RED CROSS HONORED BY STATE SENATE

At the January 7^th opening session of the NH State Senate, Senate President Sylvia Larsen honored the work of the NH Chapters of the American Red Cross during the response to the December ice storm. Representatives from the chapters involved in the disaster response were in the Senate Chambers during the recognition ceremony.

Larsen mentioned the long hours and dedicated work of disaster volunteers and other Red Cross personnel during the extensive power outages.

“We owe a debt of thanks to the American Red Cross for everything they did to set up and staff shelters around the state,” Larsen said.

A persistent and widespread freezing rain on December 11-12 caused more power outages than any other storm in NH history, according to utility company officials. During the two weeks just before December 25, more than 400,000 households were without power.

The American Red Cross responded quickly by setting up a major disaster relief operation to meet the shelter and food needs for those without power. Disaster volunteers and staff from NH chapters spent days and nights staffing 15 Red Cross emergency shelters; providing supplies to about 30 more community run shelters; answering 555 emergency calls; serving more than 27,000 meals and snacks to shelter residents; handing out over 400 comfort kits with personal supplies; and welcoming and comforting anxious people. Other Red Cross personnel worked behind the scenes with agencies, emergency response groups and NH businesses to coordinate the volume of food, cots, blankets, pillows and items that people needed to stay in the shelters.

Individuals and families, whose homes had no heat or electricity, came to the shelters - a total of more than 3000 overnight stays.

The disaster response operation was staffed mostly by NH chapters, but Red Cross volunteers from other chapters as far away as Texas and Alabama came to NH to support the disaster response operation.

“This kind of crisis is exactly what Red Cross disaster personnel are prepared for,” said Maria White, Acting Executive Director for the Granite Chapter of the Red Cross. “They are trained to work long hours for several days at a time to meet the shelter, food, comfort and other emergency needs of those affected by disasters.”

Chapters recognized by the Senate are Granite Chapter (Concord area to North Country), Great Bay Chapter (seacoast area); Greater Manchester Chapter; NH Gateway Chapter (Nashua, Salem and Souhegan Valley areas); and NH West Chapter (southwestern area).

All Red Cross assistance is free to disaster victims, made possible by generous financial contributions from the American public to the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. Because of many disasters nationwide this year, the Disaster Relief Fund has been hit hard.

You can make a financial gift to the Disaster Relief Fund, which enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, clothing, counseling and other assistance those in need throughout the country. The American Red Cross honors donor intent. If you wish to designate your donation to a specific disaster or chapter, please do so at the time of your donation. To make a gift, call 1-800-464-6692 or send your contribution to the Granite Chapter, American Red Cross, 2 Maitland Street, Concord, NH 03301; in the memo, add Disaster Relief Fund.

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