Time After Time... We'll Be There
When we are needed the American Red Cross is always ready to help with a wide variety of services for victims of disasters. We are quickly on the scene whenever a fire or storm results in a family being homeless and in need of food and shelter from our Disaster Services staff.
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DISASTER SERVICES
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August 6, 2010 - Hurricane Season is in full swing. With August and September, months of peak activity approaching, the West Central GA Red Cross Chapter works to stay ahead of the storm' by conducting an exercise which includes a full scale sheltering scenario for tornado response. With the exception of Hurricane Opal, Columbus rarely feels the direct impact of a hurricane, however, following Katrina and Gustav, many evacuees sought safe haven in our city's Red Cross shelter. In addition, hurricanes impacting the Gulf may spawn tornadoes in our area. This exercise serves to train new volunteers in all areas of Red Cross Disaster Response and prepare for small and large scale disasters which lie ahead.
The exercise held August 6 at Calvary Christian School, 7556 Old Moon Road, included staff, approximately 50 volunteers, Board of Director members, neighboring Red Cross Chapters and "guests" or those who participated as evacuees. The disaster exercise, conducted by Merwiether County Disaster Chairman Gaines Harman, included registration of evacuees, mass feeding, mental health and basic first aid stations.
"We try our best to conduct at least one full scale disaster response exercise once a year," according to Emergency Service Director Linda Rias. "It keeps us on our toes," added Rias. Harman agreed,"This type of exercise allows Red Cross to hope for the best but be prepared for the worst."
Special thanks to Calvary Christian for allowing the Chapter to utilize their school gym and to St. Luke UMC for working with Red Cross for the feeding operation.
Disaster Exercise Helps Red Cross Stay Ahead of the Storm
RED CROSS DISASTER AID IS FREE
made possible by the generosity, trust, and compassion of people in our community. To donate, contact the Chapter at 706-323-5614, by mail at 3940 Rosemont Drive., Columbus, GA 31904, or at redcross.org
