Media contact: Keith Paul
Regional Communications Director
keith.paul@redcross.org | 702-400-7680
RENO, Nev. (Feb. 20, 2022) — American Red Cross of Northern Nevada staff and Disaster Action Team volunteers joined with the Reno and Truckee Meadows Fire Departments in responding to a multi-unit apartment fire today in Stead. The Red Cross was able to assist nine residents with their immediate needs, including helping provide access to safe lodging tonight.
The three-alarm fire affected some six units and displaced at least nine residents. Red Cross staff and volunteers will continue working with these families over the coming weeks to connect them with additional community resources.
“Our Red Cross volunteers and staff are trained to help support their community and neighbors in times of crisis,” said Mary Powell, Executive Director of the American Red Cross Northern Nevada Chapter. “Disaster Action Team volunteers are on duty every day to ensure that no one in Northern Nevada has to face life’s emergencies alone.”
Red Cross volunteers often respond to home fires, which are the nation’s most frequent disaster and can leave a family devastated and in need of immediate assistance. Disaster Action Team members provide emotional support, access to financial assistance, and valuable information to help families begin to recover. These specialized volunteers provide immediate compassion and care when it is needed most. Additional Disaster Action Team volunteers are needed in Northern Nevada to ensure that there is always someone ready to answer the call when a disaster strikes.
The Red Cross provides training for Disaster Action Team Volunteers. After initial training, volunteers can take shifts that may include responding to emergencies within two hours, night or day, rain or shine, either on the scene or coordinating remotely to provide immediate compassion and care. With experience and further training, volunteers can take on leadership and response coordination roles to have a wider impact and be eligible for deployment to large scale emergencies/disasters in Nevada and other parts of the country.
To learn more about volunteering for the Disaster Action Team in Northern Nevada visit redcross.org/volunteer/disaster-action-team.html.
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow us on Twitter at @RedCross.