 As published in the Jefferson County Journals Wednesday, November 28, 2007
The recent Southern California wildfires forced more than half a million people from their homes—the largest evacuation in the history of the region. Firefighters and other emergency personnel converged as Santa Ana winds gusted to more than 100 miles per hour in some locations, quickly spreading the devastating flames.
The Nov. 9 Red Cross interview on KJFF Radio focused on the local and national response to this major disaster. The Red Cross opened 26 emergency shelters and evacuation centers to provide safe refuge for those evacuating their homes, serving more than 1 million meals and snacks through 41 fixed feeding sites. In addition, 93 emergency response vehicles, capable of serving up to 600 meals at a time, were dispatched to deliver necessary supplies.
Nearly 7,000 Red Cross relief workers from all 50 states were present throughout Southern California to help with basic needs, distributing nearly 11,000 clean-up kits and 22,000 comfort kits. These kits contain hygiene supplies such as a toothbrush, shampoo, a comb, and a razor, and were especially important to the many families who lost all of their possessions.
The St. Louis Area Chapter was an important part of the relief effort, deploying 14 local volunteers along with its own emergency response vehicle. Of those local relief workers, Robert Vinluan of Imperial and Jim and Sheila Ulbrich of South St. Louis County volunteer through the Jefferson County Service Center in Arnold.
Volunteers returning from deployment described families who demonstrated remarkable strength in the midst of extreme circumstances. One woman, using a tool to sift through the ashes of her former home, clutched her wedding band found among the devastation. Another man promised to assemble a mosaic using pieces of his broken pottery—the only fragments left from his past.
Community partnerships with the Southern Baptist Convention, the Salvation Army and other agencies proved especially valuable during the relief effort. A new partnership forged with the Business Roundtable, an organization composed of 160 chief executives from leading national corporations, provided warehouse space, fuel cards, freight transport and other resources.
Here in the St. Louis metropolitan area, the community once again demonstrated its generosity. KSDK Channel 5 viewers responded during a telethon in support of the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, donating or pledging more than $30,000 to assist victims during their recovery.
Also during the KJFF Radio interview, the Red Cross focused on the season of Thanksgiving and expressed appreciation to Jefferson County residents for making local Red Cross programs and services possible. Because the Red Cross is not a government agency, regular financial and blood donors are essential to helping the organization prevent, prepare for and respond to disasters and emergencies.
Joe White and David Chumley, the local CEOs of the St. Louis Area Chapter and the Missouri-Illinois Blood Services Region recently recorded public service announcements to share their own personal message of thanks. In addition, the two executives distributed a letter to the editors of local publications, while Red Cross staff and volunteers sent handwritten notes to local community partners. Red Cross representatives appeared on KSDK Channel 5’s Window on St. Louis to thank donors for their ongoing support.
As a part of its annual Thank-a-Thon, the Red Cross also partnered with enthusiastic employees from Citi to place approximately 40,000 personal phone calls to local friends. During the calls, Red Cross and Citi volunteers acknowledged donors for enabling the St. Louis Area Chapter to touch the community nearly 450,000 times, and the Missouri-Illinois Blood Services Region to distribute 300,000 blood products to more than 70 local hospitals.
The Red Cross concluded the KJFF Radio interview by reflecting on Veterans Day, saluting all those who selflessly serve this country. The Red Cross has a unique and historic role in supporting veterans and their family members, as well as members of the Armed Forces, the National Guard and the Reserves. Red Cross workers serve in nearly 700 chapters nationwide and on more than 50 military installations around the world, delivering emergency messages during times of need. This includes messages announcing the birth of a child or the death of a loved one.
In addition to handling emergency communication messages, the Red Cross also provides access to financial assistance through military aid societies, along with confidential counseling services and valuable referrals. Last year, the St. Louis Area Chapter assisted more than 6,300 local military personnel and their families.
To learn more about the Red Cross response to the Southern California wildfires, the St. Louis Area Chapter’s annual Thank-a-Thon, or emergency services available to the Armed Forces, call the Jefferson County Service Center in Arnold at 636-464-9150 or log on to www.redcrossstl.org.
The next Red Cross interview will air live on KJFF Radio (1400 AM) at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 14.
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