitment to our mission.

  • One year after Ida, the McAllister family remains grateful for Red Cross and community support as they continue to rebuild

    By Terri Seydel

    Lisa McAllister with her twin daughters Caty and Dani on their first day of 11th grade in 2021 just before the remnants of Hurricane Ida hit Southeastern Pennsylvania. Submitted photo

    September 1st of 2021 was no ordinary day for Lisa McAllister’s family. The day began with excitement as twin sisters Caty and Dani headed to the first day of their junior year in high school. It would be a special occasion because the students could finally attend school in person since the COVID pandemic had impacted the past two school years. Meanwhile, Lisa headed to work for a busy day as an Enrolled Agent with October tax deadlines quickly approaching.

    But Hurricane Ida had different plans for the day. Lisa started receiving severe weather alerts and headed home to Fort Washington, Pennsylvania where she planned to ride out the storm with her daughters and their high school friend Ava.

    Storm damage to the McAllister’s home. Submitted photo

    The first tornado warning was issued shortly after she arrived home, so Lisa and the three teenage girls went to the lower level of the house to seek safety. They could see a tornado funnel through one of the windows and heard ‘what sounded like 50 freight trains’ and crashing sounds overhead. Then there was silence, followed by the sound of pouring water. Before they could comprehend what had happened, a second tornado warning sounded, followed by a third. Lisa and the girls huddled close together, fearing for their lives.

    The electricity had gone out, and they couldn’t make phone calls for help. So, with no knowledge of when help would arrive, they worked their way upstairs, and reality set in. They could see that trees had crashed through the roof and water was pouring into the house. Realizing that it was not safe to remain in the house, they quickly collected a few basic necessities, including diabetic insulin, passports, and birth certificates, and made their way outside.

    What they saw was shocking! Power lines and trees had been blown across roads, and neighboring homes had sustained unbelievable damage.  Lisa and the girls began climbing over debris and trying to walk to safety. During their efforts, they came across two neighbors they had never met: the Littletons. 

    Storm damage to the McAllister’s home. Submitted photo

    Fortunately, Mr. and Mrs. Littleton’s home had been spared during the storm and they were out canvassing the neighborhood to see who needed help. The Littletons realized that Lisa and the three girls were having difficulty getting to safety and communicating with family and friends. So, even though they were complete strangers, the Littletons welcomed Lisa and the girls into their home for the night. They provided them with food, shelter, and a phone to call Lisa’s husband and Ava’s parents.

    The next morning, Lisa and the girls walked through the unrecognizable neighborhood, the devastation was everywhere. But that day marked a new beginning. The community came together to help each other with food, money, supplies, and encouragement. Just as the Littletons helped strangers in their time of need, the American Red Cross quickly engaged the Disaster Recovery teams of volunteers to help the victims of Hurricane Ida.

    During the aftermath of Ida, more than 3000 Red Cross volunteers from all over the country worked tirelessly to provide disaster relief services. The relief services included emergency lodgings, food, basic necessities, access to medicine, and financial assistance to more than 12,000 storm victims.

    Storm damage to the McAllister’s home. Submitted photo

    Lisa shared that she had always admired the American Red Cross but hadn’t developed a full appreciation of the breadth of disaster services that the Red Cross provides. Red Cross volunteers contacted her family immediately after the storm to assess their needs and offer assistance. They provided access to emergency funding for immediate needs and continued to check in with Lisa over the following months.

    Lisa’s family is now in the process of rebuilding their home. She is thankful that her daughters witnessed and benefitted from so much kindness from their community and the Red Cross volunteers. Through this experience, they learned there are many honest and good-hearted people in this seemingly negative world.

    Once Lisa is back in her home, she plans to pay the kindness forward through the American Red Cross in some meaningful way. She saw firsthand just how important the Red Cross volunteers are and how much they help families in need. 

    Check out Red Cross volunteer opportunities if you’re interested in volunteering your time or making a contribution to help with future disaster needs.

  • One year after Ida, Desiree Nicholls recalls her narrow escape

    By Terri Seydel

    Flood water in Hatboro Township around Desiree’s home. Submitted photo

    Hurricane Ida caught a lot of people by surprise in 2021, as it turned out to be the second most devastating hurricane in the United States. The storm originated from a tropical wave in the Caribbean Sea on August 23rd and reached Louisiana by August 29th as a category four storm.

    Ida accelerated and caused tornado outbreaks and catastrophic flooding as it moved inland. The storm became classified as a post-tropical cyclone as it entered Northeastern states. Pennsylvania alone endured at least seven tornados and devastating flooding. Hundreds of families had to evacuate their homes, and it happened fast!

