Costs Continue to Grow as Red Cross Services Continue to
Meet the Needs of the Communities
(Flood Response)
(Fact Sheet -
pdf)
After the tornado struck northeast Iowa,
the American Red Cross immediately deployed feeding
vehicles, supplies and volunteers into the
storm-stricken area. Hundreds of homes and businesses
sustained major damage, and the American Red Cross
responded immediately. Donations received by the Red
Cross have enabled the community to be served in the
following ways:
Food and Shelter: Shelters were opened
immediately, meals, drinks and snacks flowed out of
feeding locations and Red Cross volunteers held hands
and listened to tragic stories following the storm. Even
after providing over 42,000 meals, the Red Cross in
partnership with the Southern Baptists, continue to feed
hundreds each day.
Searching and Saving Personal Treasures: Eager
to sift through their ravaged homes, residents flooded
back to what was left to begin to clean up. To keep
them safe and assist them in that process, over 26,000
bulk items have been distributed. Dust masks, safety
glasses, work gloves, shovels and trash bags have helped
families recover precious items found on their
properties. One of the most sought after items being
provided by the Red Cross has been large, plastic totes
to hold those treasures.
Critical Counseling:
The people of Parkersburg, New Hartford,
Dunkerton and others have experienced an extremely
traumatic event. They’ve seen, heard and been
personally affected by injuries, the loss of friends and
family and the realization that some personal items of
great sentimental value will never be seen again. The
Red Cross has met with over 1,500 people at the Red
Cross service center or through mobile outreach to help
them cope. The Red
Cross listens to people’s feelings, helps them cope with
what they’ve been through and eventually helps them plan
for their recovery. Those who wish to access this
service are encouraged to come to the Service Center at
St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, 304 Second Street in
Parkersburg or call 1-866-GET-INFO if they need someone
to come to them.
Financial Assistance
for Emergency Needs – Casework:
Once
the basic needs of food and shelter are met, families
may also recognize the needs for other necessities such
as clothing, shoes, medicines, eye glasses, etc. Once
someone arrives at the Service Center at St. Patrick’s
Catholic Church, 304 Second Street, they will be
connected with a trained Red Cross volunteer who will
help determine their need for emergency assistance. Red
Cross financial assistance is standardized based on
number of family members and the urgent need for basic
items including food, clothing, medication, or other
essentials. Red Cross financial assistance is not
intended to replace or supplement insurance and is not
based on the dollar amount of loss. This assistance is
intended to meet emergency needs until insurance and
resources such as FEMA are available. If financial
support from the Red Cross is not appropriate in a
certain case, the Red Cross will work to connect the
family with other resources that can help in the
recovery plan.
Long
Term Recovery Services: This disaster is larger than
any one organization can support and the recovery will
take months or years. As an extension of our casework
process noted above, Red Cross disaster relief efforts
include long-term
recovery assistance when other resources are not
available or are inadequate. If your family is not
eligible for government assistance or if that assistance
is inadequate to meet your needs, Red Cross may be able
to provide further assistance or refer you to other
agencies which can assist with your needs. The Red Cross
role in long term recovery services also includes
working with specialized, experienced partners through
our participation in Volunteer Organizations Active in
Disasters (VOAD), a group of organizations who work
together to support communities following this type of
tragedy.
Red Cross Volunteers
Helping Northeast Iowa:
Beyond the financial
and material resources necessary to put a town back
together again, it takes a lot of human resources. In
the Iowa Tornado disaster relief effort, over two-thirds
of the hundreds of Red Cross volunteers responding to
this disaster are local volunteers from eastern Iowa and
across the state. This is truly neighbors helping
neighbors. These volunteers must also be supported
while they give generously of their time and talents to
help others. To this end, the necessary feeding,
sheltering and transportation of Red Cross volunteers is
supported by the donations received for each disaster
effort.
Those
sending their donations to the American Red Cross can be
proud that they are supporting a trustworthy,
organization that cares for people when their lives are
torn apart. They can feel assured that their donations
will be used as they requested. And they can trust in
the American Red Cross to be there next time too,
anywhere disaster strikes with the same compassionate,
efficient and thorough care and support that the people
of Northeast Iowa are experiencing now.
STORIES FROM THE FIELD:
RED CROSS HELP COMES "IN
EVERY WAY, SHAPE, AND FORM"-click here
RESTING IN THE RED
CROSS KITCHEN-click here
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