http://katrina.tribe.net/thread/63694ffe-54c9-4b3b-9923-fc93e9eaadc0?format=rss Tribe.net. Local Connections http://katrina.tribe.net/thread/63694ffe-54c9-4b3b-9923-fc93e9eaadc0#ce679c44-c2a6-4855-9547-2c66827fdb3e WHAT IS THE AMERICAN REDCROSS DOING TO HELP VICTIMS OF HURRICANE KATRINA? Since the disaster hit, the American Red Cross has been on the scene to help victims. To Date we have opened more than 902 Red Cross shelters in 24 states that have housed more than 204,270 people, and we have served more than 11 million hot meals. Currently we are making it possible for 140,374 people who are running out of personal resources to remain in hotels in 46 states. The American Red Cross has mobilized its nationwide network of more than 850 chapters to support this effort. More than 122,000 disaster relief workers from 50 states, Puerto Rico, Washington, D.C. and the Virgin Islands are supporting this unprecedented relief operation. The American Red Cross is currently undergoing a massive mobilization effort to deploy existing Red Cross volunteers and train new ones for future deployment. For more information on this effort, please visit www.sacsierraredcross.org. HOW CAN I HELP? Our major need right now is financial contributions. We expect this to be one of the most expensive disasters in American Red Cross history, and we need the support of the American people to provide Red Cross relief to victims. You can make a donation online at www.sacsierraredcross.org, via phone at 1-800-HELP NOW or by mail with a check made out to “American Red Cross,” 8928 Volunteer Lane, Ste. #100, Sacramento, CA 95826. WHO SHOULD I CALL TO DO A FUNDRAISER? Thank you for your interest. Our fund development department is coordinating all outside fundraisers. To get information on picking up donation cans or other fundraising activities, please contact that department directly at (916) 368-3123 or use our chapter main number (916)368-3131. HOW CAN I MAKE SURE MY DONATION IS SPENT ON KATRINA? Contributions to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund are best, because they allow us to spend money where it is needed most as new disasters occur. However, if you put “Hurricane Katrina” in the memo line of your check, we will ensure it is spent on this specific relief operation. We are committed to honoring the intent of our donors, so if you prefer to designate your contribution for a specific purpose, please be sure to let us know! ARE YOU TAKING DONATIONS OF ITEMS? Thank you for your inquiry. While we appreciate your desire to help, the American Red Cross is not able to accept donations of physical items like clothing, blankets or food. We have found that the cost to collect, ship and warehouse these items often outweighs the value of the items themselves. Financial donations are best because they allow us to purchase EXACTLY what’s needed and get it to people quickly. We try to make these purchases as close to the affected region as possible, so there’s the added benefit of injecting money into the disaster-affected economy. The American Red Cross is not taking donations of medical supplies or medications either prescription or over the counter. These supplies are best donated to organizations that have a mission of medical relief. Our major need right now is financial contributions. We expect this to be one of the most expensive disasters in American Red Cross history, and we need the support of the American people to provide Red Cross relief to victims. You can make a donation online at www.sacsierraredcross.org, via phone at 1-800-HELP NOW or by mail with a check made out to “American Red Cross,” 8928 Volunteer Lane, Ste. #100, Sacramento, CA 95826. I WOULD LIKE TO VOLUNTEER IN THE LOCAL OFFICE (SACRAMENTO, AUBURN, PLACERVILLE, SONORA). HOW DO I DO THAT? The Sacramento Sierra chapter is still in need of volunteers to work in their local offices. These volunteers are needed to help with administrative support like answering phones, data entry or various other duties in our fund development department. If you are interested in helping locally in either, Sacramento, Auburn, Placerville or Sonora, please call the Sacramento Sierra Chapter at 916-368-3131. ARE YOU RECRUITING VOLUNTEERS TO BE DEPLOYED TO EVACUATION SHELTERS? We are actively recruiting volunteers to be deployed to the effected region. To do this, you must be in good health with no mobility limitations, and you must be able to commit to traveling on a “hardship” assignment (sleeping on a cot, with limited access to showers) for three weeks. As of right now, shelters have adequate staffing to support their mission. It is when these volunteers are finished with their assignments, which ranges anywhere from 10 to 21 days, that more volunteers will be needed to replace them. Also, please keep in mind, that this relief operation will last