    Desiree Nicholls and her nephew were one such family. By the time they realized the area creeks were rising, the water had already risen to the level of their front door. They only had time to gather their pets, their six foster kittens, their credentials, and a laptop. Desiree recalls wading through 4 feet of water as they evacuated her home with only the clothes on their backs and no food or supplies.

    Desiree works for the U.S. Customs Department and lives in Hatboro Township near the Pennypacker watershed area, which includes 50 miles of creeks that were no match for the speed and volume of Ida’s rainfall. The relentless rain caused severe flooding at a pace that no one expected.

    Flood water in Hatboro Township around Desiree’s home. Submitted photo

    It took Desiree a couple of days to find long-term housing and alternative foster care for the kittens. She eventually connected with the American Red Cross to access additional disaster relief services and remembers one special Red Cross volunteer named Donna, who went out of her way to assist Desiree with a required home assessment for FEMA eligibility.

    After living in hotels for more than four months, Desiree is happy to be back home but is still navigating repairs, sorting through the few possessions that survived the flood, and making long-term housing plans. Desiree recalls her experience with the Red Cross as a “phenomenal experience.” She’s very thankful to the Red Cross volunteers, the local police officers, and the rescue workers that helped her and her neighbors through the emergency.

    During the aftermath of Ida, more than 3000 Red Cross volunteers from all over the country worked tirelessly to provide disaster relief services such as emergency lodgings, food, basic necessities, and financial assistance to more than 12,000 storm victims.

    Each year the American Red Cross depends on its volunteers to provide disaster relief services for more than 60,000 emergencies. Learn how you can become a volunteer and help people in your own community.

    Flood water in Hatboro Township around Desiree’s home. Submitted photo

  • Local volunteers assist with Red Cross response to devastating flooding in Eastern Kentucky

    By Alana Mauger

    Home moved to the edge of the road by floodwaters in Bulan, KY.
    Photo by Kevin Suttlehan/American Red Cross

    The American Red Cross is working around the clock with our partners to provide shelter, meals and critical support to help those who have been impacted by the tragic flooding in at least nine counties Eastern Kentucky. This is an evolving situation with the threat of more flooding, even as challenging conditions are preventing rescuers from reaching some areas.

    More than 250 trained Red Cross disaster workers – including nine volunteers from Southeastern Pennsylvania – are assisting with relief efforts, and more are expected to join in the coming days. The Red Cross is providing those affected by this tragedy with a safe place to stay, food to eat and emotional support, and is helping with replacing prescription medications, eyeglasses or critical medical equipment that were left behind in the rush to get to safety.

    Our local volunteers are assisting both on the ground and virtually.  In Kentucky, Fred Lehman and Mary Noll are part of the Logistics team, serving in the areas of warehouse services and national fleet operations, respectively. Heidi Dampman is also on the ground, serving as a shelter and feeding supervisor with the Mass Care team. On Tuesday and Wednesday, Will Dobnak and Kate Byrnes will join them as members of the Disaster Health Services team, and on Thursday, Harry Roosevelt will travel to Kentucky to serve on the Disaster Assessment team.

    Virtually, Rich Barnett and Jayne Cabnet are working with the Recovery team on reunification, assisting people who have filed cases looking for missing loved ones. And Janice Winston worked virtually early in the disaster recovery operation with the External Relations team.  Links to local news coverage about our volunteers’ efforts are listed below.

    This is an evolving and challenging situation, with extremely hot weather hitting the area where thousands are still without power and water, all the while rescuers continue to search for survivors. Preliminary damage assessments indicate that approximately 350 homes were either destroyed or suffered major damage.

    Since Thursday, the Red Cross and our partners have provided a total of more than 2,200 overnight stays for residents forced to leave their homes due to the flooding. On Monday night alone, 590 residents stayed in numerous shelters across Eastern Kentucky.

    This deadly flooding — along with the heavy rainfall in Missouri, explosive wildfires in California and the ongoing Northwest heatwave — are clear examples of how more intense climate-related disasters are happening more often. The Red Cross is seeing firsthand how families and communities are suffering, and our volunteers are continuously there to offer comfort for people forced from their homes.

    You can help people affected by disasters like floods, fires and countless other crises by making a gift to Red Cross Disaster Relief. Donations enable the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from disasters big and small. Visit redcross.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS, or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.

    For those interested in helping people specifically affected by the recent floods, we ask that they write “Kentucky floods” in the memo line of a check and mail it to their local Red Cross chapter with a completed donation form to the address on the form or to their local Red Cross chapter.

