ANCHORAGE, Alaska (WEDNESDAY, DEC. 12, 2018) – It’s been nearly two weeks since a magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck the Southcentral area of Alaska. Since the day of the earthquake, the Red Cross has been hard at work throughout the affected areas, providing comfort, supplies and support to those who need it.

DAMAGE ASSESSMENT
The Red Cross currently has dozens of volunteers on the ground in affected areas, dedicated to conducting detailed damage assessments accurately, efficiently and safely in the wake of the earthquake.

Using cutting-edge technology that deploys advanced mapping and detailed demographics, teams are working diligently to locate and survey heavily damaged homes in the affected areas of Southcentral Alaska. Once damage is assessed, the Red Cross may be able to provide additional resources through recovery casework.

RECOVERY CASEWORK
Red Cross caseworkers are currently collaborating with government and nonprofit partners to help affected residents begin the recovery process. By working together, the Red Cross can meet priority needs and ensure people are not overlooked. This includes those whose homes were destroyed or heavily damaged, have complex recovery needs, or who don’t have anywhere else to turn for help.

Recovering from a disaster can be a confusing and complicated process. Each family will have different needs and will require varying degrees of support to meet those needs. Casework is the individualized process that finds the right solutions and creates the right plans to meet each need, and plays a critical role in helping families and communities recover in the weeks and months after a disaster. 

Red Cross caseworkers help those affected by the disaster plan their next steps and share critical information about community resources that can help them get back on their feet. Casework may also include direct financial assistance depending on the individual’s circumstances and other resources or programs that may be available to support their recovery.

OTHER SERVICES DELIVERED TO DATE

• Working with partners, the Red Cross served more than 2,237 meals and snacks to affected residents across the region following the Nov. 30 earthquake.
• The Red Cross of Alaska provided 230 overnight stays in Red Cross shelters in Anchorage, Chugiak and Wasilla for those affected by the earthquake.  
• To date, more than 300 disaster health and mental health contacts have been made to provide care and support to affected residents since Fri., Nov. 30.
  To date, the Red Cross of Alaska has mobilized 112 disaster workers to support residents in Anchorage, the Mat-Su Valley and other affected areas since the earthquake.

About the American Red Cross of Alaska:
In FY18, the American Red Cross of Alaska offered food, shelter, comfort and hope to 892 Alaskans. We responded to 308 disasters. Our preparedness/Health and Safety teams installed 2,309 smoke alarms statewide and educated 1,722 youth through The Pillowcase Project. Additionally, our Service to the Armed Forces staff exchanged 1,161 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 donors to provide aid to those that have been affected by disaster.