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Disaster Services |
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Tim Firestone, our
Director of Emergency Services, works with
a group of Disaster Action Team Members. Our
unit is responsible for nearly 185,000 residents
in Schuylkill and Eastern Northumberland County.
This includes providing emergency food, shelter,
and clothing to clients that have been affected by
disaster. |
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Chapter Profile |
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The American Red
Cross in Schuylkill & Eastern Northumberland
County is responsible for all residents in
Schuylkill & Eastern Northumberland County, with
the exception of five small communities on the
northern tip of Schuylkill County. There is
one interstate highway that runs through the
county, as well as 5 major state highways.
The leading industry in the county is textiles.
There is one Penn State University campus in the county, Penn
State Schuylkill. There are four general
service hospitals, and eleven nursing homes.
While this is a large area, county residents are
well served by 121 volunteer fire companies, 27
basic live support units, 11 advance life support
units, and 47 local police departments. |
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Background |
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Each year,
the American Red Cross responds to more than
60,000 disasters--house or apartment fires (the
majority of disasters), hurricanes, floods,
earthquakes, tornadoes, hazardous materials
spills, transportation accidents, explosions, and
other natural and man-made disasters. And the
number of disasters has increased steadily over
the past five years. Including right here in your
own community. Though not a government agency, the
American Red Cross authority to perform disaster
services was formalized when the Red Cross was
chartered by Congress in 1900 to mitigate the
suffering caused by disasters. The organization's
prompt action is clearly expected by the public.
Red Cross chapters also work in their communities
to help the public prepare for and cope with
disasters. The Red Cross provides information to
help people plan and prepare for specific types of
disasters, prevent injuries, save lives, and
reduce the loss of property. |
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Disaster Relief |
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Red Cross disaster
relief focuses on meeting the immediate emergency
needs of people affected by disaster. When a
disaster threatens or strikes, the Red Cross
provides shelter, food, and health and mental
health services to address basic human needs. In
addition to these services, the core of Red Cross
disaster relief activities is the assistance given
to individuals and families affected by disaster.
This assistance enables victims of disasters to
resume living independently by providing the means
to pay for what they need most, such as groceries,
new clothing, temporary housing, emergency home
repairs, transportation, basic household items,
medicines, and occupational tools. The Red Cross
also helps those needing long-term recovery
assistance when all other resources, such as
insurance benefits and government assistance, are
not available or are inadequate. The Red Cross
also feeds families and emergency workers, handles
inquiries from concerned family members outside
the disaster area, provides blood and blood
products to disaster victims, and helps those
affected by disaster to find other available
resources. All assistance given on an individual
basis is based on verified disaster-caused needs.
All Red Cross disaster relief is provided free of
charge as a gift from the American people. It is
made possible by generous contributions of
people's time, money, and skills. |
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Planning for Action |
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Long before
a disaster strikes, the Red Cross plans what it
will do. A disaster response plan identifies what
it will take to respond to various disasters, what
resources are needed, and how they will be
coordinated and used. As part of the planning
process, Red Cross chapters also practice by
participating in drills and exercises. Such
planning enables chapters to respond efficiently
and effectively. |
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