Akron Fire Department personnel joined Red Cross volunteers and staff on Wednesday, November 4th to install more than 150 free smoke alarms in nearly 60 homes in North Akron.
The Akron Fire Safety Walk was similar to efforts recently undertaken in Barberton, Canton and Madison Township. The neighborhood was pre-canvassed, meaning residents were notified in advance that they’d have the opportunity to have qualified personnel perform a fire safety inspection in their homes, and where necessary, have smoke alarms installed free of charge.
“We installed 156 alarms in the North Akron area with help from the Akron Fire Department,” said Rachel D’Attoma, Executive Director of the American Red Cross Summit, Portage and Medina Counties Chapter. “In addition, many of our board members and corporate partners were on site to help as well. Making this whole neighborhood safer was a true community effort.”
Regional Disaster Officer Tim O’Toole Installs Smoke alarm
Regional Disaster Officer Tim O’Toole, Chapter Executive Director Rachel D’Attoma, and Disaster Program Manager Debbie Chitester
Fire Safety Walk Volunteers
Preparing to Go Door-To-Door
Photo Credit: Gwen Bochman/American Red Cross Volunteer
Volunteers who donated their time and expertise included representatives from Bober, Markey, Fedorovich, FedEx, Dominion, Ruhlin and BDO, in addition to personnel from the police departments of the city of Akron and the University of Akron.
We call the effort to install smoke alarms in areas most vulnerable to home fires Operation Save-A-Life. The goal is to reduce the number of fatalities from home fires nationwide by 25% over a five year period.
Another Fire Safety Walk is planned next Tuesday, November 10th in Cuyahoga Falls. But residents of Summit County don’t have to wait until their neighborhood is targeted for an Operation Save-A-Life event. They can call the Smoke Alarm Hotline at 330-535-2030 to schedule an appointment for a for a free fire safety inspection and free smoke alarms where needed.
Discarded Smoke Alarms Photo credit: Jim McIntyre/American Red Cross
On a weekend when fire officials joined the Red Cross in urging residents to test their smoke alarms, more than a dozen home fires in the Northeast Ohio Region affected more than 50 residents who received Red Cross assistance.
There were no injuries reported.
“Our teams were incredibly busy assisting families throughout the entire region,” said Renee Palagyi, Senior Program Manager for Disaster Services. The Red Cross assisted residents affected by home fires that occurred in eight counties from Friday, October 30 through early Monday morning, November 2, 2015. Among them was a fire in East Cleveland that displaced a family of 12, and a duplex fire in Elyria that chased two families from their homes on Sunday afternoon.
The Red Cross provided financial assistance totaling almost $11,000 to the affected residents. The money is meant to provide lodging, food, clothing, and to meet any other needs that arise as a result of the fires.”We give our clients a start on their road to recovery,” Renee said. “They are free to spend the money in whatever ways necessary for them to get back on their feet.”
The generosity of donors to the American Red Cross makes such financial assistance possible. Donors can help families recover from disasters, both big and small, by logging onto the Red Cross website, or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS. A donation of $10 can be made by texting the words “RED CROSS” to 90999. Red Cross Disaster Relief helps people affected by disasters such as hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, wildfires and tornadoes, as well as home fires.
The American Red Cross has been working hard to help families protect themselves from home fires through Operation Save-A-Life. Residents can request a free home inspection, and will receive free smoke alarms if they are needed. Volunteers install the alarms, and offer helpful fire prevention information.
Residents of Cleveland can call the 24-hour Operation Save-A-Life hotline at 216-361-5535. Summit County residents can call 330-535-2030. Residents throughout Northeast Ohio can get information by logging onto the local Red Cross website.
Red Cross Volunteers and Barberton Firefighters Prepare Free Smoke Alarm Installations on October 27, 2015
The effort to reduce fatalities from home fires continues in Northeast Ohio, as Red Cross volunteers and members of the Barberton Fire Department teamed up on October 27th, going door to door to install smoke alarms in homes where they were needed.
Residents received not only free smoke alarms, but also fire safety information. The Barberton Fire Safety Walk took place on a particularly busy day for Red Cross disaster workers and volunteers, who responded to seven home fires in Summit, Stark Cuyahoga, Jefferson and Wayne Counties.The fires chased a total of 18 people from their homes, including 4 children and an adult in Canton, and three children and an adult in Shreve.
