Disaster Responders Deploying to Iowa

Denver, Monday, July 23, 2018 – The American Red Cross of Colorado & Wyoming is sending disaster responders to help people affected by the tornadoes that caused extensive damage in Central Iowa. Les Orser – a volunteer with the Red Cross of Western Colorado will deploy as a supervisor for the Disaster Mental Health teams. […]

Shelter for La Plata Mudslide

Photos by Roger Enix/American Red Cross UPDATE: Thursday, July 19, 2018, 9:30 AM – The American Red Cross of Colorado & Wyoming has closed the evacuation shelter in Durango that was request to support those affected by the mudslide on July 17, 2018.  The shelter. Six people stayed at the shelter Tuesday night but there were no […]

Red Cross Opens Multiple Shelters for Wildfires

Update: Friday, July 13, 2018 – All Red Cross shelters for the Colorado Fires of 2018 have been closed. The Red Cross will turn its focus to helping people recover from this disaster. With over 200 homes destroyed by wildfires support will be needed for communities and individuals. If you are in need of Red Cross […]

Closing the shelter in the Fort Garland Community Center is a good thing. 

It’s good, because it means every last disaster victim has had their housing needs addressed – Red Cross shelters only close when they are no longer needed. As the shelter winds down, Red Cross workers pack supplies into trucks and make house calls, bringing casework services and checking on people during this transitional period. Other […]

Heading Home can be Dangerous

July 11, 2018 Story by David Owens At a dusty, ash-covered crossroads on the western slope of Colorado’s Sangre de Cristo Mountains, half an hour’s drive from the nearest paved road, American Red Cross volunteers set up a supply distribution point to aid people as they return to their fire-ravaged homes. Residents only have a few hours […]

Disaster Work Can be Lonely

July 11, 2018 Story by David Owens Often, disaster relief work is hectic and crowded, but sometimes there are long, lonely, dusty periods. Volunteer Steve Harris of the Alamosa Red Cross keeps this supply distribution point open, giving shovels, sifters and other relief supplies to residents as they trickle back into their neighborhoods. As several […]

A Red Cross Reunion

Story and video by Rick Padden, American Red Cross One of the great things about being a Red Cross disaster responder is the huge circle of friends that you develop over the years. Often you can disconnect with someone and then later, often years later, meet up with that person at a disaster response operation. […]