The American Red Cross in Oregon and Southwest Washington has had an unusually busy December, responding to 43 home fires and other disasters in the past 12 days. On average, the Red Cross typically responds to approximately half the number of disaster responses we have seen so far this December – 24 disasters within a 12-day period. “From Vancouver to Shady Cove and Coos Bay to Hermiston, when disasters strike the Red Cross is there to help,” said Amy Shlossman, Chief Executive Officer for the American Red Cross Cascades Region. “In the past 12 days, our volunteers have assisted more than 165 of our neighbors, providing emergency assistance for shelter, food and other basic needs.” Many of the disasters the Red Cross responds to are preventable disasters like home fires. Know the steps you can take now to keep your home and family safe. *Keep items that can catch on fire at least three feet away from anything that gets hot, like heaters or stoves. *Turn portable heaters off when leaving the room or going to sleep. *Check holiday light strings to make sure they are in good condition. Don’t use anything with frayed electrical cords. *Use battery operated flashlights or lanterns instead of candles during a power outage. Do not leave a burning candle unattended. *Never leave cooking food unattended. If you must leave the kitchen, even for a short period of time, turn off the stove. *Install smoke alarms on every level of the home and outside each sleeping area, placing them on the ceiling or high on the wall. *Get new smoke alarms every ten years. *Make a plan: you may only have two minutes to escape when a fire occurs. Know two ways to escape from every room and designate a safe place to meet outside the home in case of a fire. The Red Cross responds to home fires, floods, winter storms and other disasters by helping those affected address their immediate basic needs and begin their recovery. Red Cross staff and volunteers provide disaster assistance such as help with temporary housing; food; clothing; comfort kits with personal hygiene products; information about recovery services; and health and mental health services.
