American Red Cross, Oregon Region – Winter Storm Update, January 20, 2012
2:00 PM
The American Red Cross is working around the clock to provide assistance to families and communities impacted by the recent storms and we are prepared to continue our humanitarian response and relief efforts through the weekend.
There is new concern in Hood River County, where they have been dealing with icy conditions, power outages and downed trees – we are in process for setting up a shelter in Hood River.
Waters are rising in Vernonia. Red Cross volunteers are on their way…
The Red Cross Emergency Operations Center has been active since Wednesday afternoon. We are currently assessing additional potential future needs in the affected areas for supplies and/or shelters. We will be monitoring and responding to events over the weekend.
Four (4) Red Cross shelters are open: Aumsville; Brookings; Gold Beach; and Mapleton. Red Cross is also providing support for 2 community shelters: in Allegany; and Salem.
We are drawing on supplies pre-positioned in over 50 locations across the state to conduct these sheltering and relief efforts.
Red Cross blankets have been distributed to Lincoln County schools to support preparations for the potential of sheltering in-place for students.
The Oregon Red Cross Government Liaison staff have been working at the Emergency Operations Centers (EOC) at the Oregon Office of Emergency Management in Salem, the City of Salem EOC, and the Marion County EOC.
Preparations are underway to provide distribution of clean-up kits, comfort kits and emergency food supplies as needed. Snacks and meals have been provided to shelter residents as well as mental health and medical supplies and assistance as needed.
We currently have over 100 Red Cross volunteers and staff from around the state actively responding. We have several hundred more volunteers on alert if needed.
Though we are not anticipating the need at this time, we are in communication with the Red Cross National Disaster Operations Center in Washington D.C. should assistance beyond Oregon be needed.
Current Red Cross shelters open:
Marion County:
Bethel Baptist Church – OPEN
645 Cleveland, Aumsville, OR 97325
200 person capacity – Red Cross team and Emergency Response Vehicle are at site serving residents in Aumsville, Turner, Dayton and East Marion County.
Red Cross Supported Shelter:
Northgate Community Church
3193 Silverton Rd NE
Salem, OR 97301
Lane County:
Mapleton Grange Hall – OPEN
11460 E Mapleton Rd
Mapleton, OR 97415
Coos County:
Red Cross Supported Shelter: Allegany Community Building
1036 Highway 241
Allegany, OR 97407
Curry County:
Star of the Sea Catholic Church – STANDBY
820 Old Country Road
Brookings, OR 97415
Gold Beach High School – STANDBY
29516 Ellensburg Avenue
Gold Beach, OR 97444
In addition, Red Cross volunteers have responded to disasters where families have been displaced (home fires, flooding, trees falling on homes) in Tillamook, Marion and Wasco Counties. We are providing, free of charge, assistance with lodging, food, clothing, comfort kits, and information about Health and Mental Health services.
Red Cross needs blood donations…
Severe weather in the state has disrupted blood donations. If you have an appointment to donate blood, don’t forget to come by, or if you would like to sign up to donate, go to: www.redcrossblood.org/ or call 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767) to schedule an appointment.
All American Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the American people. You can help victims of flooding in Oregon by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. This fund enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to victims of disaster.
The American Red Cross honors donor intent. If you wish to designate your donation to a specific disaster please do so at the time of your donation. To learn more visit: www.oregonredcross.org and click on donate, or call or call (503) 528-5659.
Red Cross Safe and Well…
The Oregon Red Cross encourages everyone displaced by flooding, and anyone attempting to locate friends and loved ones, to use the Red Cross Safe and Well site at: safeandwell.communityos.org/cms/index.php
News Release from: American Red Cross – Oregon Region