Red Cross Opens 3 Shelters in Northampton County
News Release: June 28, 2006
Contact: Janice Osborne, director-Communications and Marketing; (610) 865-4400, ext. 262

More than two dozen Greater Lehigh Valley Red Cross volunteers and employees have been on the scene since late last night (6/27) coordinating supplies for and staffing three shelters for Northampton County residents to seek safety from flooding expected along the Delaware River.

Red Cross shelters are located at:

• Upper Mt. Bethel fire house, 2341 N. Delaware Drive, Mt. Bethel;

• Lower Mt. Bethel Township Building, 6984 Route 611, Lower Mount Bethel; and

• Easton High School (gymnasium), 2601 William Penn Highway, Easton.

Combined, the three sites have a capacity to shelter 600 people. If more space is needed, Red Cross is prepared to open and staff additional shelters.

Red Cross shelters provide a safe haven for residents. Cots, blankets, beverages, food and other items to meet the emergency needs of residents are being provided at the shelter.

Red Cross is also partnering with the local Salvation Army and area faith-based groups to provide assistance.

At 7 p.m., three residents were registered at the Easton High School site, four at the Lower Mt. Bethel site, and none at the Upper Mt. Bethel site. The three shelters will remain open until emergency management officials declare it is safe for residents to return to their homes.

Residents planning to stay at Red Cross shelters should be sure to bring any medications that they are regularly taking. Bedding materials and bath towels are also recommended.

Red Cross disaster shelters cannot accept pets or animals because of states' health and safety regulations and other considerations. Service animals that assist people with disabilities are the only animals allowed in Red Cross shelters. If you need assistance with sheltering your pet or animal, please contact your local veterinarian or the local human society.

Tomorrow, when it is safe to do so, the Red Cross will canvass neighborhoods to assess flood damage and distribute clean-up kits, bottled water and other items to residents whose homes may be damaged.

For more information, please call the American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley at (610) 865-4400.

All American Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the American people. You can help the victims of thousands of disasters across the country each year, disasters like flooding, by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, which enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to victims of disaster. The American Red Cross honors donor intent. If you wish to designate your donation to a specific disaster please do so at the time of your donation. Call 1-800-HELP NOW or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Contributions to the Disaster Relief Fund may be sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P. O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. Internet users can make a secure online contribution by visiting www.redcross.org