Red Cross Disaster Volunteers Respond to Four Residence Fires in One Day
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 16, 2008
Contact: Peyton Roberts, 858-309-1271 (office) or 858-205-0148 (mobile)
(San Diego County)---On average, local American Red Cross Disaster Action Team volunteers respond to a disaster every 24 hours. Today, however, that number quadrupled, as local volunteers were called to assist residents affected by four separate fires across the county.
The day’s largest response involved opening a shelter at a senior residence facility downtown for five people displaced by a fourth floor fire. One unit was burned and several others were damaged by water and smoke, preventing residents from returning immediately. The shelter will continue to serve displaced residents while the need remains.
Earlier in the day, teams of volunteers responded to an apartment fire in Normal Heights, a house fire in Lomita and an early morning house fire in Lakeside. In total, the Red Cross assisted some 12 families, providing food, clothing, shelter, replacement medications and pet supplies as needed. The Red Cross will continue to assist these families with their emergency needs in the coming days.
Red Cross Disaster Action volunteers are on call around the clock ready to assist people in our community who are affected by emergencies. On average, Red Cross volunteers respond to an emergency every 24 hours. All Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by donations of time and money. More information about becoming a Red Cross Disaster Action Team volunteer is available at www.sdarc.org or by calling 858-309-1200.
About the American Red Cross, San Diego and Imperial Counties Chapter
The American Red Cross is not a government agency and relies on the generosity of the American people to provide our programs and services. The San Diego/Imperial Counties Chapter is leading the effort to make San Diego and Imperial Counties ‘America’s most prepared communities.’ With the public’s ongoing support we provide life saving preparedness training; disaster relief services; 24-hour emergency services to deployed military personnel and their families; and nutritional counseling through our Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program. For more information about or to support the chapter please contact 858-309-1200 or visit www.sdarc.org.
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