    Local news coverage links:

  • Mission Moment: Chantel Robinson turns tragedy into a force for good

    By Alana Mauger

    Chantel Robinson and her goddaughter Hailey helped install smoke alarms on their former block after a home fire. Photo by Alana Mauger/American Red Cross

    Chantel Robinson is determined to turn her family’s tragedy into a force for good. Chantel lost her mother during a fire at her Northeast Philadelphia home on March 10, 2022.

    “I think I was in shock when the Red Cross arrived,” she recalled.

    Chantel is grateful for the comfort and care the Red Cross Disaster Action Team volunteers provided to her family, including her son Marquan and goddaughter Hailey, both 19, who were living in the home.

    “It was more than the financial support, although we needed that – we lost everything,” she recalled. “It was the ongoing care, the conversations, the compassion.”

    Chantel shared that Charline Scott from the Red Cross Spiritual Care Team called her every day for weeks to check in. And when she moved into her cousin’s home a few days after the fire, Red Cross volunteers came out to install smoke alarms there.

    Inspired by the care she received, Chantel wants to make sure other families don’t experience the loss of a loved one. In May, she worked alongside the Red Cross volunteers to install smoke alarms on her former block.

    “Awareness in the most important thing,” she said. “People need to know about the importance of smoke detectors. They need education.”

    She acknowledges it was hard to return to her former block to distribute informational flyers a week before the installs, but she knows it may help save lives in her community.

    Chantel is honoring the memory of her mother, Anginette, through her service.  

    “Take the time to tell your loved ones that you love them. Tell them what they mean to you.”

  • Volunteers complete critical ERV training

    By Judith Weeks

    A volunteer practices parking the ERV under the guidance of Montgomery County DAT Lead Heidi Dampman.
    Ji-fang Zhang/American Red Cross

    READY, SET, ROLL!

    Twenty-four volunteers from the Red Cross Southeast Pennsylvania Region are now certified to drive the new high-tech ERV (Emergency Response Vehicle). This is a critical event because prior to this training, only two volunteers, Mary Noll and Heidi Dampman, were certified to operate this new ERV. It has replaced the older “box” ERVs

    These volunteers have gone through rigorous training. First, each volunteer must submit a copy of their  driver’s license to Volunteer Services, and then a Motor Vehicle Background Check must be completed. Web-based courses, Disaster Cycle Services and Specialty Vehicle Operation Fundamentals are required. The Defensive Driving requirement is completed using an online course.

    Finally, using the ERV, each completes a Driver Orientation and Driver Skills Assessment. This was held by the Red Cross in a parking lot at King of Prussia Mall. The instructors, Heidi and Mary, introduced each volunteer to the ERV, walking through a check list for fluids, tire pressure, fueling and the driver’s panel. In the back of the ERV, each volunteer is shown how to secure large heavy food transport containers, location of first aid kits, and other supplies. A course was laid out with orange cones for each volunteer to demonstrate driving skills with the ERV. Next, each volunteer drove the ERV on a busy highway demonstrating safe driving and operation of the ERV. On return, the trainee practiced backing the ERV into a parking space. Watch a video of the course.

    Heidi Dampman introduces volunteers to the inside of the ERV. Ji-fang Zhang/American Red Cross

    On completion, the newly certified volunteers are “Ready To Roll!” Most want to be deployed to national disasters. To do so, they must complete training in Mass Care and Feeding for the Service Associate GAP (Group Activity Position). There is a demand for certified drivers nationally. Last November, after the devastating tornados in Kentucky and Tennessee, ERVs from across the U.S. were deployed to the region. Heidi and Fred Lehman (newly certified) volunteered, just before Christmas to drive the SEPA ERV and MRV to Kentucky. MRV (Mission Response Vehicle) is a van like the ERV but serves an entirely different function. It is loaded with supplies for shelters, crates of snacks, bottled water, clean up kits and immediate supplies for those affected by a disaster.

    Steve Thomas, Logistics Lead, and newly certified, explained that training using the ERV is important for the safety of others. ERV drivers are trusted to follow all operating procedures for this important Red Cross asset.

    Sherie Trent, who also just completed ERV training wants to help people and be deployed to national disaster events. She has been a Red Cross volunteer for 14 years, beginning her service with Blood Drives. She is now a DAT (Disaster Action Team) team member in Chester County. For her, “It’s about the community, that’s what I love.”

    View more photos from the training

    Regional Transportation Lead Mary Noll leads Logistics Lead Steve Thomas through the ERV checklist.
    Ji-fang Zhang/American Red Cross

  • Red Cross opened large weekend shelter operation in Philadelphia

    By Alana Mauger

    A large shelter was set up a West Philadelphia High School late Friday evening. Photo by Alana Mauger

    The American Red Cross and Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management (OEM) opened a large shelter at West Philadelphia High School late Friday evening for residents impacted by a fire in the basement of a 300-unit residential building in Center City. While there was no smoke or fire damage to the individual apartment units, residents were required to evacuate because all building utilities were turned off.

