(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.
