January 2009 Finds Cumberland County Red Cross Responding to 4 Family Fires in 5 Days
What started as a quiet and peaceful month for the Red Cross family, quickly turned to a busy month during the last week. On January 26, the call went out in the evening hours to assist a family of two. Their two story home, was quickly being taken over by flames and many items would be lost. Red Cross Volunteers Josh and Trena answered the call. They arrived at the scene and met with the family. During the course of the next hour, it was determined that the family would need assistance with clothing and meals. However, they had made the decision that they would be staying with family members. Red Cross continued to follow up with the family the next day, by working with them on their long term recovery process.
Yet again, on January 27 in the evening hours, the call was once again answered by the Red Cross to assist another family from Carlisle. Red Cross Volunteers James and Christiana met with a family of three that had sustained a fire in the home caused by a dryer malfunction. Assistance was provided to the family in the form of shelter as they determined that all other needs were met. The family has since been able to return to their home.
On the morning of January 28, words was received that a local home in the Newville area was being consumed by a fire and that a family of three was in need. Dave, a long time Red Cross Volunteer, responded with difficult weather and road conditions existing. He arrived to find a two story home, completely lost and a family of three with all belongings destroyed.
The week ended when in the evening hours of January 30, a Shippensburg home was being destroyed by a fire. Red Cross Staff Stacy Yurko answered the call. The home was badly damaged leaving the family with very little. It was established that the family of four would be staying with family of their own. they were then provided with a CAC Card that would allow for them to purchase clothing and groceries.
Red Cross Responds to Several Families in February 2009
On February 10, 2009 it started all over for the American Red Cross Cumberland County Chapter. The chapter office received notification from the County 911 Center requesting that we respond to a family home in Newville. Disaster Relef Members reported to the scene immediately where word was received that it was a family of four. The family had been at work and was on their way to the scene. Once the family arrived, it was determined that they woudl need assistance with clothing and groceries as their items were heavily damaged. Close friends of theirs would be providing a place for them to stay, while the family made arrangements. Additional assistance was not required as once again the community of Newville pulled together to help this family as the previous family in January.
On the afternoon of February 13, Red Cross was requested for assistance with a fire in Carlisle. Reports were a possible row home. Once on scene, reports were that the fire had been quickly contained and it would leave only minor damage to one of the homes. Assistance was provided with a hotel stay as all other belongings were unharmed.
To finish the month, on February 14th a kitchen fire on B Street resulted in a family being displaced from their home. Red Cross assisted the family with lodging, meals and clothing for a family of 6. Additional assistance was not required for the family.
First Fire of March Completely Levels Home
March 3, 2009 in the late morning hours, the Cumberland County ARC was requested to assist a family with a house fire in Carlisle. Disaster Relief Members arrived to find a complete loss of a mobile home. The family consisted of two members, both who received assistance with clothing and groceries. They are currently staying with family members.
April and May remain quite, while the Summer Months have brought loss to local families.
The months of April and May came and went for the Cumberland County American Red Cross, with no incidents requiring the Disaster Relief Program. So during this time, many members particiapted in the Three Mile Island Drill. This drill is held every two years during the month of April with the Cumberland County American Red Cross Disaster Relief Team showing their skills and ability to perform the sheltering that would be required in the event of disaster at Three Mile Island.
However, during the month of June, two families suffered a loss of their homes. On June 12, 2009 a local Plainfield family had a fire in their home. Red Cross Volunteers Deb Stephens and Rose Adams immediately responded the request for assistance to the family. They provided the family with a place to stay, clothing to replace what they had just lost, assistance with some health needs and other immediate needs. The family has returned to a new home and are doing well.
Monday, June 22 in the morning in Shippensburg, the request was once again made to assist a family. The scene was quite different as two trucks had collided on Route 11, and had traveled in to the home of a family. The family barely escaped from serious injury, while the drivers of vehicles did not. Two more members, while a third particiapted in a table top drill at Shippensburg Intermediate School assisted the family. The family received assistance in the form of shelter and meals, and made arrangements with emergency personel to retrieve items from the home such as clothing and shoes. The house was deemed sstructurally unsafe and it would take crews all day to remove the two trucks from the interior of the home. Red Cross after working with the family assisted the crews of about 75 with rehab during the event.
July came with the Red Cross once again assisting two more families that had lost their homes due to a fire. The first occurred on July 7, where a single individual was provided assistance with shelter, clothing and meals. The second incident took place on July 29, on Pine Road in Newville. An electrical fire resulted in the loss of a complete home to a family of three. Once again Red Cross responded and met the emergency needs of the family. Since the fire, the family has been working hard to rebuild on the same location with the assistance of many local neighbors.
On August 17, the report came in for a family that was displaced due to a fire in their home in Shippensburg. Red Cross arrived to find that damage had been done to two bedrooms and the roof was open to sky. Power had been cut to the home, leaving the family needing a place to stay and clothing for the children, who's rooms had been damaged by the fire. The Red Cross is currently still working with the members of the household in hopes they will be able to recover soon.
