Red Cross Targets Additional $4.3 Million for Ongoing Flood Relief

Business Wire, June 9, 1998

EAST GRAND FORKS, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 9, 1998--

18-month plan emphasizes community outreach, long-term disaster preparedness Non-emergency program brings Red Cross Red River Valley support to over $16 million

The American Red Cross will implement an 18-month, $4.3 million plan to provide ongoing non-emergency assistance to Red River and Minnesota River flood victims and to help the region prepare for the next time flood waters threaten lives and property in the area. Implementation of the plan will begin immediately, funded by donations to the Red Cross designated for Red River Valley flood relief. The March, 1997 Red River and Minnesota River floods devastated families and communities in western Minnesota and eastern North Dakota.

"From day one the Red Cross was on the scene providing emergency disaster relief," said Don Jones, American Red Cross Senior Vice President for Chapter Services. "We're here today and we'll be here well into the future continuing to help people recover from last year's flood and helping them to be ready for next time," he continued. "The Red Cross is demonstrating its ongoing commitment to the people of this region by implementing a plan funded by the generous financial contributions of thousands of Americans who responded when we told them that help couldn't wait," Jones added.

To date, the Red Cross has provided more than $11.7 million in Red River Valley disaster relief. The Red Cross received over $16 million in donations designated for the Red River and Minnesota River floods, leaving nearly $4.3 million for future flood relief and preparedness actions. The Red Cross plan for the Red River Valley includes:

-- The immediate hiring of four Red Cross staff to conduct extensive

one-on-one outreach in the affected communities to identify ongoing disaster-caused needs;

-- Launching a public awareness media campaign to remind individuals

and families that Red Cross assistance is still available to meet remaining disaster-caused needs;

-- Addressing and funding the additional needs identified through

the outreach efforts;

-- Creating a Red River Valley Shelter Plan emphasizing preparedness

built upon experience, including identifying additional facilities for use as Red Cross disaster shelters and the development of a well-disseminated evacuation plan;

-- Providing resources to assist communities to implement actions

identified in the Red River Valley Shelter Plan;

-- Purchasing additional Red Cross Emergency Response Vehicles

(mobile feeding canteens) to be assigned to Red Cross chapters in the affected area and to be utilized locally and throughout the states in assisting disaster victims;

-- Hiring a Red Cross specialist to train more disaster response

volunteers in the area;

-- Funding area disaster mitigation efforts that families can take,

such as elevating major appliances such as water heaters and building appropriate drainage;

-- Implementing several other special Red River-related projects,

including mitigation grants to some families, disseminating a flood mitigation brochure, and training people in disaster preparedness.

"This is an approach the Red Cross has utilized since 1990 in the wake of the northern California earthquakes," Jones explained. "When there are designated funds remaining from Red Cross emergency disaster relief efforts, we develop a community-based plan to ensure that, after our emergency relief response is concluded, we provide additional non-emergency relief and stress long-term preparedness efforts in the specific area affected by the disaster," he said.

"I'm looking forward to this next phase of our Red River Valley relief effort," Jones continued. "This demonstration of our ongoing commitment perfectly reflects the vision statement of the Red Cross: `Always there... touching more lives, in new ways... under the same trusted symbol'," he concluded.

Red Cross Service Statistics for the Red River Valley Floods from
March 23, 1997- Current
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Dwellings Affected       14,697   Red Cross Service Centers    25
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Dwellings Destroyed       1,025   Number of Cases Opened   11,927
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Dwellings - Major Damage  1,536   Mental Health Contacts   15,836
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Dwellings - Minor Damage 12,136   Volunteer Staff           6,995
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Red Cross Shelters           19   Paid Staff                  309
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Individuals Sheltered      6001   Total Staff               7,304
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Meals Served          1,179,950   Emergency Response Vehicles  64
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