anywhere from six to 12 months. For more information on volunteer needs, please visit www.sacsierraredcross.org. HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DEPLOYED TO SUPPORT THE AMERICAN RED CROSS DISASTER RELIEF OPERATION FROM THE SACRAMENTO SIERRA CHAPTER? Since Saturday the 27th of August our chapter has deployed 366 volunteers. We are looking forward to training and processing more volunteers in the future. WHY IS DEPLOYMENT TAKING SO LONG? We are currently deploying trained people to support the disaster relief effort for hurricane Katrina. Our deployment numbers are at the request of our Service Area. When our Service Center sends our chapter a request for numbers of trained people to be deployed, our chapter then starts the process of finding volunteers with availabilities to match. Please keep in mind that this will be a long disaster relief operation, one that will possibly last from six months to a year. ARE YOU GOING TO BE HAVING MORE TRAINING CLASSES? We will be having more training classes in the days to come. Please keep in mind that this is a “hardship” assignment (sleeping on a cot, with limited access to showers) for three weeks. To be deployed to help, you need to have taken our training and must be in good health with no mobility limitations. The American Red Cross is currently staffed for the shelters that are open. It is when these volunteers are finished with their assignments, which ranges anywhere from 10 to 21 days, that more volunteers will be needed to replace them. Also, please keep in mind, that this relief operation will last anywhere from six to 12 months. Please monitor www.sacsierraredcross.org for updates on dates and times. WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH EVACUEES FROM THE HURRICANE KATRINA DISASTER AREA? Any individuals/families that are self-evacuating to the Sacramento Area are eligible for services through the American Red Cross. The Sacramento Sierra Chapter of the American Red Cross is operating a service center in the Sacramento office. This is for the registration and assessment of self-evacuees. In order to receive services, self-evacuees, upon arrival to the Sacramento area, need to contact the Sacramento Sierra Chapter of the American Red Cross by phone at (916) 368-3131 or in person at 8928 Volunteer Lane, Sacramento. Please note that the service center hours vary from day to day . Please call to check on hours. For people who are unable to visit a local chapter, the American Red Cross has opened up a call center. This center will interview and aid evacuees with the same guidelines as a chapter service center. The call center number is 1-800-975-7585. Please be aware that this number is very impacted and to please be patient with the process. I WOULD LIKE TO OFFER MY HOME TO DISPLACED EVACUEES, HOW DO I DO THAT? Thank you for your generous offer to house evacuees displaced by hurricane Katrina. The American Red Cross does not match evacuees with host families in unaffected areas. Please visit either www.sac.sheriff.com, or your local Salvation Army (Sacramento, 916-563-3700). These organizations are processing of this type of donation. HOW DO I HELP WITH LOCAL EVACUATION SHELTERS? It is unclear at this time if an evacuation shelter for hurricane Katrina evacuees will be located in our area. If you want to participate in a local shelter, if one is located here, you will need to take the same 9 hour training class. We will be having more training classes in the days to come. Please monitor www.sacsierraredcross.org for updates on dates and times. HOW CAN I FIND OUT ABOUT A LOVED ONE IN THE HURRICANE-AFFECTED REGION? The American Red Cross has launched a website to help assist family members who are seeking news about loved ones living in the path of Hurricane Katrina. • If you have internet access, please visit the “Family Links Registry” via www.redcross.org to register yourself, a missing relative or view the existing list of registrants. • Due to the extent of the damage and the number of people displaced, concerned friends and family members are encouraged to visit this site daily to consult the list, as it will be updated continuously. • Those who do not have access should call our toll-free hotline 1-877-LOVED-1S (1-877-568-3317) I AM HAVING TROUBLE WITH MY CLIENT ASSISTANCE CARD (CAC). If you are a hurricane Katrina evacuee and are having trouble with your: * US Bank VISA Client Assistance Card that was issued to you at the Sacramento Sierra Red Cross., please call US Bank customer service at 1-877-693-2899. * Red Cross CAC card, please come by the Red Cross office for assistance. Please call 916-368-3131 to check the service center hours. Tue, 20 Sep 2005 21:03:10 GMT http://katrina.tribe.net/thread/63694ffe-54c9-4b3b-9923-fc93e9eaadc0#ce679c44-c2a6-4855-9547-2c66827fdb3e Bishop 2005-09-20T21:03:10Z