Pictured from left to right: Gregory L. Smith (Red Cross Regional Disaster Program Officer), Adrian Grieve (Red Cross Division Disaster State Relations Director), Janice Winston (Red Cross Government Operations Volunteer), MaryAnn Tierney (FEMA Region III Regional Administrator), Guy Triano (Red Cross Regional CEO), Clifton Salas (Red Cross Regional COO), Mike Kiley-Zufelt (Red Cross Senior Disaster Program Manager)
Contact: Sophie Kluthe sophie.kluthe@redcross.org or FEMAR3NewsDesk@fema.dhs.gov
PHILADELPHIA – Leadership at the American Red Cross of Eastern Pennsylvania and The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Region III plan to meet today, Thursday, February 21, 2019 at the Red Cross Regional Headquarters in Philadelphia to discuss future partnership opportunities and goals; a continuation of the strong relationship the two agencies have fostered over the years.
In the past, FEMA Region III has assisted the mission of the American Red Cross by hosting blood drives for the organization’s Eastern Pennsylvania Region, as well as, being a partner for the ongoing Sound The Alarm effort to reduce home fires. The American Red Cross, in return, eagerly supports mass care functions during FEMA exercises. Today’s meeting aims to build on the existing partnership and strengthen ties when it comes to activities in eastern Pennsylvania.
“The Red Cross of Eastern Pennsylvania and FEMA have enjoyed a strong partnership for many years,” said Red Cross Regional CEO Guy Triano. “These partnerships are crucial to increasing the probability of a seamless, coordinated, and efficient response during times of disaster.”
“FEMA’s mission of helping people before, during, and after disaster is supported by the full capability and partnership of the American Red Cross,” stated Regional Administrator MaryAnn Tierney, FEMA Region III. “We partner with the Red Cross on everything from exercises to real world response, shelter coordination, and more still in between. Our relationship is one of the most critical to our support to communities across Pennsylvania and our region.”
Both organizations continue to plan for emergencies and coordinate on shelter planning through exercises and consistent communication. By continuing to build on their relationship, both FEMA and the Red Cross Eastern Pennsylvania Region are planning for a successful partnership for future emergencies.
For more information on the American Red Cross, Eastern Pennsylvania Region, please visit www.RedCross.org/local/pennsylvania/eastern-pennsylvania and www.RedCross.org/. For more information on FEMA Region III, please visit www.FEMA.gov/region-iii.
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.
FEMA’s mission is helping people before, during, and after disasters. FEMA Region III’s jurisdiction includes Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia. Learn more about FEMA Region III at www.FEMA.gov/region-iii. Stay informed of FEMA’s activities online: videos and podcasts are available at fema.gov/medialibrary and youtube.com/fema. Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/femaregion3.
