| Red Cross of Alaska 235 E 8th Ave Suite 200 Anchorage Alaska, 99501
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE NEWS RELEASE
| Contact: Lisa Miller Phone: Cell: (907) 782-7520
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RED CROSS OF ALASKA STAFF MEMBER TO DEPLOY TO DETWILER FIRE RESPONSE
Local Red Cross to assist in wildfire relief efforts in Fresno, California
Anchorage, AK, July 21, 2017 —American Red Cross of Alaska Disaster Workforce Specialist, Maria Caruso, will deploy Friday, July 21 to Fresno, California as a part of the Staff Planning and Support team to support American Red Cross Detwiler Fire relief efforts in Mariposa County.
Caruso will support more than 80 volunteers currently staffing Red Cross shelters, as the volunteers continue to provide relief and comfort to hundreds of residents affected by evacuations.
More than 50 homes have been confirmed destroyed so far by the wildfire, and more than 70,000 acres burned.
The Red Cross is currently operating the following shelter locations for anyone impacted by the fire:
This will be Caruso’s first deployment with the Red Cross Staff Planning and Support, but has an extensive background in social services and emergency services. Her role will be to support the Red Cross shelter volunteers who are on hand at each location.
“I will be checking in new volunteers that are coming in to help, making sure they get what they need, resolving volunteer problems, helping with orienting to their role, their job, where they will be staying, etc,” said Caruso.
Caruso expects to be in California for at least 2 to 3 weeks. She is unsure at this point if she will be assigned to one specific shelter, if she’ll be needed in several, or if she’ll work directly out of the Central California Red Cross office overseeing support efforts.
STAY INFORMED
A Red Cross public information line has been established for anyone looking for information on current disaster relief efforts: 559-343-2549.
Visit redcross.org/safeandwell to reconnect with loved ones that might be missing during a disaster. The Safe and Well website is an easy-to-use online tool to help families and individuals notify loved ones that they are safe during an emergency.
HOW TO HELP
You can help people affected by disasters like wildfires and countless other crises by making a donation to support Red Cross Disaster Relief. 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 “RED CROSS” to 91999 to make a $10 donation to your local Red Cross region.
HOW TO VOLUNTEER
Trained Red Cross volunteers are currently staffing shelters and supporting evacuated residents in California. Learn more about becoming a Red Cross of Alaska volunteer or sign up today at redcross.org/volunteer.
LEARN MORE
Follow the local Red Cross on Twitter and Facebook for additional updates. Visit our website at http://redcross.org/alaska.
About the American Red Cross of Alaska:
In FY16, the American Red Cross of Alaska offered food, shelter, comfort and hope to 608 Alaskans. We responded to 200 single and multi-family house fires. Our preparedness / Health and Safety teams have installed 1,425 smoke alarms statewide and educated 2,344 youth through our Pillowcase Project. Additionally, our Service to the Armed Forces staff exchanged 796 emergency messages for U.S. military service personnel 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.
