Workers are travelling to the East Coast now to prepare for the potential impact of
Hurricane Florence next week
Colorado Springs, CO, Tuesday, September 11, 2018, 12:00 P.M. – Thirty-two members of the Colorado & Wyoming Red Cross will be sent to the states of North and South Carolina and Virginia as part of a massive relief effort being staged in anticipation of Hurricane Florence which is expected to make landfall Thursday night or Friday morning. They will join hundreds of other Red Cross volunteers from across the nation who are preparing to bring comfort to those affected by the storm. Volunteers will serve in shelters, distribute snacks, meals, drinks and water from Emergency Response Vehicles, provide mental health support, and manage the logistics and operations of this massive deployment.
Florence could produce life-threatening, catastrophic flash flooding & significant river flooding over portions of the Carolinas and Mid-Atlantic states from late this week into early next week. States of emergency have been declared in all 3 states, as well as Maryland and Washington D.C as the dangerous storm makes its way toward the coast. Evacuations are widespread. Check with local authorities for information on mandatory and voluntary evacuations.
The following people are preparing to or have already deployed as the storm strengthens.
Tracy Porter of the Denver area, Sylvia Raumaker and Monte Haas of Wyoming will serve as shelter supervisors. Anthony Bender, Barbara Martinez and Roderick Ortiz of Southeastern Colorado will serve as shelter workers. Lesie Orser will provide mental health support.
Emergency Response Vehicle drivers will include Susan Wiseman, Kathryn Addrisi and Andrew Aerenson of Western Colorado, John Walsh, Darlene Moore and Carol Ridell of Northern Colorado, and Diana Dalager, William Schmidt, Allison Crutchfield and Gail Beek of the Denver area
Jaici Murcia of Denver – Operations Director
Gehrig Haberstock of Wyoming – Operations Supervisor
Doran Keller of Denver area – Logistics Manager
Bill Fortune of Pueblo West – Public Affairs
Catherine Levanthal of Denver area – Public Affairs
Patricia Chappell of Southeastern Colorado – Government Operations Supervisor
Shelby Hinze of Northern Colorado – Staff Services Supervisor
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO
Build an emergency kit with a gallon of water per person, per day (recommended 3 days), non-perishable food, a flashlight, battery-powered radio, first aid kit, medications, supplies for an infant if applicable, a multi-purpose tool, personal hygiene items, copies of important papers, cell phone chargers, extra cash, blankets, maps of the area and emergency contact information. Many of these items are available through the Red Cross Store at redcrossstore.org.
Talk with household members and create an evacuation plan. Practicing the plan minimizes confusion and fear during the event.
Have a communication plan. Identify someone outside the impacted area to call to check-in or leave messages.
Be informed. Listen to your local weather channel or follow NOAA weather reports. Learn about the community’s hurricane response plan. Plan routes to local shelters, register family members with special medical needs as required and make plans for pets.
Download the free Red Cross Emergency App to set severe weather and emergency alerts on a mobile device. The content includes expert guidance on what to do before, during and after different emergencies or disasters from home fires to hurricanes. The app can be found in smartphone app stores by searching for American Red Cross, texting ‘EMERGENCY’ to 90999, or by going to redcross.org/apps.
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.