Red Cross responds to power station fire

LAKELAND, FL (Aug. 27, 2007)—On Monday, Aug. 27, a power substation in southwest Lakeland caught fire, knocked out power for thousands of customers, and local authorities evacuated people from a half-mile radius.
The Red Cross responded by opening a shelter for evacuated residents at Faith Baptist Church, 8550 State Road 33 North in Lakeland. Two other shelters were on standby, if needed.
About four families — 16 residents, six of them children — took advantage of the shelter until the early morning hours on Tuesday, when they received word that they could return home.
Starting Monday Aug. 27 and continuing through Thursday, Aug. 30, volunteers with the American Red Cross and with The Salvation Army provided food and cold drinks to firefighters, law enforcement and power company crews who battled the persistent fire all through Monday night, and for four days straight.
Red Cross volunteers and staff urge local residents to remain prepared for disasters by having a kit of supplies ready to carry with them, making and practicing a family disaster plan, and by being informed of pending dangers through local emergency management, news reports, and their local American Red Cross.
Learn more about preparing for disasters from the American Red Cross Polk County Chapter by calling (863) 294-5941, by visiting the chapter main office at 147 Avenue A, NW, in Winter Haven, Fla., or by visiting the national American Red Cross web site to Be Red Cross Ready.

Local Red Cross Deploys to Floods in Midwest and Southern United States

WINTER HAVEN, FL (Aug. 27, 2007)—Rain storms, including remnants of Tropical Storm Erin, have caused flooding throughout parts of the Midwest and southern U.S., have damaged thousands of homes and businesses, and have claimed at least 20 lives.
To help the relief effort, the American Red Cross Polk County Chapter has deployed four disaster volunteers to help with relief efforts, and is preparing to send out more. So far, Don Davenport from Highlands County and Linda Haskins of Polk County have gone to Minnesota. Daphne Gray and Linda Pacelli, both of Polk County, have been sent to Oklahoma. Also, Emergency Services Specialist Lonalee Thompson has deployed to Illinois to help with flooding there.

Local Red Cross responds to three-family fire in Haines City

Bobbi Miller (left) and Russell Miller (right) set up a hydration and feeding station at the scene of a three-house fire on Aug. 8, 2007, in Haines City. They served both fighters and clients in the sweltering midday heat.

HAINES CITY, FL (AUG. 8, 2007)—Three families lost their homes late Wednesday morning when a fire started in one home and spread to two adjacent homes.

Shortly after noon, local American Red Cross volunteers responded to help the families with temporary shelter and other immediate emergency needs.The seven adults, their four children, (one an infant) and one small dog gathered at the Haines City Police Department Community-Oriented Policing Station on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive where Red Cross caseworkers assisted them.

Red Cross volunteers also brought cold Gatorade and water for the families and for fire crews at the corner of Avenue E and Railroad Avenue. Red Cross volunteers set up a mobile feeding and hydration station for both the fire crews who had spent the day dousing the blaze, and for the clients.

In the previous two weeks, including Wednesday’s fire, Polk County Red Cross volunteers responded to three multi-family fires, and helped approximately 26 families.

Local Red Cross assists 29 people after single apartment fire

BARTOW, FL (July 30 ,2007)—For the second time in five days, the American Red Cross Polk County chapter is responding to a call for an apartment complex fire.This time, fire was confined to one apartment, but the fire also took out the power to the entire Palm-Aire Apartments building on North Van Fleet Drive in Bartow, Fla. Local Red Cross volunteers and paid staff responded to assist 29 people – eight families – with emergency shelter.
The fire was less than five days after another fire in Bartow that displaced 33 people.

Local Red Cross responds to early morning apartment complex fire

BARTOW, FL (July 28 ,2007)—Local American Red Cross volunteers responded at 1:15 a.m. Saturday, July 28, to assist 33 clients displaced by an apartment complex fire on North Wilson Avenue in northern Bartow.
The American Red Cross Polk County Chapter has worked with the owner of the apartments to provide temporary shelter. The Red Cross provided various forms of assistance, based on client needs, including emergency assistance for food and clothing, landlord verification forms to assist in relocation, hygiene kits, or other forms of assistance.
One displaced couple, John and Susie Lovering, once lost their home 25 years ago in Lakeland to a fire caused by a lightning strike — at this same time of the year. They are very glad to get help from the Red Cross.
“These people were angels to us,” John said.
Since that night, all residents have been able to find new permanent rental homes, thanks to support from the community. Relief continues for the displaced families and the American Red Cross is calling for donations to help support the families and to offset the estimated $15,000 cost of the relief operation.