    SEPTA bussed the residents from the initial evacuation site at the Mutter Museum, which was across the street from the impacted building, to the Red Cross shelter in shifts. By 2 a.m., approximately 175 residents were registered at the West Philadelphia shelter., with cots set up in both of the school’s gyms and in the cafeteria. More than 30 Red Cross volunteers worked in two shifts to staff the shelter until 10:30 a.m. Saturday, when residents were able to reoccupy the building. Because the majority of the residents were elderly and spoke only Mandarin, Disaster Health Services and translation volunteers played a critical role.

    Red Cross disaster workers register residents at the shelter. Photo by Alana Mauger

    Red Cross Regional Disaster Officer Erin Stephens notes that the sheltering event was a truly a collaborative effort between the Red Cross, OEM and community partners. Philadelphia Fire Department personnel set up approximately 180 Red Cross cots and provided overnight shelter support along with the Philadelphia Police Department. The Salvation Army provided pizza Friday evening, breakfast Saturday morning and helped distribute snacks to the residents as they left the shelter. SEPTA bussed residents to and from the shelter. The Red Cross provided approximately 180 cots, 350 blankets and pillows, 150 comfort kits and 1,500 snacks and bottles of water. In addition, several volunteers from our friends from Red Cross’ New Jersey Region stepped up to help.

    “I am very proud of the teamwork that was happening, and I think everyone was very moved by our mission in this short, but very large, operation,” shared Stephen.

    Red Cross team picture taken at the conclusion of the shelter operation Saturday morning.

    The shelter operation came just hours after Red Cross caseworkers closed the last case from our region’s Hurricane Ida response.

    “Much like the recent pivots we’ve had to make from the Bucks flooding in July to a tornado touchdown, and then from the Afghan evacuee activity at the airport to the Hurricane Ida operation, our team went from one significant response straight into another one,” she said.

  • Red Cross responds to non-stop disasters July-September in Southeastern PA Region

    by Dave Skutnik

    The American Red Cross responds to more than 60,000 disasters every year. Large disasters like hurricanes, floods and tornadoes are increasing in frequency and intensity.

    Every day, the American Red Cross sees the heartbreak of families and communities trying to cope with more intense storms, heavier rainfall, higher temperatures, stronger hurricanes and more devastating wildfires.

    The past three months have brought some of the wildest weather we’ve ever seen in Southeastern Pennsylvania. It started back on July 12, when two months’ worth of rain fell in about four hours over Lower Bucks County and Northeast Philadelphia, creating a “100-year flood” in the Bensalem area.

    A “100-year flood” caused extensive damage in the Bensalem area on July 12. Photo by Alana Mauger

    The Red Cross responded, opening an evacuation center and service site to help those affected. More than 80 Red Cross disaster workers provided nearly 200 families with temporary lodging after the storm, and almost 500 people with disaster recovery casework. The Red Cross and our partners served more than 1,500 meals and snacks, distributed hundreds of clean up kits and other relief supplies.

    Just two weeks later, this same area was struck by an EF-3 tornado, the strongest on record in Bucks County and the strongest in the state of Pennsylvania in some 17 years. It was one of four tornadoes to touch down in Bucks County on July 29. Again the Red Cross was there, opening a temporary evacuation center for those who couldn’t get home due to storm damage and road closures and an overnight shelter for families whose homes were damaged.

    An EF-3 tornado tore through Bucks County on July 29. Photo by Alana Mauger

    In addition to responding to these large local disasters, Red Cross volunteers from Southeastern Pennsylvania also answered the call to help our friends and neighbors around the country as they dealt with their own large disasters, from flooding in Michigan and Tennessee, large fires in New Jersey and wildfires in California, to Hurricane Henri in New England and Hurricane Ida in Louisiana.

    And our local Disaster Action Team members continued to help after the most frequent disasters – home fires. From July 1 to September 30, Red Cross disaster volunteers provided emergency assistance for things like temporary lodging, food and clothing to more than 200 families who lost nearly everything to home fires in Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties.

    As the summer began to wind down, the Red Cross once again found itself serving to alleviate suffering from another humanitarian crisis. Refugees from Afghanistan were being transported to the U.S. and were arriving at Philadelphia International Airport. More than 50 local Red Cross volunteers supported this mission to serve 24/7. At the airport, they provided tens of thousands of snacks and relief supplies, nearly 1,000 comfort kits to weary refugees arriving to start their new lives in the U.S.

