There have been big crowds at the Red Cross Service Center at the VA Center in Tafuna on Saturday, yesterday and today as the close out day for Red Cross emergency operations, which is tomorrow, approaches.
Some of the people who were in line yesterday said that they haven’t received any assistance from the Red Cross.
In one case, a family of several couples who live on the same property but in different huts, said only their elderly mother received assistance because she was the only one on the EOC list.
One of the daughters said they were able to fight their case and were there to pick up their Client Assistance Cards and other emergency supplies.
Raini Hatchett, the on site manager for the case work team at the Red Cross Service Center said this morning that things have been hectic especially today because people know that they are closing tomorrow.
She says despite the large crowds, the Red Cross workers have been able to tend to everyone.
KHJ News saw some elderly people and children in the lines. There were small tents set up but they were inadequate to shade the crowd from the hot sun.
Bottles of water were distributed and this was courtesy of the Troy and Theodore Polamalu Foundation, with the help of Ethan and Irene Lake.
Meanwhile Red Cross official Hatchett advises those coming to the Red Cross Service Center to please bring water as there have been cases of people fainting while waiting due to dehydration.
Tomorrow will be the last day for the Red Cross Service Center at the VA Center which will be opened from 9am to noon.