The residents of these home fires received assistance from the Red Cross valued at more than $2,600. Typical financial assistance for home fire victims includes money for emergency lodging, food and clothing. Since July 1st, the Red Cross has given nearly $200,000 to residents affected by home fires.
The Red Cross Home Fire Prevention Campaign is meant to reduce the number of fatalities from home fires by 25% over a five year period. Upcoming Fire Safety Walks are planned in North Akron on November 4, and Cuyahoga Falls November 10. Firefighters from both communities will join Red Cross volunteers to install free smoke alarms and provide fire safety information in targeted neighborhoods.
Anyone in Summit County can request a free inspection of smoke alarms in their homes. If the alarms are not in working order, or if they are more than 10 years old, they will be replaced. Residents of Summit County can call the Smoke Alarm Hotline at 330-535-2030.
In Cleveland, residents can call the Operation Save-A-Life hotline 24 hours a day at 216-361-5535 to request a free fire safety inspection and smoke alarms for their homes. More information is available for all residents of Northeast Ohio here.
The firefighting abilities of the 910th Airlift Wing Fire Department were on full display at the Youngstown Air Reserve Station on Thursday, October 22, 2015, as were the services provided by the American Red Cross during times of disaster.
Video credit: Cal Pusateri/American Red Cross Volunteer
The second annual “Feel the Heat” exercise involved a simulated airplane crash, to demonstrate the response of firefighters and Red Cross staff and volunteers. The drill also showcased how the Red Cross cooperates with the military to respond to the needs of family members and others.
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Photo credit/Jim McIntyre, American Red Cross
As flames shot from the hull of the simulated wreckage, members of the 910th Civil Engineer Fire Department raced to the scene, fought the fire and searched for “survivors.” It is those survivors and their loved ones who the Red Cross serves in the event of an aviation disaster. The American Red Cross is responsible for tracking victims and their families, and providing them with counselling and support. Staff members and volunteers would be activated to set-up necessary shelters, coordinate family and childcare facilities, arrange suitable non-denominational services, and make referrals to mental health professionals and support groups.
The American Red Cross responds to more than 70,000 disasters every year, big and small. Most are home fires. Victims are given emergency financial assistance, food, shelter, clothing and assistance with medicines, eyeglasses, even dentures they may have lost in a disaster.
It takes the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors to help the victims of disasters. You can learn more about volunteering, and make a donation at redcross.org, or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS. You can also text the words “Red Cross” to 90999 to make a $10.00 donation.
The American Red Cross also serves members of the military and their families through the Service to Armed Forces program. Learn more about the ways in which the Red Cross is committed to helping the U. S. Military here.
Fifth Graders Learn About Preparing and Coping With Potential Emergencies
Students at Wilcox Elementary school in North Ridgeville are now better prepared for potential disasters, thanks to American Red Cross volunteer Alice Martinez and The Pillowcase Project.
Alice teaches students in grades 3, 4 and 5 about hazards they may encounter in Northeast Ohio, and how to prepare for and cope with emergencies. As part of the class, students are given sturdy pillowcases, provided by Disney, which they decorate and take home. The students are instructed to fill those pillowcases with supplies they may need to take with them should they be forced to leave their homes in a hurry.
The Pillowcase Project was inspired by college students in New Orleans in 2005. As hurricane Katrina approached, many students were seen leaving their dorms with pillowcases slung over their shoulders. They were carrying whatever they could fit into those pillowcases.
The instructions are tailored for the region where they are taught. With winter weather approaching, the children at Wilcox elementary were reminded of the potential dangers posed by extreme winter weather conditions, as well as tornadoes, flooding and home fires.
On Monday, October 19, a news crew from WKYC Channel 3 recorded The Pillowcase Project Presentation in the fifth grade classroom of Mrs. Pam Ventimiglia. Senior Health Correspondent Monica Robins interviewed some of the student about what they learned, and a videographer recorded them decorating their pillowcases. You can see Monica’s report here.
