By Elizabeth Fligor
American Red Cross
Parkersburg, WV 26101
After days of severe storms, rapidly rising flood waters drove residents of Southern West Virginia from their homes. Forced to evacuate with the little they could carry, many turned to the American Red Cross for safety and relief.
The Mid-Ohio Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross has deployed 11 of our disaster volunteers to serve those affected by the flooding.
Jim Blair and John Kyle were the first from this chapter to respond taking an Emergency Response Vehicle to Logan County on Tuesday, June 15th. Their main function will be to feed those affected by the disaster from the Emergency Response Vehicle.
Since then 6 more volunteers have been deployed for various functions. Susan Hilliard and Lloyd Wright are providing Disaster Assessment, determining the emergency needs of those affected by the disaster led by volunteer manager Frank Dotson.
Another volunteer manager, Joanna McFarland, is leading client casework along with Naomi Evans and Ron Daugherty who recently deployed on Friday, June 25th. To ensure our relief services are being received by all those affected, as well as to better assess individual needs, Red Cross caseworkers are going door to door in neighborhoods reeling from these floods.
Jean Brothers and Ken Holbert took a second Emergency Response Vehicle, loaded with 100 clean-up-kits, to Logan County last week. As the need is still great Linda Bloomfield was also deployed this week to join the team in Logan County helping to feed those affected by the flood waters.
The Red Cross was one of the first on the scene to provide shelter, meals and other emergency assistance. In the shelters, friends and neighbors reminisce; children play while their parents plan their next steps; while others find comfort and hope in the kind words from Red Cross disaster workers. As evacuees are able to return home, the Red Cross is circulating through affected neighborhoods in emergency response vehicles to provide clean-up kits, meals and snacks as well as physical and mental health care.
In collaboration with our partners, the Red Cross can replace lost or destroyed necessities such as medications or eyeglasses. Clients can also receive comfort kits containing toiletries and other hygienic supplies. Residents are provided with these items and others such as the bleach, mops and gloves needed to repair their homes.
Floods are among the most frequent and costly natural disasters in terms of human hardship and economic loss. Most communities in the United States experience some kind of flooding. The American Red Cross, with the help of our dedicated volunteers, can ensure each and every person receives the help they need to cope with the devastating aftermath of this flood.
Help people affected by disasters like floods by donating to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. Your gift enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to those affected by all disasters. Please make a donation to your local Red Cross by visiting www.mov.redcross.org or calling 304-485-7311. Contributions to the Disaster Relief Fund may also be sent to your local American Red Cross Chapter at 220 8th Street Parkersburg, WV 26101.
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