Red Cross phasing down emergency response

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The Red Cross is now winding down its initial emergency response to Cyclone Gita and plans to return to normal operations by the middle of next week.

As of yesterday the Red Cross had opened more than 1,200 cases for affected families.

Appointment-based casework will continue through the afternoon of Wednesday, March 21, at the VA Hall in Tafuna to serve remaining families whose homes are categorized as “destroyed” or receiving “major” damage.

More than 220 Red Cross workers have been involved in the American Samoa disaster relief operation, including staff and volunteers deployed from across the United States, local American Samoa residents, and Red Cross disaster workers supporting the operation remotely.

Aside from the distribution of emergency supplies and feeding those who were housed in shelters, Red Cross volunteers also helped residents create emergency escape plans with family members.

The Red Cross says fire experts agree that people may have as little as two minutes to escape a burning home before it’s too late to get out.

“Every household should create a fire escape plan and practice it until everyone can escape in less than two minutes.

“Escape plans should include at least two ways to escape from every room. Select a meeting spot at a safe distance where family members can meet. Discuss the plan with everyone in the household and practice it at least twice a year.”

In addition to the disaster relief operation, the American Red Cross has provided training to several new volunteers and initiated the Sound the Alarm program in American Samoa.

Working with the local fire authorities, the Red Cross identified the areas with the highest risk for home fires and installed more than 600 free smoke alarms in 234 homes.

In other news, the Red Cross is welcoming donations to enable them to respond to disasters such as Gita.

Your gift enables the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to, and help people recover from disasters big and small.

Call, click, or text to give: visit redcross.org, call 1-800 RED CROSS or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.