By Ryan Lang, American Red Cross

On Saturday November 22, 2025, an explosion displaced dozens of residents at the Phoenix House senior living apartment complex in Austintown Township, Ohio.

Red Cross volunteers were on scene quickly, providing immediate needs for those residents who were left out in the cold. Within hours, our Disaster Action Team members from across the region were in Austintown Township, coordinating with first responders, local leaders, and community partners to best serve these residents.

A staging area was set up at the local senior center and the Red Cross went to work. When it was deemed safe, the Red Cross set up tents outside of the apartment complex to triage residents going into the complex to retrieve essentials such as medicine, personal belongings, and more.

Our volunteers were out in the freeing temperatures and rain for days, assisting residents with not just this process, but opening cases for these people to get much-needed financial assistance. This relief effort lasted weeks, and our volunteers and DAT team members worked tirelessly through the Thanksgiving holiday to make sure that these people, who were living through their worst nightmare, had what they needed when they needed it most. 

On February 2, 2026, in recognition of those efforts, the Austintown Township Trustees issued the American Red Cross of Northern Ohio a Letter of Commendation, highlighting the collaborative efforts of our team and our community partners.

The commendation reads, in part, “In the face of an unexpected crisis, your business exemplified the true spirit of community,” which is what the Red Cross of Northern Ohio does best. Shoutout to our region’s Community Disaster Program Specialist, Lisa Friend-Timko, who led the charge and coordinated one heck of a relief effort.