Volunteers Respond to Home Fires, Flood Recovery During Independence Day Weekend
Nearly 70 Northeast Ohio residents were chased from their homes by fire during the 4th of July holiday weekend, as Red Cross volunteers responded to meet their immediate needs. Financial assistance totaling more than $13,600 was offered to 45 adults and 22 children, to be used for lodging, food, clothing, and other immediate needs.
“The Red Cross volunteers who responded to these families are Holiday Heroes,” said Jeremy Bayer, Disaster Program Manager for the Greater Cleveland chapter. “They provided the initial guiding hand for these families during their darkest hour.”
In West Virginia, about 700 Red Cross volunteers, including several from Northeast Ohio worked through the weekend to help the thousands of residents affected by recent flooding. There have been nearly 2,000 overnight stays in shelters operated or supported by Red Cross volunteers. More than 13,000 meals and snacks have been served, 7,500 clean-up kits have been distributed, and tens of thousands of bulk items given to residents, many of whom have lost everything in the flooding.
June 26, 2016. Charleston, West Virginia. Floods. Mother Tianna Butler and her daughter Skyler. Randall and his wife Tianna Butler recently moved into an upstairs apartment with their two-year-old daughter named Skyler. Tianna is 8 months pregnant. “Last Thursday the rains started. It came up really fast. When we saw the hillside crumble from the water we called 911, who told us it was safer to stay in the top part of the house rather than risk moving outdoors with all the flooding going on”, says Randall. “I was getting contractions from all the stress,” says Tianna. She and Skyler were rescued on Saturday at 12:30 a.m. and brought to the Red Cross shelter at Capital High School in Charleston. Randall joined them later. “We really appreciate what the Red Cross has done,” says Randall. “I never had any encounter with the Red Cross nor do I know anyone who has dealt with them, but everything they did has been top-notch; they are really professional.” But the Butlers remain concerned about the future. The money that they put into moving and fixing up their new apartment is now gone with the floodwaters. Having so recently moved, they hadn’t yet purchased any home insurance. “I hope we get some assistance or we will be on the sidewalk somewhere,” says Randall. Photo by Daniel Cima for the American Red Cross
June 26, 2016. Charleston, West Virginia. Floods. Randal Butler with his daughter Skyler. Randall and his wife Tianna Butler recently moved into an upstairs apartment with their two-year-old daughter named Skyler. Tianna is 8 months pregnant. “Last Thursday the rains started. It came up really fast. When we saw the hillside crumble from the water we called 911, who told us it was safer to stay in the top part of the house rather than risk moving outdoors with all the flooding going on”, says Randall. “I was getting contractions from all the stress,” says Tianna. She and Skyler were rescued on Saturday at 12:30 a.m. and brought to the Red Cross shelter at Capital High School in Charleston. Randall joined them later. “We really appreciate what the Red Cross has done,” says Randall. “I never had any encounter with the Red Cross nor do I know anyone who has dealt with them, but everything they did has been top-notch; they are really professional.” But the Butlers remain concerned about the future. The money that they put into moving and fixing up their new apartment is now gone with the floodwaters. Having so recently moved, they hadn’t yet purchased any home insurance. “I hope we get some assistance or we will be on the sidewalk somewhere,” says Randall. Photo by Daniel Cima for the American Red Cross
June 26, 2016. Charleston, West Virginia. Floods. Lucille Chandler speaks with American Red Cross staff Joanna King. 90-year-old Lucille Chandlers home in Clendenin was flooded on Thursday. She and her daughter were rescued by a neighbor who had a boat. He transported them to a nearby church that was partially flooded, but where the top floor was still dry and used by local residents seeking shelter. Yesterday she was brought to the Capital High School gymnasium in Charleston which has been turned into an Red Cross shelter. I really appreciate what the Red Cross has done for me, explains Lucille, I have a problem walking and the Red Cross volunteers bring me around in a wheelchair. The next step for Lucilles Red Cross assistance will be handled by caseworkers. Photo by Daniel Cima for the American Red Cross
June 26, 2016. Charleston, West Virginia. Floods. 90-year-old Lucille Chandlers home in Clendenin was flooded on Thursday. She and her daughter were rescued by a neighbor who had a boat. He transported them to a nearby church that was partially flooded, but where the top floor was still dry and used by local residents seeking shelter. Yesterday she was brought to the Capital High School gymnasium in Charleston which has been turned into a Red Cross shelter. I really appreciate what the Red Cross has done for me, explains Lucille, I have a problem walking and the Red Cross volunteers bring me around in a wheelchair. The next step for Lucilles Red Cross assistance will be handled by caseworkers. Photo by Daniel Cima for the American Red Cross
