Red Cross helps Avon Park family after lightning strike

AVON PARK, FL (July 5, 2008 ) – The American Red Cross helped a family and their visiting relatives after lightning cut power to their home on Saturday night.

At approximately 7:30 p.m. Saturday, July 5, the American Red Cross in Highlands County received word that a house on Gale Street in Avon Park had suffered a lightning strike. Fortunately, the house had not caught fire, but it destroyed the electrical panel in the house, leaving a family of six, and their visiting relatives — a total of nine people — without power.

A volunteer from the Highlands Red Cross responded within one half hour and provided five adults and four children with temporary shelter. The family said they didn’t need any other assistance at that time. The relatives, visiting from South Carolina, planned on leaving Sunday, and the family hoped to restore power to the house by Monday. Volunteers will follow up with the family to ensure they receive any other assistance they may need.

This has been a busy service year for the American Red Cross in Highlands County. In the last 12 months, the service center has helped approximately 36 families affected by local disasters — most of them single-home and apartment fires — more than double the number of families from the previous year. This is the second local single-family disaster for the Highlands Red Cross since the new service year began on July 1.

Information on preparing for severe weather is on the local Red Cross chapter web site at http://polkcountyfl.redcross.org or at the Highlands County office at 106 Medical Center Avenue in Sebring.

Polk Red Cross helps Lakeland family of six after fire

LAKELAND, FL (July 5, 2008 ) — On Saturday morning, July 5, the American Red Cross Polk County Chapter assisted a family of six in Lakeland after fire damaged their home.

At 11:40 a.m., July 5, 2008,  volunteers with the American Red Cross Polk County Chapter Disaster Action Team received word about a family of six displaced when fire burned a home on North Basedena Circle earlier that morning. Volunteers responded to the scene and provided the family with temporary shelter; comfort kits (personal hygiene kits); emergency assistance for groceries, clothing, and shoes; Ride for the Red T-shirts, and teddy bear stuffed toys to help comfort the children.

This fire is the fourth in Polk County for the new service year, which began on July 1. Over the previous 12 months, the local Red Cross assisted 207 Polk County families who had been affected by local disasters. Almost all families were displaced by home fires, whether in individual houses or apartment buildings. Whenever called, considerate and compassionate volunteers respond to help those in need.

Polk Red Cross helps Winter Haven family of four

WINTER HAVEN, FL (July 5, 2008 ) — Early Saturday morning, July 5, the American Red Cross Polk County Chapter assisted a family in Winter Haven after fire damaged their home.

At 12:15 a.m., July 5, 2008,  volunteers with the American Red Cross Polk County Chapter Disaster Action Team received word about a family of four adults displaced when fire burned a home on Sunshine Way in Winter Haven. Volunteers responded to the scene and provided the family with temporary shelter, comfort kits (personal hygiene kits), emergency assistance for groceries, odor-control concentrated cleaner to help salvage items from the home, and a teddy bear stuffed toy to help comfort them.

This fire is the third in Polk County for the new service year, which began on July 1. Over the previous 12 months, the local Red Cross assisted 207 Polk County families who had been affected by local disasters. Almost all families were displaced by home fires, whether in individual houses or apartment buildings. Whenever called, considerate and compassionate volunteers respond to help those in need.