TAMPA, Fla. -- March 3, 2022 -- This morning, at approximately 1:30 a.m., the American Red Cross Tampa Bay Chapter was notified of an apartment fire at Ashford Bayside Apartment Homes in Kenneth City (Pinellas County) that had displaced approximately 22 families.

Six Red Cross Disaster Action Team (DAT) volunteers were dispatched and remained there for several hours to assist displaced residents. The Red Cross provided emergency relief supplies and financial assistance for immediate needs such as lodging or food to tenants of approximately 16 units (nearly 50 people) who were present. As the morning has gone on, we have received several additional calls from residents who were not present earlier, and our volunteers will work with them virtually to provide services.

Residents who have urgent health needs (loss of medications, etc.) will be connected with our disaster health services and mental health volunteers, and caseworkers will follow up with each resident in the coming days to provide additional recovery guidance and referrals to community social services.

Red Cross volunteers on the scene are members of the Tampa Bay Chapter’s Disaster Action Team (DAT), a group of specially trained volunteers who respond to the scene of a local disaster when called upon at any time – day or night, 365 days a year.  These volunteers ensure that no one has to go through such a devastating event alone. Red Cross disaster assistance is free of charge, a gift made possible by donations.

HOW TO HELP  Donations to Red Cross disaster relief allow us to be there to help anytime a disaster like this strikes in the future. People can make a financial donation of any amount at redcross.org/givingday. People can also give the gift of time by becoming a Disaster Action Team volunteer at redcross.org/VolunteerToday.

The American Red Cross of Central Florida and the U.S. Virgin Islands serves 19 Florida counties through five chapters: Florida’s Space Coast (Daytona Beach), Greater Orlando, Mid-Florida (Winter Haven), Southwest Florida (Sarasota) and Tampa Bay; and the Virgin Islands territories of St. Thomas, St. Croix, St. John and Water Island. For more information, visit redcross.org. Also find us on Facebook and Twitter.

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.

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