Local Red Cross volunteer, Morrie Bowie, will be the first volunteer in the region to deploy to Puerto Rico to help with the response to the recent earthquakes. The American Red Cross is on the ground in Puerto Rico, helping after a series of earthquakes rattled the area, seriously damaging homes and buildings, and leaving residents anxious about when the shaking will stop. The island has seen more than 1,000 tremors since late December and thousands of people in the southwest part of the island are taking refuge in the government-run shelters which the Red Cross is supporting by providing cots, blankets and comfort items.
The Red Cross has about 170 trained disaster workers on the island, supporting government shelters and helping to care for more vulnerable populations such as the elderly and children.
Morrie Bowie of Chicago, Illinois, has been assigned to Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico and will be helping the work there including going neighborhood by neighborhood to give out emergency supplies, including hygiene kits and comfort items, and sharing preparedness information.
Morrie has previously deployed to Puerto Rico in 2017 after Hurricane Maria. Morrie is a former firefighter with the Chicago Fire Department with assignments all over the area including Cabrini Green.
Interview Opportunity:
Morrie is available this evening at his home or at O’Hare airport tomorrow ahead of his 8AM flight. Contact Holly or Joy to schedule.
HOW TO HELP: You can help people affected by disasters like earthquakes 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. Visit redcross.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS, or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. For those interested in helping people specifically affected by the recent tremors, we ask that they write “Puerto Rico Earthquakes” in the memo line of a check and mail it to their local Red Cross chapter with the completed the donation form at redcross.org/donate.
About the American Red Cross of Chicago & Northern Illinois:
The American Red Cross of Chicago & Northern Illinois serves 9.5 million people in 21 counties including Boone, Bureau, Carroll, Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, Jo Daviess, LaSalle, Lake, Lee, McHenry, Ogle, Putnam, Stephenson, Whiteside, Will and Winnebago. 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 us at redcross.org/il/chicago or visit us on Twitter @ChicagoRedCross.