Three Greater Lehigh Valley Red Cross Disaster Workers Helping with April Storm Relief
News Release: May 5, 2011
Contact: Robert Duld, Chief Operating Officer
American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley
(610) 865-4400, ext. 229; pager (610) 830-9771


Irv Burmil knows how to celebrate his birthday: He spent it preparing to leave on a national Red Cross disaster assignment.

Burmil has been a volunteer with the American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley since July 2004. He has served on previous national disasters, but this is the first time he has spent his birthday doing paperwork and packing in preparation for heading into a disaster zone. Burmil flies to Birmingham, Alabama today to assist national Red Cross disaster relief efforts following last week's tornadoes. He is trained in disaster response, with a specialty in interviewing families affected by fire or other emergency to assess and provide for their immediate emergency needs.

Greater Lehigh Valley Red Cross volunteer Marylee Zart of Orefield and employee Janice Osborne of Allentown (South Whitehall Township) were deployed last week.

Zart began her volunteer career with the Red Cross in 2001 and is an assistant coordinator for the local disaster response team which provides emergency assistance to residents affected by fire or other disaster. Zart is assisting in northern Mississippi.

Osborne, employed as director of communications and marketing at the local Red Cross, is assisting with media and public relations in Alabama.

All three have represented the Greater Lehigh Valley on previous national disaster assignments.

More than 4,500 Red Cross workers from all 50 U.S. states are on the ground helping people affected by the recent storms. More than half of the country - from North Dakota to the East Coast - has been affected by severe weather since March and flood watches and warnings are still occurring. Red Cross is focusing on providing shelter, food and distribution of needed items.

The Red Cross depends on financial donations to help in times of disaster. The Disaster Relief Fund allows the Red Cross to provide emergency assistance to help victims of disasters meet their immediate needs for food, shelter, counseling and other critical services. The fund gives people the chance to help anywhere in the nation whenever and wherever disaster strikes.

If you would like to help, you can visit www.redcross.org, call 1-800-REDCROSS, or text REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. You can also mail your contribution to the American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley, 2200 Avenue A, Bethlehem, PA 18017.

The American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley serves residents of Carbon, Lehigh and Northampton counties. Last year the Red Cross helped more than 76,500 people through preparedness and training, military personnel support, senior lifesaving programs and services, emergency relief and information and referral. The Red Cross is a charitable organization - not a government agency - and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information about the American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley or volunteer opportunities, call (610) 865-4400 or visit www.redcrosslv.org.