cisselt posted on November 23, 2010 11:22
Home Fires Spike in November
Red Cross Assistance to Exceed $50,000 in Central NC Alone
50 families and 161 People Affected so far in November 2010
RALEIGH, NC – NOVEMBER 23, 2010: American Red Cross volunteers continue to respond to home fires in November with the knowledge that their busiest season is still ahead of them. Home fires, for the Red Cross, typically increase during the winter months, and reach their peak around the Christmas holiday, but local volunteers have already responded to 46 fires in the first three weeks of November.
The Red Cross provides direct financial assistance to families in the form of funds for groceries, temporary lodging, new clothing, possibly rental assistance at a new residence, and medical needs.
Barry Porter, Regional Executive for the Red Cross explains the impact of the Red Cross on a family that has just survived a home fire, “A family smells smoke, sees flames and rushes from their home. Fire and rescue quickly come to their aid to save lives and property. But what next? The Fire Department has thought of that. They called the Red Cross to come to the scene and provide immediate financial help, guidance and counseling to devastated families. Homelessness suddenly becomes real to a family when it was least expected. Thankfully, the Red Cross can respond to their needs, because donors give generously, so we can provide help and hope.”
The story doesn’t end at the Raleigh city limits. The impact of holiday home fires is felt by families and Red Cross units throughout Central North Carolina. “If you include the greater Triangle area, the story on the lives of our neighbors is even greater. The number of families nearing the holiday Season is 46, with 50 families, 161 people, losing their homes. For the Red Cross to provide immediate help with new clothing, groceries and shelter, the cost in the last three weeks is over $50,000. That amount of assistance will likely grow as families’ long-term needs are assessed.”
The impact of the spike in home fires is also felt by staff and volunteers. “It’s devastating to see so many home fire clients, especially this time of year. When families should be celebrating together, many of them are struggling to recover from a disaster, and to make sure their family does not become one of the many homeless families in the Triangle.” says Tracie Brown, Associate Director of Disaster Services for the Red Cross. “To bear witness to that struggle during the holiday season keeps us grounded in the reality of what it means to survive an everyday disaster, such as a home fire. The Red Cross responds to more than 63,000 home fires, across the country, every year.”
Paul Seay, a volunteer on call over the holiday season, says the holiday is a time when the sound of his Red Cross pager takes on a special urgency. “My first thought when I hear my Red Cross fire pager is - this is a time when families should be enjoying their time together - but the sound of my pager means that something bad is happening to a family instead.”
Holiday fire hazards abound in all the things that we love most about the holidays, including our Christmas trees and decorations. Triangle Residents can stay safe by following a few simple steps. The Red Cross provides safety tips at TriangleRedCross.org/prepare.
Triangle Red Cross Regional Executive, Barry Porter, will be available for interviews this week, along with other staff and volunteers. You may also contact Lu Esposito, Director of Marketing and Communications, 919-235-8769 or espositol@triangleredcross.org.
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies nearly half of the nation's blood; teaches lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization — not a government agency — and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit www.triangleredcross.org or join our blog at http://blog.redcross.org.
Stay safe for the holidays at http://triangleredcross/prepare