You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience.

One Month Later – Red Cross Responds to Washington Mudslide

Washington Mudslide
This is heartbreaking for all involved.

On March 22, a tragic mudslide changed the landscape of Oso, Washington forever and impacted the lives of everyone who lives in the region.

There was little warning before the mud crashed through the area, destroying homes and people’s lives. The American Red Cross launched an immediate response and continues to provide food, water, emotional support and financial assistance to area residents and their families in the weeks since the devastating landslide.

“This is heartbreaking for all involved,” is how Debby Lasky-Fink described the situation. She is a Red Cross Disaster Mental Health volunteer for the Snohomish County Red Cross Chapter in the impacted region. Red Cross mental health workers are caring for the families as well as helping first responders and workers who are also impacted by the tragedy.

In response to the mudslide, the Red Cross:

  • Mobilized more than 500 trained disaster workers and several emergency response vehicles.
  • These workers have served more than 29,000 meals and snacks in partnership with Southern Baptist Disaster Relief.
  • The Red Cross has distributed more than 7,000 comfort and relief items.
  • Workers have provided more than 8,000 mental health and health contacts.
  • The Red Cross opened shelters and provided 142 overnight stays.

    • RED CROSS SUPPORT Red Cross caseworkers are meeting one-on-one with residents to offer financial support, help them plan their recovery and locate help from other agencies. These caseworkers will continue to work with people to provide assistance over the coming months. The Red Cross is:

  • Providing direct financial support to people who need extra help, including assistance with funeral expenses, travel and housing expenses for out-of-town relatives, mental health counseling and increased fuel costs due to the closure of a major highway in the area.
  • Helping people whose homes were damaged or destroyed by providing resources to replace furniture and pay for security deposits, rent and utilities.
  • Providing funding to a community mental health organization to help ensure residents continue to get the counseling they need in the coming months.

    • Recovering from this disaster will take time and the Red Cross will be in the region to deliver aid for months to come. The Red Cross is working with residents, local and state officials and area nonprofit organizations to determine how to best help the community now and in the months ahead.

    Tags: Mudslide, Floods 2014, Response.
    About the American Red Cross:
    The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.

    Related

    Join The Movement

    See how you can help. Everyone can make a difference.

    Get Involved
    Blood drop icon

    Give Blood

    Help change a life by donating blood or hosting a blood drive.

    Book icon

    Take a Class

    Learn a lifesaving skill from the Red Cross this year.

    Picture icon

    Share a Story

    Join others who have given and received help.

    • Emergency App

      Emergency is the one-download resource that puts vital information at your fingertips. This “all-inclusive” app combines more than 35 different severe weather and emergency alerts from natural to man-made, giving you real-time information to help keep you and your loved ones safe.

    • Blood App

      Users can schedule appointments, track total donations, earn rewards and invite others to join them on a lifesaving team. The Blood Donor App is a great new way to help meet the constant need for blood.

    • Flood App

      Get your family and home ready for a flood. The American Red Cross Flood app is the complete solution you need to understand and prepare for flooding and all that comes with it.

    • Swim App

      Help your child become a confident swimmer. The American Red Cross Swim app puts the 100 year old Learn to Swim program in the palm of your hand. Brush up on your water safety knowledge, play parent child games together and track your child’s progress in the class.

    • Pet First Aid App

      Take care of your furry family member. The American Red Cross Pet First Aid app puts veterinary advice for everyday emergencies in the palm of your hand. Get the app and be prepared to act when called upon. With videos, interactive quizzes and simple step-by-step advice it’s never been easier to know Pet First Aid.

    • Team Red Cross: Volunteer App

      Team Red Cross wants you! Join Team Red Cross to help provide the care and comfort needed to communities when the unthinkable occurs.

      Team Red Cross wants people with various backgrounds, talents, and skill levels. Everyone has something special to offer...including you. Make a difference and join Team Red Cross!

    • Wildfire App

      Be ready for wildfires with the Wildfire App by the American Red Cross. Get the latest state-by-state wildfire news and updates, prepare your family, home and pets, let loved ones know that you are safe even if the power is out – a must have for anyone who lives in an area that is susceptible to wildfires or has loved ones that do.

    • Tornado App

      Get your family and home ready for a tornado with the official Tornado App from the American Red Cross. The Tornado app puts everything you need to know prepare for a tornado – and all that comes with it – in the palm of your hand. With interactive quizzes and simple step-by-step advice it’s never been easier to be ready.
      Get the Tornado App

    • First Aid App

      The official American Red Cross First Aid app puts expert advice for everyday emergencies in your hand. Available for iPhone and Android devices, the official American Red Cross First Aid app offers videos, interactive quizzes and simple step-by-step advice it’s never been easier to know first aid.

    • Hurricane App

      Monitor conditions in your area or throughout the storm track, prepare your family and home, find help and let others know you are safe even if the power is out – a must have for anyone who lives in an area where a hurricane may strike or has loved ones who do.

    • Shelter Finder App

      The Red Cross Shelter Finder is available in the iTunes store and works on iOS devices. The Shelter Finder displays open Red Cross shelters and their current population on an easy to use map interface.

    • Earthquake App

      Be ready for an earthquake with Earthquake by American Red Cross. Get notified when an earthquake occurs, prepare your family and home, find help and let others know you are safe even if the power is out – a must have for anyone who lives in an earthquake-prone area or has loved ones who do.