American Red Cross anticipates spending in excess of $15 million for recent disasters

June 20, 2008 — More than a dozen American Red Cross workers from the Greater Los Angeles chapter have joined the 2,200 Red Cross workers from all across the nation in providing disaster relief to people in the Midwest hit hard by a series of tornadoes and severe flooding. The Los Angeles staff and volunteers are working in various capacities at Red Cross shelters and in the field in Iowa, Wisconsin and Missouri for a period of two to three weeks.

Thousands of people are in Red Cross emergency shelters and more than 190,000 meals and snacks have been served. The Red Cross is also supplying vast amounts of clean-up supplies

The following Los Angeles Emergency and Disaster Response volunteers and staff members are assisting in Iowa helping disaster victims: Robert Buhrow and Myrna Specktor– Disaster Mental Health; Christina Jurado, and Jerome Thierry— Mass Care Sheltering; Kelly Mulock, Staff Support; Nancy Carrillo, Public Information Officer; and Marjie Iacovetti, Client Casework; Lisa Dungan, Client Casework; Dick Thorpe, Mass Care Feeding and Red Godfrey.

In addition, Jennifer Bailey and Corey Eide are working at Red Cross operations in Wisconsin and Michael Kleiner, Emergency and Disaster Response Director, is in Missouri. The Red Cross is also providing disaster assistance in Nebraska, Indiana, West Virginia and Kansas.

The American Red Cross anticipates spending at least $15 million as it moves forward with relief efforts. Many companies and individuals have stepped in to help, including Wells Fargo, which is donating $100,000 to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund to help with recovery efforts in Iowa and Wisconsin.
In order to quickly respond to anyone with disaster-caused needs, the Red Cross must have money available immediately. This emergency resource is provided by the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. To learn how to help, please visit www.redcross.org. 

The American Red Cross of Greater Los Angeles is dedicated to helping make families and communities safer. A volunteer-led humanitarian service organization, the American Red Cross of Greater Los Angeles responds to an average of 10 disasters a week in 36 cities, including Los Angeles. The Red Cross provides relief for victims of house and apartment fires, earthquakes, floods, hazardous material spills, transportation accidents, explosions, and other natural or man-made disasters – 24 hours a day. Last year the American Red Cross of Greater Los Angeles trained nearly 120,000 people in vital life-saving skills while providing direct health services to more than 100,000 people. Everyday, local Red Cross volunteers strive to make Los Angeles a safer and stronger community for all.

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Photo: Red Cross worker Nancy Carrillo from the Greater Los Angeles chapter assists sandbagging efforts in Cedar Falls, Iowa. (photo by Marty Robey)