Local American Red Cross answers 139 disasters in 2006-2007 year

POLK COUNTY, FL (August 2007)—The American Red Cross Polk County Chapter just finished another year on June 30, 2007, having responded to 139 disasters — almost all home fires – and helping more than 480 clients with emergency needs.
Although that’s nearly 50 fewer disasters than during the 2005-2006 year, volunteers are still needed. In just July of 2007, the local Red Cross responded to six disasters – three of them multiple family fires – and assisted 29 families.
Any day of the week, no matter what time of the day or night, American Red Cross Disaster Action Team volunteers respond to disasters. Each case is different. Clients may need temporary shelter; emergency assistance for food or clothing; a personal hygiene kit; or sometimes just a stuffed animal toy or blanket, such as those donated to the local Red Cross, to help relieve the pain.
The first question volunteers always ask is if a client has a place to stay with family or friends. That emotional support can help promote healing faster than staying in temporary lodging. In a crisis, people normally turn to their families.
In the weeks after a disaster, Red Cross volunteers and staff continue to work with clients to see that they are doing well.
In each case, the American Red Cross applies the principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, by bringing assistance without discrimination as to nationality, race, religious beliefs, class or political opinions. The Red Cross relieves suffering based on needs and through the work of volunteers, freely giving their time and skills.
The American Red Cross is always looking for selfless people, from all backgrounds, who are willing to use their skills, talents, and genuine compassion to help anyone with immediate emergency needs. Learn more about local Red Cross responses and recent activities at http://polkcountyfl.redcross.org. For more information on how to volunteer, contact your local Red Cross at polkcofl@polkredcross.org, visit www.redcross.org, or en Español, visit www.cruzrojaamericana.org.

Welcome from the American Red Cross Polk County Chapter

Now anytime you want timely disaster information from the Polk County Chapter of the American Red Cross, you can come here. During any major disaster, when getting information to the media and the public is a must, volunteer and paid staff members will provide it right here, at polkarcinfo.wordpress.com.Also, by using the RSS feed to your desktop computer, mobile WiFi laptop, or your handheld device (PDA, iPhone, or net-enabled wireless phone), you can get an instant update whenever we add information to this site. It saves time:

• You save time calling your Red Cross for more information.
• You are ensured of being up-to-date with the latest information about disasters in our area.
• Your audience will have up-to-date information as soon as you can access it and distribute it.

It’s almost as good as being on the ground without all the running around. We hope you find it useful, and we hope it helps you, helps us, and most of all, helps the people we both serve.

Thank you for joining us, and enjoy.

Humanitarian Principles

FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF THE INTERNATIONAL RED CROSS & RED CRESCENT MOVEMENT

• HUMANITY — The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, born of a desire to bring assistance without discrimination to the wounded on the battlefield, endeavors, in its international and national capacity, to prevent and alleviate human suffering wherever it may be found. Its purpose is to protect life and health and to ensure respect for the human being. It promotes mutual understanding, friendship, cooperation and lasting peace amongst all peoples.
• IMPARTIALITY — It makes no discrimination as to nationality, race, religious beliefs, class or political opinions. It endeavors to relieve the suffering of individuals, being guided solely by their needs, and to give priority to the most urgent cases of distress.
• NEUTRALITY — In order to continue to enjoy the confidence of all, the Movement may not take sides in hostilities or engage at any time in controversies of a political, racial, religious or ideological nature.
• INDEPENDENCE — The Movement is independent. The National Societies, while auxiliaries in the humanitarian services of their governments and subject to the laws of their respective countries, must always maintain their autonomy so that they may be able at all times to act in accordance with the principles of the Movement.
• VOLUNTARY SERVICE — It is a voluntary relief movement not prompted in any manner by desire for gain.
• UNITY — There can be only one Red Cross or Red Crescent Society in any one country. It must be open to all. It must carry on its humanitarian work throughout its territory.
• UNIVERSALITY — The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, in which all Societies have equal status and share equal responsibilities and duties in helping each other, is worldwide.