Red Cross Responds to Flooding Across Northern VT

Cambridge and its Village of Jeffersonville may have taken a heavy hit from rising flood waters, but similar scenes played out across Northern Vermont and in many instances the Red Cross was called for assistance. With 34 families and close to 100 people forced from their homes in Cambridge and Jeffersonville yesterday, the Red Cross set out to find sheltering arrangements. Fortunately, our first call was to Smuggler's Notch Resort who generously agreed to put up 30 families. Arrangements were made for the remaining families at a nearby motel.

While shelter arrangements were squared away, there were additional client services needed to assist the displaced residents. Not the least of these services was to feed the families. Regional Mass Care Lead Steve Pernika and Mobile Kitchen Team Leader Jesse Hannon have been spearheading feeding efforts with the support of additional Disaster Action Team volunteers. Pictured above, left to right, are Jesse Hannon, Tonya Hannon, Wendy Kruger, Lori Stancliff, Erica Bornemann and Steve Pernicka.

In addition to the famlies served in Cambridge/Jeffersonville, volunteers with the Northern Vermont Chapter of the VT & the NH Valley American Red Cross have assisted flood-affected families in Essex Jct., Burlington, St. Johnsbury and Derby. The Regional Operations Center, lead by Regional Chief Response Officer Tim Stetson is keeping an eye on flooding situations in other communities, maintaining contact with local emergency providers.

Barre Town Apartment Fire Makes for Second Response of the Day

(Barre Town, Vermont – April 13, 2011) In response to a fire this morning in Barre Town, Red Cross Disaster Action Team members are providing support to displaced residents. The fire victims were residents in a 2-unit apartment building on Richardson Road.

“With more than two months left in our fiscal year, our Central VT/NH Valley Chapter disaster volunteers have already responded to 50% more calls than all of last year,” said Tim Stetson, Regional Chief Response Officer for the Vermont & the New Hampshire Valley Region of the American Red Cross. “On a day like today, when our teams respond to multiple calls, it is wonderful to see that the dedication of our volunteers is clearly up to the challenge,” Stetson added.

The disaster services volunteers responding in Barre Town are members of the Berlin Disaster Action Team (DAT). This is the second DAT from the Central VT/NH Valley Chapter called into service today. The Upper Valley Team responded earlier to a fire in Lebanon, NH. The Disaster Action Teams are volunteers who, when requested, provided client assistance for victims of disaster and can also assist first responders with rehabilitative services in the form of hydration and food. The client assistance takes the form of temporary housing and financial support for food, clothing and other emergency needs. The Disaster Action Teams respond day or night.

American Red Cross emergency assistance is provided without charge to those in need and is made possible by donations from fellow community members. To help victims of disaster, contributions can be mailed to American Red Cross, 29 Mansfield Avenue, Burlington, VT 05401-3323. Please specify Disaster Services in the memo of your check. Additionally, donations can be made on-line at www.redcrossvtnhuv.org.

Upper Valley DAT at Scene of Lebanon, NH Apartment Fire

(Lebanon, New Hampshire – April 13, 2011) At this hour, Red Cross Disaster Services personnel are on the scene of a 2-unit apartment fire in Lebanon, NH. The responding personnel are volunteers with the Central VT/NH Valley Chapter’s Upper Valley Disaster Action Team.

Rehabilitative support, in the form of hydration and food are already being provided to fire fighters and other emergency personnel. At every scene, affected individuals are interviewed to determine their immediate, emergency needs. In this instance, it is believed that there are a total of five residents, two in one unit and three in the other. The Red Cross primarily assists with emergency shelter, food, clothing, medical and disaster mental health services and supports families further by providing referrals to other community support resources.

“Our Disaster Action Teams are trained to provide the mass care and client assistance required at the scene of a fire such as the one seen today,” said Tim Stetson, Regional Chief Response Officer with the Vermont & the New Hampshire Valley Region of the American Red Cross. “While we can provide the training, it is our volunteers that bring compassion to those whose lives are turned upside down by fire, flood and other disasters,” he added.

American Red Cross emergency assistance is provided without charge to those in need and is made possible by donations from fellow community members. To help victims of disaster, contributions can be mailed to American Red Cross, 29 Mansfield Avenue, Burlington, VT 05401-3323. Please specify Disaster Services in the memo of your check. Additionally, donations can be made on-line at www.redcrossvtnhuv.org.