Students surround WKYC Senior Health Correspondent Monica Robins
Fifth grade teacher Pam Ventimiglia and Red Cross volunteer Alice Martinez
Students take the pledge to be prepared
Mrs. Martinez teaches students about the dangers of frostbite
Students review information in booklets they are given to keep
Students engage with Mrs. Martinez
Red Cross volunteer Alice Martinez
Preparing for The Pillowcase Project
Monica Robins sharing the story on social media
Mrs. Ventimiglia prepares her students for The Pillowcase Project
Monica Robins signs autographs
Photo credit: Jim McIntyre/American Red Cross
The program is part of the Red Cross Home Fire Preparedness Campaign. It began in Cleveland as Operation Save-A-Life in 1992, following a spate of deadly home fires. The goal of the national campaign is to reduce the number of deaths caused by home fires by 25% over a five-year period.
The Red Cross has also designed youth app, called Monster Guard: Prepare for Emergencies, based on The Pillowcase Project and was also sponsored by Disney as part of this program.
More than 100 Homes Now Outfitted with New Smoke Alarms
The American Red Cross effort to reduce the number of deaths from home fires continues in Northeast Ohio and across the country.
Locally, 316 smoke alarms were installed in a total of 102 homes on Saturday, October 17, as the result of Fire Safety Walks in Lorain and Sandusky. Dedicated Red Cross staff members and volunteers were assisted by several partners, walking door-to-door installing the free alarms and offering residents vital fire safety information.
“We are trying to prevent home fires and provide fire safety tips,” said lead Red Cross volunteer Lora Taylor. “Our goal is to install 200 smoke alarms today, with the help of the Ohio Army National Guard.”
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Photo credit: Jim McIntyre/American Red Cross
That goal was surpassed, thanks largely to the efforts of a dozen volunteers from the 837th Combat Engineers at the Lorain Readiness Center. They were teamed with Red Cross staff and volunteers, and installed a total of 227 smoke alarms in 76 homes. They replaced several old alarms, and in some cases, installed alarms in homes for the first time.
“They installed alarms in one home where there were none before we arrived. Four children lived in that home,” according to Katie-Myers Griffith, Executive Director of the American Red Cross Lake Erie/Heartland Chapter. “In another home, they installed alarms where a non-English speaking family tried their best to communicate their thankfulness. It was an experience to watch the volunteers realize that this program saves lives, and to hear them talk about it.”
Red Cross volunteer Angel Paul, working her first Fire Safety Walk, said “We put smoke alarms in the home of a 93-year old woman who had tears in her eyes as she thanked the soldiers. She was touched by their selflessness.”
Angel said another home was still being repaired due to a previous fire, and the homeowner still hadn’t gotten around to installing new smoke alarms.
At the same time, Red Cross volunteers in Sandusky installed 88 alarms in 26 homes, with the help of volunteers from the Sandusky Police and Fire Departments and the Home Depot.
Operation Save-A-Life is part of the American Red Cross Home Fire Prevention Campaign. The goal is to reduce the number of deaths due to home fires by 25% over a five year period.
Installing smoke alarms is just the first step toward protecting your home from fire. Learn more about preparing your family and preventing home fires here.
American Red Cross Chapter Will Receive $2,000 if the Browns Quarterback Wins
The NFL has nominated Cleveland Browns quarterback Josh McCown to win Player of the Week honors, following his record-setting performance against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, October 11.
If Josh is voted in, the American Red Cross in Northeast Ohio wins as well.
FedEx is donating $2,000 each week to the Red Cross chapter in the communities where the winners play. The NFL nominates three players each week. This week, in addition to McCown, New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning and Sam Bradford of the Philadelphia Eagles have also been nominated.
But neither could top Josh’s level of performance.
Not only did the Browns quarterback throw for a franchise-record 457 yards in Baltimore to help beat the Ravens 33-30 in overtime, he has become the first quarterback for the Browns to throw for more than 300 yards in three consecutive games, setting another record by throwing for 1,157 yards over that three game stretch.
“He’s playing better than any quarterback in the league right now,” according to CBS Sports analyst Pat Kirwan.
You can vote for Josh McCown to win Player of the Week honors here. Voting closes Thursday afternoon at 3:00 PM. The FedEx program supports the costs of providing immediate and long-term assistance to families affected by a disaster, like a home fire. The promotion also provides families with lifesaving fire prevention and preparedness tools and help in the aftermath of other types of disasters.