    Red Cross workers hand out supplies to refugees at the Philadelphia International Airport.

    At the same time, powerful Hurricane Ida made landfall in Louisiana and began its move north towards Southeastern Pennsylvania. As it arrived the evening of September 1, torrential rain and tornadoes once again struck our region. The Red Cross opened shelters for people whose homes were flooded or damaged by the tornadoes, providing more than 250 overnight shelter stays.

    In the days and weeks that followed, Red Cross disaster workers served more than 3,500 meals and snacks with our partners, distributed more than 2,000 clean up kits and other relief supplies, and conducted damage assessment of more than 2,200 homes, finding nearly 1,000 of them with major damage or destroyed.

    Port Providence in Montgomery County is pictured here under water following Ida. Photo courtesy of Melissa Hayes.

    To support those affected by this disasters, Red Cross volunteers made nearly 700 health and emotional support contacts, and opened more than 500 disaster recovery cases, serving nearly 1,500 people.

    This effort was supported by nearly 200 trained Red Cross volunteer disaster workers. If you’re interested in learning more about volunteer opportunities with the Red Cross, visit https://www.redcross.org/local/pennsylvania/southeastern-pennsylvania/volunteer.html

    Helping people prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters has been at the heart of the Red Cross mission since our founding. It is through this lens that we see climate change as a serious and devastating threat for the 21st century.

    Our seven Fundamental Principles — humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality — are at the very root of our mission to prevent and alleviate human suffering, and these principles call on the Red Cross to address climate change and the severe impact it has on our communities.

    To support our disaster relief efforts, visit https://www.redcross.org/donate/donation.html/.

  • Red Cross helping thousands after Ida hits Northeast

    A city resident whose home was flooded meets with a Red Cross volunteer caseworker at a multi-agency resource center in Philadelphia. Photo by Alana Mauger

    By Dave Skutnik

    The American Red Cross continues to work with our partners to provide help to people struggling with the heartbreaking damage left behind by the massive flooding and tornadoes caused by the remnants of Hurricane Ida.

    Back-to-back massive disasters have more than 1,000 Red Cross volunteers working tirelessly from coast to coast right now providing food, shelter and comfort to thousands of people in need, from the California wildfires to the Gulf Coast and Northeast.

    Here in Southeastern Pennsylvania, Red Cross disaster workers are focused on helping people through the complicated recovery process. Volunteer caseworkers with the Red Cross are connecting people with resources and referrals to help them get back on their feet.

    Since September 1, the Red Cross has provided more than 251 overnight shelter stays for disaster survivors; distributed more than 2,000 clean up kits and other relief supplies; made more than 400 emotional support and individual care contacts; and provided more than 940 people with disaster recovery support.

    Thanks to our generous donors, the Red Cross is getting emergency financial assistance into the hands of residents whose homes were severely impacted by Ida. This financial assistance allows people to make their own decisions and prioritize what their family needs most to start recovering. Funds can help families replace clothes or food, offset transportation costs for those who also lost their cars or support any other immediate need.

    Those who qualify for this type of assistance must register with FEMA online at disasterassistance.gov or by calling 800-621-FEMA. More information on this process is available at redcross.org/ida. People can also visit one of the following Disaster Recovery Centers:

    Bucks County
    Warwick Square Shopping Center
    Address: 2395 York Road, Jamison, PA
    Monday – Friday: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
    Saturday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
    Sunday: Closed

    Chester County
    Ashbridge Square Shopping Center
    (Between Staples and Christmas Tree Shop)
    Address: 945 E Lancaster Avenue, Downingtown, PA
    Monday – Friday: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
    Saturday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
    Sunday: Closed

    Delaware County
    Chadds Ford Township Office
    Address: 10 Ring Rd., Chadds Ford, PA
    Monday – Friday: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
    Saturday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
    Sunday: Closed

    Montgomery County
    Montgomery County Community College – Health Sciences Center Gymnasium
    Address: 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell, PA
    Monday – Friday: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
    Saturday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
    Sunday: Closed

    Philadelphia County
    Old CVS Location
    Address: 7219 Ridge Avenue, Philadelphia, PA
    Monday – Friday: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
    Saturday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
    Sunday: Closed

    Red Cross resources are also available at these sites.

    People are still struggling to cope with the devastation left behind by Ida. Every single donation will make a difference in someone’s life. To help people affected by Hurricane Ida, reach out to your Red Cross relationship manager. People can also visit redcross.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS, or text the word IDA to 90999 to make a $10 donation.