Red Cross Responds in Joplin, Missouri

"We don't just have wounded bodies, we have wounded spirits."
-- Nurse and Red Cross volunteer Christine Stockwell, on the ground in Joplin, MO.

Have A Safe And Happy Memorial Day!

Memorial Day weekend is the first long weekend in the summer months. It’s the beginning of grilling season; pools will be opening and the Indy 500.

This also means there will be many people on the road traveling so to make the weekend a smooth transition into summer, we are going to highlight a few safety measures to help you get on the road and enjoy this long weekend.

• Don’t let your vehicle’s gas tank get too low. Keep an eye on the gas gauge and stop to fill up when you see it dip to about a quarter of a tank. No one wants to be stranded on the side of the highway without gas in an area that you are unfamiliar with.
• Closely supervise children when they are near or in a body of water. Try to avoid distractions and make sure you are aware of where the safety equipment is.
• When grilling up burgers and brats try to keep the grill in an open area and out from under an over hang or away from the house. Make sure you’re keeping an eye on the grill from little hands and pets that wander too close to the hot grill.
• Also remember to drink responsibly if you are of age. Designate a sober driver before activities commence. If you are the host, make sure to provide non-alcoholic beverages to accommodate those who are the designated drivers.

Memorial Day weekend is a wonderful time to take out the boat, jump in the pool or grill up those juicy steaks you’ve been savoring over the past week. Remember to have a fun and safe Memorial Day weekend.

This Memorial Day, Say Thank You...

This Memorial Day, I hope you’ll join us in honoring and remembering the sacrifices of our men and women in the armed forces.

More than 130 years ago, the first mission of the American Red Cross was to serve military members and their families and it still remains a core part of what we do today – a mission I’m particularly proud of.

Many military members not only sacrifice for us during their careers, but also afterwards. Right now during our Midwest tornado and flood relief operations, military retirees are among the thousands of Red Cross volunteers there, helping restore a sense of normalcy and provide relief and comfort. 

Today our Service to the Armed Forces programs provide valuable support with items like comfort kits for wounded warriors, and our core service of delivering emergency messages to service members far from home – from birth announcements to equally vital news of sickness or death of loved ones.

This Memorial Day, you can help us provide these valuable services – and say thank you to our servicemen and women – by making donation to the American Red Cross:

What Would You Take With You?

If your house was burning, what would you take with you?

It's a question we've all thought about. And perhaps Red Crossers think about it more than most since we respond to house fires nearly every day.

But this intriguing blog asks you to answer that question artfully - with a picture of your most treasured possessions.

I'm fascinated by the mix of practical and sentimental items - an album, a cat, a toothbrush, a coat...

Of course, the sad reality is that if you actually do experience a house fire (or any other disaster) you probably won't get to save everything on that list. And that's why the Red Cross is there to help - offering food, shelter, basic necessities like toothbrushes and combs, and emotional support.

Speaking of losing everything you have, it's hard to think about anything today but the tornadoes in Joplin and throughout the country. We've got fellow Red Crossers on the ground doing everything they can to help. If you want to keep up with the response, stay tuned to the disaster online newsroom.

List Yourself As Safe And Well...

Don’t think a tornado can reach California? It may not,  but its effects can be felt by family right here in the Central Valley.

While we think that the devastating events that have take place in Joplin, Missouri which is well over 1400 miles from us, wouldn’t have a local affect on us, one of our own Red Cross volunteers was. Robin Nickels, Disaster Services Volunteer, has in-laws living in that very city.  Three years ago, they lost their home to a tornado, and were still recovering from the effects felt during that storm, only to completely lose everything again last night.  Luckily, they were able to reach family in Fresno, to let them know they had survived and were relatively safe under the circumstances.

Another Red Cross staff member has family in the affected area as well that raced to their basement when a secondary tornado touched down right outside Joplin.  They too, were scared and grateful for a place to be during the destruction, and were able to let family know in Sanger that they were okay.

But are you wondering how you would get ahold of family if this happened where your loved ones lived? 

After a disaster, letting your family and friends know that you are safe and well can bring your loved ones great peace of mind. American Red Cross has an up to date system.  It is continually manned at Red Cross shelters at disaster locations.

This website at www.redcross.org with its Safe and Well link is designed to help make that communication easier.

To Register Yourself as “Safe and Well”Click on the “List Myself as Safe and Well” button to register yourself on the site.

Search for Loved OnesConcerned family and friends can search the list of those who have registered themselves as “safe and well” by clicking on the “Search Registrants” button. The results of a successful search will display a loved one’s first name, last name and a brief message.

-April Henry, Regional Health & Safety Administrator

Missouri Officials Say Tornado Killed At Least 89.

JOPLIN, Mo. – A massive tornado that tore a 6-mile path across southwestern Missouri killed at least 89 people as it slammed into the city of Joplin, ripping into a hospital, crushing cars like soda cans and leaving a forest of splintered tree trunks behind where entire neighborhoods once stood.

Authorities warned that the death toll could climb as search and rescue workers continued their efforts. Their task was made more miserable as a new thunderstorm with strong winds, heavy rain pelted part of the city with quarter-sized hail.

City manager Mark Rohr announced the number of known dead at a pre-dawn news conference outside the wreckage of a hospital that took a direct hit from Sunday's storm. Rohr said the twister cut a path nearly 6 miles long and more than a half-mile wide through the center of town. Much of the city's south side was leveled, with churches, schools, businesses and homes reduced to ruins.

Jasper County emergency management director Keith Stammer said about 2,000 buildings were damaged, while Joplin fire chief Mitch Randles estimated the damage covered a quarter or more of the city of about 50,000 people some 160 miles south of Kansas City. He said his home was among those destroyed.

An unknown number of people were injured, and officials said patients were scattered to any nearby hospitals that could take them.

Read More...

To make a donation to the American Red Cross please visit redcross.org and assist us as we continue to provide relief to those affected by these devastating spring storms.

12 Places To Go If The World Goes To Heck!

Anyone who travels up and down the 99 corridor in the Valley has probably seen those signs that claim "Judgement Day" is this Saturday, May 21st. I personally, don't believe that this weekend will be the end of the world, but if it is, I am going to be very angry that I finally paid that parking ticket I received three months ago.  However, should the world choose to spite me this weekend and chaos strikes, have hope! Business Insider has created a list of the places to go should the world go to "heck."

Some of these places include...

Guam

Denver

Bern

Capetown

Kansas City

Rio de Janeiro

To check out the full list and explanations click here!

Should this be the end, which again, I am confident it isn't, rest assured that throughout the destruction the American Red Cross will be there providing aid and relief to those in need. So make a donation today, or volunteer at your local Red Cross Chapter and join in on all the action!