American Red Cross Responds to Flooding; Easton Shelter to Remain Open
News Release: April 4, 2005
Contact: Janice Osborne, Director-Communications and Marketing
(610) 865-4400, ext. 262
The American Red Cross offered protection from rising waters this past weekend, opening almost 50 shelters in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, as extensive flooding forced many people from their homes. The potential for more rain, combined with melting snow and already saturated ground, could now cause expanded flooding in parts of New England. The American Red Cross will continue to provide vital disaster response assistance for all who need it.
In the Lehigh Valley, flooding in downtown Easton and along the Route 611 corridor was a near copycat of last September when Hurricane Ivan pounded the area. “Two disasters of this magnitude in less than seven months are unprecedented for our community,” John Hughes, executive director of the American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley, said. “Our hearts go out to those families and business owners whose places of work and homes have been hit twice by the flooding. It’s incredibly unfortunate.”
The American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley will continue to operate a shelter at St. Anthony’s Youth Center, 901 Washington Street in Easton for at least the next three days for people forced from their homes. On Sunday (4/3) evening, 15 individuals stayed at the Red Cross shelter. It’s anticipated those individuals will remain at the shelter until it is safe for them to return home.
“Our Red Cross volunteers and employees are working around-the-clock to provide residents with a safe place to spend the day and night, hot meals, beverages, snacks and emotional support,” Hughes said. “At this time, it’s too early to say when residents will be allowed back in their homes. We are prepared to provide for the immediate needs of residents until it is safe for them to return.
“The significance of this flooding has caused the American Red Cross to engage its full disaster relief response from the national level to ensure that victims of this flooding in the Lehigh Valley can get back on their feet as soon as possible. This is only the second time in decades that this has occurred; the first was last September following Hurricane Ivan.”
Red Cross officials are working with emergency management and local police and fire departments to ensure the safety of individuals affected by the flooding. Once roads are passable and areas are declared safe to enter, Red Cross will conduct a damage assessment and canvass affected neighborhoods to provide for any immediate needs of families.
Residents wishing to help can do so in one of two ways: by making a financial donation to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund or by volunteering their time at the local Chapter. To volunteer, call Bob Duld, director of volunteer and community services, at (610) 865-4400, ext. 229. To make a financial contribution, call 1-800-HELP NOW or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Contributions to the Disaster Relief Fund may be sent to the American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley, 2200 Avenue A, Bethlehem, PA 18017 or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. Internet users can make secure online credit card donations by visiting www.redcross.org or www.redcrosslv.org.
Anyone affected by flooding in Carbon, Lehigh and Northampton counties should call the American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley at (610) 865-4400. All Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the American people.
