 Red Cross Continues to Provide Emergency Support in Winfield
Shelter remains open; hundreds more local Red Cross workers are on stand-by
while recent rains prolong high crest levels in Mississippi and add costs to disaster relief effort
St. Louis, Wednesday, June 25, 2008 – According to the White House press office, President George Bush today declared that a major disaster exists in the State of Missouri and ordered federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area. Meanwhile, the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter continues to operate and maintain the shelter at Winfield High School in Lincoln County. The Winfield shelter will remain open 24/7 for as long as needed. While dozens of Red Cross workers are already on the job, hundreds are on stand-by to support any and all additional relief efforts. Anyone needing Red Cross assistance can call 314.516.2700.
- SHELTER OPEN – Winfield High School – 3920 East Highway 47 – Winfield, MO
“We’re watching the Pin Oak Levee in Winfield like a hawk,” said Brad Farber, St. Charles County Service Center Supervisor of the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter. “The Army Corps of Engineers and the Army National Guard are doing all they can to help stabilize the levee and prevent further sliding of the soil. This levee is the last bastion of protection for Winfield’s downtown business district and nearly 100 residential homes.”
In addition to providing shelter services in Winfield, the Red Cross has served nearly 5,000 meals and snacks to the evacuees, emergency responders and sandbagging volunteers. Dozens of semi-trucks have been loaded full of emergency supplies and equipment from the national warehouse in St. Louis and shipped out to destinations in the following states: Wisconsin; Iowa; Indiana; Illinois; and the northeast region of Missouri.
Teams of trained Red Cross caseworkers are now meeting with individuals and families affected by the severe flooding to assess damages to their homes and personal belongings. These interviews help determine the extent of need, and the amount and type of assistance the Red Cross can provide for them.
The Midwest floods follow several extremely busy months for the Red Cross, with more than 34 larger disaster operations since April. The original cost of these disasters was projected to be $15 million but new estimates indicates that current relief operations will cost closer to $25 million. The Red Cross does not have enough money in its Disaster Relief Fund to cover the costs of this relief effort; major fund-raising over the past week has collected about $10 million, less than half of the funding needed. The Red Cross relies on the Disaster Relief Fund to deliver vast amounts of clean up supplies, dozens of shelters and tens of thousands of meals to flood victims along the Mississippi as well as to other disaster victims across the country. Even with the Disaster Relief Fund significantly depleted, the Red Cross will not cut back on the level of services it provides to clients. Red Cross is asking the St. Louis area community to help by making a donation to the Red Cross.
How You Can Help:
You can help the victims of thousands of disasters across the country each year, disasters like the massive Midwest floods and tornadoes, by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, which enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to victims of disaster. The American Red Cross honors donor intent. To make a contribution in support of disaster relief for this and future events, please call 1.800.RED.CROSS or donate on-line at www.redcrossstl.org.
About Red Cross Emergency Services:
The American Red Cross provides immediate assistance with food, clothing, shelter and other needs in the wake of disasters and emergencies. The Red Cross is able to respond 24 hours a day, seven days a week and provide a vast array of programs and services throughout the region due to the dedication of thousands of volunteers that give freely of their time.
About the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter:
Founded in 1917, the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter celebrates 91 years of dedicated service, providing emergency relief and preparedness training more than 446,600 times each year. The Red Cross is a charity, not a government agency, and depends on the efforts of thousands of volunteers and donors to provide a wide range of community support services, including disaster relief, first aid and CPR training, water safety, services to military personnel and support for blood services. The Chapter, a United Way agency, provides programs and services to St. Louis City, St. Louis County, St. Charles County and Jefferson County in Missouri, as well as Monroe, St. Clair (including Scott Air Force Base) and part of Madison County in Illinois. All disaster relief services are provided free of charge thanks to the generosity of the American people. To learn more about Red Cross programs, volunteer opportunities, and how you can help, contact the St. Louis Area Chapter at 314.516.2800 or www.redcrossstl.org. |