June 26, 2016. Charleston, West Virginia. Floods. Heather Shafer and her one-year-old daughter Sarah lives with her parents in East Clendenin. Their home was flooded and they now staying at the Capital High School gymnasium in Charleston which has been turned into a Red Cross shelter. Photo by Daniel Cima for the American Red Cross
June 26, 2016. Charleston, West Virginia. Floods. Heather Shafer and her one-year-old daughter Sarah lives with her parents in East Clendenin. Their home was flooded and they now staying at the Capital High School gymnasium in Charleston which has been turned into a Red Cross shelter. Photo by Daniel Cima for the American Red Cross
June 26, 2016. Clendenin, West Virginia. Floods. Kari Thompson, a member of the Fire Breather Fitness a CrossFit group from Charleston, join other members of the fitness group who are volunteering to help clean the flooded home in Clendenin of an aunt of one of their members. The home was flooded when the nearby Elk River broke its banks on Thursday following heavy rains. In the background are the children (Evelyn, Tura and Ethan – left to right) of an another member of the fitness group who are helping out as well. Photo by Daniel Cima for the American Red Cross
June 26, 2016. Clendenin, West Virginia. Floods. American Red Cross employee Joanna King speaking with and assessing flood damage at home of Joan Parker. Parkers home in Clendenin was flooded when the nearby Elk River broke its banks on Thursday following heavy rains. She and her 97-year-old mother who live in the house were rescued by the fire department who paddled up to the front door. Her sister Tammy Parker (yellow shirt) and a friend of the family, are helping them with the cleanup. Looking at the pile of mud-soaked belongings piled in front of her home, Joan reflects, its just stuff; whats important is that we didnt lose anybody we know. Photo by Daniel Cima for the American Red Cross
June 29, 2016. Charleston, West Virginia. Red Cross employee Mary Williams with 18-month-old Liam Parker who, along with his mother and father, is a flood victim from Clendenin, West Virginia. He and his family are staying at Capital High School gymnasium in Charleston, which has been turned into a Red Cross shelter. Photo by Daniel Cima for the American Red Cross
June 29, 2016. Charleston, West Virginia. Red Cross employee Mary Williams with one-year-old Sarah Shafer who, along with his mother and grandparents, is a flood victim from Clendenin, West Virginia. She and her family are staying at Capital High School gymnasium in Charleston, which has been turned into a Red Cross shelter. Photo by Daniel Cima for the American Red Cross
June 29, 2016. Clay, West Virginia. Red Cross volunteer Marie Loyons serves food to Loretta King and her eight-year-old daughter Byany King with Red Cross employee Mary Williams in the background. The Red Cross Emergency Response Vehicle is at Clay High School at a community relief distribution point to assist flood victims from Clay, West Virginia. The vehicle contains 300 hot meals of chicken dumplings and mixed vegetables, along with pudding or a cookie for desert. Photo by Daniel Cima for the American Red Cross
June 29, 2016. Clay, West Virginia. Red Cross employee Mary Williams helps flood victims Loretta King and her eight-year-old daughter Byany King carry their food to their vehicle. They were served a hot meals by an Red Cross Emergency Response Vehicle at Clay High School at a community relief distribution point to assist flood victims from Clay, West Virginia. The vehicle contains 300 hot meals of chicken dumplings and mixed vegetables, along with pudding or a cookie for desert. Photo by Daniel Cima for the American Red Cross
June 30, 2016. Birch River, West Virginia. Red Cross workers, Bernard Stuart and Kevin Beale, hand hot meals out to Cassandra Martin and Felicity Jarvis in Birch River, West Virginia. Photo by Marko Kokic for the American Red Cross
June 30, 2016. Birch River, West Virginia. American Red Cross worker Bernard Stuart hands Ashley Harlow a container of pulled pork in Birch River, West Virginia. The emergency response vehicle traveled through neighborhoods, delivering nearly 150 hot meals to the community. Photo by Marko Kokic for the American Red Cross
June 30, 2016. Birch River, West Virginia. American Red Cross worker Kevin Beale delivers containers of pulled pork to a Birch River, West Virginia, resident. The emergency response vehicle traveled through neighborhoods, delivering nearly 150 hot meals to the community. Photo by Marko Kokic for the American Red Cross
June 30, 2016. Richwood, West Virginia. Robin Cowell and American Red Cross worker, Mary Williams, survey the damage to her Richwood, West Virginia, home. “When I lay in bed at night I think that all these people care. They came. All these volunteers came,” said Cowell. Photo by Marko Kokic for the American Red Cross
The road to recovery for West Virginians affected by the flooding will be long. Many face daunting challenges. The Red Cross will be with them to help those staying in shelters transition to longer term housing. And we need your help.
Log onto redcross.org, or call 1-800-RED CROSS to make a donation to disaster relief. Or text REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Your donation will help people recover from disasters big and small: big, like the West Virginia flooding, and small, like the individual home fires that affected so many families in Northeast Ohio this weekend.
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