Local Red Cross Workers Help in Relief Operations Across the Nation

Local Red Cross Workers Help in Relief Operations Across the Nation

Tropical Storm Debby exercises her fury in Gainseville, FL. Photo contributed.

The following is a press release sent in by Paul Shipman, Chief Communication Officer, American Red Cross–

Red Cross workers from Bethel, Gales Ferry Granby, Middletown, Milford, New Hartford, New Haven, North Haven, South Windsor and West Haven are deployed for disaster relief. 

FARMINGTON, CONN., July 3, 2012 – Stephanie Johnson of Middletown and Karen Williams of Gales Ferry are deploying to Beckley, West Virginia, to support relief operations there in the wake of the devastating storm that has left millions without power from the Midwest to the mid-Atlantic. Johnson will be working in health services. Williams will be working in shelter operations. The two women join nine other local Red Crossers that have deployed over the last week to help Red Cross relief operations in Colorado and Florida.

“While many of us are making plans to barbecue, go to the beach or watch a fireworks display, these wonderful people have volunteered to leave their homes to help people forced from their homes by disaster,” said American Red Cross Connecticut and Rhode Island Region CEO Mario Bruno.

Bruno said more than 1,100 Red Cross disaster workers are spread out over 13 states, helping people forced from their homes by power outages and high temperatures in the Midwest and mid-Atlantic, wildfires in the West, and flooding from Tropical Storm Debby in Florida.

“The Red Cross is focused on providing people with a cool place to stay, meals and snacks, relief items and a shoulder to lean on,” Bruno said. He added that more than 1,300 people spent Monday night in 61 Red Cross shelters across the nation. “And people continue to seek help in many states.”

Bruno also said the disasters have disrupted blood drives in many communities. “Blood supplies often dip in the summer months and our supplies were already low, so these disruptions are especially troubling,” Bruno said. “If you are able to give, please call 1-800-RED CROSS today to make an appointment at a local drive.”

Bruno thanked the Red Cross workers helping at relief operations. “I want to thank all the people working at these Red Cross relief operations, not just our Connecticut team members. All of them have given a tremendous gift of their time, their skills and their compassion to help others.

The local Red Cross volunteers who have deployed to relief operations are:

Deployed to support flood relief operations in Gainesville, Florida in the wake of Tropical Storm Debby:

Warren Salomon – North Haven – shelter operations, Gainesville

Peter DeLeonardo – North Haven – shelter operations, Gainesville

Barbara Jettie – Milford – shelter operations, Gainesville

Lionel Dunlap – West Haven – shelter operations, Gainesville

Geraldine White – New Haven – shelter operations, Gainesville

Virginia Brezza – Granby – damage assessment, Tampa

Deployed to Loveland, Colorado to staffing services for relief operations in the Colorado Wildfires:

Alison Gain – New Hartford

Diana Rock – South Windsor

Deployed to Richmond, Virginia, to support warehouse supply operations for all relief operations:

Nelson Medina – Bethel

Deployed to Beckley, West Virginia, to support relief operations in the wake of a severe storm that has left many people without power during a dangerous heat wave:

Stephanie Johnson – Middletown – Health Services

Karen Williams – Gales Ferry – Shelter Operations

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies more than 40 percent of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or join our blog at http://blog.redcross.org. 

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