“This is a tremendous opportunity for Browns fans to not only recognize the outstanding performance of Josh McCown, but also to support the work of the American Red Cross in Northeast Ohio,” said Mike Parks, Regional CEO. “A $2,000 donation from FedEx will help a number of people recover from a disaster or prepare for an emergency by supporting the work of the dedicated volunteers and staff of the American Red Cross in Northeast Ohio.”
Fans will also be able to vote for Josh McCown to win Player of the Year honors at the end of the season. FedEx will donate $25,000 to the Red Cross chapter in the winning player’s community.
The NFL is also nominating three running backs each week. Through the FedEx Air and Ground campaign, FedEx will also donate $2,000 dollars to the Red Cross chapters in the communities where those winners play. Let’s hope Browns running backs Isaiah Crowell and Duke Johnson break through for a big week against the Broncos this Sunday.
Will Lead Response To All Disasters in Northeast Ohio
Tim O’Toole, who recently retired as Assistant Chief of Operations for the Cleveland Division of Fire, is the new Disaster Program Officer for the American Red Cross Northeast Ohio Region.
O’Toole served the city of Cleveland for almost 35 years in various positions of responsibility, including Chief of Staff and Acting Division Chief for the Cleveland Fire Department, and was named the first Manager of the Mayor’s Office of Emergency Preparedness, under then-mayor Michael R. White, in response to the events of September 11, 2001.
“We are extremely fortunate to have a disaster program manager with such vast experience,” said Mike Parks, CEO of the Northeast Ohio Region. “Chief O’Toole’s extensive background in disaster preparedness and emergency management will benefit the 4.5 million people who live in the 22 counties we serve. His leadership and experience fit perfectly with the mission of the American Red Cross: to prevent and alleviate human suffering in the face of emergencies.”
Among the major emergencies Tim responded to and managed were the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy in 2012, preparation for Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and the massive blackout of 2003. He has also been involved with training for most of the disaster drills that have been staged in Cleveland over the past several years.
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One such drill was held at Cleveland Hopkins Airport on September 19. Volunteers and staff from the American Red Cross provided support at the Emergency Operations Center, and staffed the Family Assistance Center, where participants role-played as loved ones concerned about the fate of the “victims” of the mock air disaster.
As Regional Disaster Officer, O’Toole will lead all American Red Cross responses to disasters of any scale in Northeast Ohio, by mobilizing the community to prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies. He will also continue to develop and support volunteers, who serve as the primary disaster-response workforce.
If you are interested in volunteering to respond to disasters in your community and beyond, please visit our website: www.redcross.org/neo and click on “Volunteer” on the left side of the screen. You will be dropped directly into the application process. You may also call 216-431-3328 or email, NEOvolunteer@redcross.org.
Assists Searchers Looking for Missing Child; Helps Victims of Epic Flooding
A major, historic flood event is ongoing in South Carolina and parts of North Carolina. And the search for a missing child ended successfully in Trumbull County. Volunteers from the American Red Cross assisted there, and with several other disasters over the weekend.
The child, two-year old Rainn Peterson was reported missing Friday night from the family home in North Bloomfield. Some 60 searchers spent almost 48 hours looking for the little girl, and the Red Cross provided canteen services, including food, water and warmth inside an emergency response vehicle.
In addition, cots were provided to police and FBI agents who stayed at the Emergency Operations Center Saturday night.
On Sunday, just as the sun was setting, a volunteer found the the little girl about a quarter mile from the home. The Trumbull County sheriff said she was doing “as fine as can be expected” after spending nearly two days outdoors, with temperatures that dipped into the lower 40’s and a steady rain on Saturday.
“We all wanted to see heartbreak turn into hope, and that’s exactly what happened,” said Karen Conklin, Executive Director of the Lake to River Chapter of the Red Cross. “That little girl was in our hearts the whole time. It could have happened to any of us.”
While THAT story ended happily, the flooding on the East Coast is far from over.
This is now the wettest October on record in downtown Charleston, South Carolina, surpassing the previous record of 11.59 inches in 1959 – and it’s only the beginning of the month.
Flash flooding is ongoing and has become serious in many locations, including in Charleston, where numerous swift-water rescues were reported. Roads were closed all over the state, including portions of Interstates 77 and 20. A 75-mile stretch of Interstate 95 between Interstates 20 and 26 was closed. The heavily traveled highway through the eastern portion of the state was not closed during 1989’s Hurricane Hugo.
