WASILLA, AK, September 6, 2019 — As the American Red Cross of Alaska continues relief efforts across the areas affected by the McKinley Fire, recovery caseworkers will remain on the ground to assist individuals and families as they create recovery plans for the months and years ahead.
Red Cross caseworkers will be available from Sept. 9 through Sept. 13 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. to provide recovery planning services for those whose homes were destroyed by the fire. Red Cross caseworkers can be reached at 907-764-2407.
Emergency relief supplies like water, masks, storage totes, tarps, trash bags, shovels, rakes, brooms, gloves, blankets and personal hygiene items will also be available as needed throughout the affected areas. Those still in need of supplies can call the Red Cross office in Wasilla at 907-357-6060.
Red Cross health and mental health professionals will continue to provide emotional support, first aid, and health and mental health services on an as-needed basis, to care for and support residents as they work through the effects of this disaster. Our health and mental health teams will be on the ground in the affected neighborhoods to visit with residents this weekend, Sept. 7 and 8. After Sept. 8, Red Cross disaster health and mental health volunteers can be reached by calling the Red Cross recovery hotline at 907-764-2407.
Service Delivery to Date
The Red Cross has been on the ground since the McKinley Fire started, providing comfort, shelter, emotional support, relief supplies and assistance with recovery planning to those affected by this devastating fire. Since the McKinley Fire began, the Red Cross has:
• Provided 425 overnight stays in Red Cross emergency shelters for those displaced.
• Served more than 2,132 meals and snacks to those displaced by the fire, in addition to the meals and snack served by partners like the Salvation Army and the Upper Susitna Food Pantry.
• Made over 487 disaster health and mental health contacts to provide health services, first aid and emotional care to those affected by this disaster.
• Distributed more than 1,158 emergency relief supplies to those who need them.
• Mobilized 98 disaster workers to assist those affected.
About the American Red Cross of Alaska:
In Fiscal Year 2019, the American Red Cross of Alaska responded to 435 disasters by offering food, shelter, relief supplies, comfort, hope and recovery services to 1,096 Alaskans in 50 communities statewide. Our preparedness teams installed 2,171 free smoke alarms and educated 1,409 youth through The Pillowcase Project. Our Training Services department enrolled 19,665 students in first aid/CPR/AED, aquatics and caregiving classes. Our Service to the Armed Forces staff exchanged 1,299 emergency messages for U.S. military service personnel and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. In Fiscal Year 2019, our statewide workforce of 729 volunteers logged 40,735 hours in service to our mission and their fellow Alaskans. For more information, please visit redcross.org/Alaska or visit us on Twitter at @redcrossak.
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