(ASHEVILLE, N.C. – June 4, 2018) –  After more than 2 weeks of assisting communities across several western North Carolina counties with safe refuge from storms, distribution of meals, snacks, water and emergency clean-up supplies, and assessing damage to homes, American Red Cross disaster trained volunteers will turn their attention to working with families impacted by the recent floods and mudslides one-on-one to help them on the road to recovery.

Trained caseworkers will go door-to-door to homes that have been assessed as having major damage to assist them with individualized recovery plans. Every family’s needs are different, and Red Cross assistance, varies based on the needs. Some financial assistance may be available for those who qualify based on needs.

Anyone whose home was damaged by the floods or mudslides who may not have been contacted by the Red Cross may call 828-333-9918 to request an assessment. Some assessments may be done by phone.

“Red Cross volunteers will continue to work alongside families whose homes have been impacted by these floods and mudslide for weeks, if not months, until everyone is on the road to recovery,” said Alli Trask, executive director, Red Cross Asheville-Mountain Area Chapter. “But this is nothing new to most of our volunteers. They work year ’round responding to the most frequent disaster we respond to, home fires, while maintaining training to be able to respond to larger disasters such as these. We thank them for their commitment and passion to helping neighbors in need.”

Anyone interested in volunteering in their community to assist neighbors during times of disasters large and small may visit redcross.org/volunteer to explore the opportunities.

SAFETY TIPS FOR RETURNING HOME AFTER A FLOOD:

• After a flood, do not attempt to return to affected areas until officials say it is safe to do so.
• Once you are able to go home, look for loose power lines, damaged gas lines, cracks in the foundation or other damage before you enter your home.
• During cleanup, wear protective clothing, including rubber gloves and rubber boots.
• Watch out for wild animals, especially poisonous snakes that may have come into your home with the floodwater.
• If you smell natural or propane gas or hear a hissing noise, leave immediately and call the fire department.
• If power lines are down outside your home, do not step in puddles or standing water.
• Materials such as cleaning products, paint, batteries, contaminated fuel and damaged fuel containers are hazardous. Check with local authorities for        assistance with disposal to avoid risk.
• Make sure your food and water are safe. Discard items that have come in contact with floodwater, including canned goods, water bottles, plastic utensils and baby bottle nipples. When in doubt, throw it out.

For more tips on what to do before, during, and after flash floods or mudslides, visit RedCross.org or download the free Red Cross Emergency App. This all-inclusive app lets you monitor more than 35 different severe weather and emergency alerts, to help keep you and your loved ones safe.

HOW TO HELP:

Please click, text or call to donate to the Red Cross to help people affected by disasters big and small. Every single donation brings hope to those in need. Your gift enables the Red Cross to help people prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters. Visit redcross.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.

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