Widespread rainfall totals since Thursday are between 5 to 10 inches, with locally heavier amounts reported. Some coastal areas from Charleston to Myrtle Beach have recorded 10 to 16 inches. Additional heavy rainfall of between 5 and 10 inches is possible. These extreme rainfall amounts will continue to lead to widespread and catastrophic flooding and flash flooding. It will take several days for water to recede in the region once the rain ends. A Federal Emergency Declaration has been declared for South Carolina.
“We are helping families across South Carolina that are in need of shelter, disaster relief and comfort,” said Louise Welch Williams, regional chief executive officer of the American Red Cross in South Carolina. “We are also welcoming members of the community who want to help to join us as Red Cross disaster volunteers.”
The American Red Cross has opened 35 emergency shelters, helping people stay safe and dry and providing meals and emotional support. More than 200 people spent the night Sunday in a Red Cross shelter. Nearly 400 Red Cross workers, 22 emergency response vehicles and supplies for 5,000 people have been mobilized.
Additional shelters are on standby and the Red Cross is working closely with government partners to ensure immediate needs of residents are being met.
Volunteers from every Red Cross region in the Midwest, including Northeast Ohio, responded to a variety of disasters over the weekend. We respond to nearly 70,000 disasters every year, from home fires to wildfires, flooding and more.
In addition to flooding, we are still helping people impacted by the wildfires in California, a blizzard in Alaska, and the school shooting in Oregon, where volunteers are providing mental health support and assistance at community events. And in Florida, more than a dozen Red Cross volunteers are providing emotional support and other assistance for the families of the seamen aboard the cargo ship El Faro, which sank during Hurricane Joaquin last week.
You can help by donating to Red Cross Disaster Relief by visiting redcross.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS or texting the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Donations to Disaster Relief will be used to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from disasters big and small.
With a crowd of one million people or more expected in Philadelphia in late September for the visit of Pope Francis, the American Red Cross deployed a number of volunteers to support humanitarian needs.
Three of those volunteers are from the Northeast Ohio Region.
Kelly Weisenburger, Trish Wilson and Vincetta Tsouris are veterans of out-of town assignments. Kelly, a nurse at Fisher-Titus Medical Center in Norwalk, has experience responding to hurricanes on the east coast and wildfires in California. Trish, a nurse at the Ohio Veteran’s Home in Sandusky, has been deployed to Texas and Florida to provide hurricane relief, and helped residents of nearby Findlay when the Blanchard River flooded. And Vincetta’s first assignment was in response to Hurricane Sandy in 2012. The Steubenville resident served in the Air Force Reserve for 37 years, and is currently a nurse at Weirton Medical Center in West Virginia.
They arrived in Philadelphia on Friday, September 25, and were immediately dispatched to Pennsylvania Health Department Facilities that were set up as Medical Readiness Centers. While the Red Cross volunteers were prepared to treat a large number of people in the event of a disaster, they say there was just a handful of people who needed only minor medical attention. A few people were reunified with loved ones after being separated in the massive crowd, thanks to the efforts of Red Cross volunteers. And many homeless people who were displaced by the crowds were given food and water.
“Nothing really happened,” according to Kelly. “And that was the perfect part of it.” As a long-time Red Cross volunteer, Kelly is aware of the burden her travels have placed on her family over the years. But she says she is willing to serve, and her service has apparently rubbed off on her daughter, an optometry student at The Ohio State University, who has become a medical missionary.
Kelly, Trish and Vincetta never got closer than a couple of blocks from the Pope, but they were able to see coverage of the Pope’s movements in Philadelphia on one of the giant screens that were set up throughout the city. As Vincetta put it, “If it wasn’t for my volunteering with the Red Cross, I never would have gotten anywhere near the Pope.”
The volunteers returned to Northeast Ohio on Monday, September 28th, tired but happy to be of service, and awaiting word on their next assignments.
If you are interested in volunteering, visit www.redcross.org/neo and click on “Volunteer” on the left side of the screen. You will then be prompted to begin the application process.
There’s no guarantee of being assigned to another Papal visit anytime soon. But you WILL have the chance to help others.
NOHredcross 