The American Red Cross of Upstate South Carolina serves Greenville, Abbeville, Anderson, Greenwood, Laurens, McCormick, and Pickens Counties.

Wednesday, February 28, 2007

The Janie Turmon Story

The American Red Cross is a preparedness and response organization driven by volunteers. It is an honor to be able to share stories from victims who have received services through the Upstate Red Cross. It is they, the disaster victim, that can convey better than anyone, the Red Cross story. The following testimonial is from Janie Turmon, a fire victim in Anderson, South Carolina.

"On June 6, 2006, while at work, I received a call from my daughter asking me to come home because our house was on fire and fire trucks were on the way. I grabbed my purse and headed out the door not knowing what I would find when I arrived home. I prayed all the way and it seemed to take an eternity as I was stopped by every red light along the route. The closer I got to home, the more smoke I could see. There were cars and fire trucks everywhere, blocking my driveway. I panicked and jumped out of my car and began to run toward the house. My thoughts were to save whatever I could, but was stopped short by a firefighter saying that I could not go into the house. My heart sank as I watched everything I had worked so hard for go up in flames.

I cried and cried because at that moment I was homeless along with my three children, my mother, my sister, and my brother who all lived with me. I wondered what we would do. There was no place to go. I didn't have home owner insurance. I intended to get it, I just kept putting it off. Each time I went in to pay my car insurance, I would talk with the agent about it, but I never got around to signing a policy.

As I sat outside with my family, a feeling of hopelessness began to set in. When I looked up, a van appeared. Not just any van. This one had a bright red cross on the side and four ladies who brought help to my family. They supplied water and all the assistance we needed to get back on our feet. I believe in the Lord, but until that day, I never experienced angels coming to assist me at that magnitude.

As I stated, we had nothing. The Red Cross ladies supplied funds for clothing and housing, and they provided contact information for agencies that could assist in my recovery. I truly believe that you have to be a special person to take time to help others who are in need.

I will be forever grateful to the American Red Cross. I will forever support their mission and the mission of other agencies that provide assistance to disaster victims.

I want to say thank you. Without the help of the American Red Cross, my family and I would not be where we are today."

Tuesday, February 13, 2007

Chapter Honors Greenville Hero

On Thursday, February 8, the Upstate South Carolina Chapter, bestowed honors upon a Greenville Hero.

Virgil Whitted, of Mitsubishi Polyester Film Company, was having lunch in the employee cafeteria when a co-worker began to choke on some food that lodged in his windpipe. Virgil sprang into action and performed abdominal thrusts, dislodging the food and saving his co-workers life. Virgil provided further assistance by checking for injuries and escorting his co-worker to the plant medical department.

For his life-saving act, Virgil was given one of the Red Crosses highest awards, the Lifesaving Award for the Professional Responder which is given to an individual who saves a life by using skills and knowledge acquired in a Red Cross Health & Safety course. The certificate bears the signatures of the President and CEO of the American Red Cross and the Chairman of the Board.

Virgil's actions exemplify the highest degree of human concern anyone can display toward someone in distress.

Wednesday, February 07, 2007

Highly Trained Red Cross Volunteer Retruns From Florida

Red Cross Damage Assessment Volunteer, Bill Vaudreuil of Greenwood, returned home Monday morning from his deployment to Paisley, Florida.

The small town of Paisley boasts a population of just over 700 residents who lived sprinkled throughout the Central Florida countryside in mobile or single family homes. Many of its residents chose to live in Paisley because it is a peaceful location providing shelter and respite from Florida storms--until now.

"I was called to deploy Friday night and arrived in Florida early Saturday morning," stated Vaudreuil. "We arrived ahead of any Federal Agencies and began to assess the damage." Vaudreuil reflected on what he saw and remembered the distinct path the tornado carved into the countryside. "Trees were torn down and homes were destroyed where the tornado traveled," he paused then began again, "no, the homes were not just destroyed, they were gone!"

Volunteers like Vaudreuil are highly trained having taken basic, intermediate, and advanced Red Cross courses which provide expertise in a chosen field of service.

Potential volunteers can select from many areas of service at both the local and national levels: Health Services, Mental Health Services, Sheltering, Feeding, Disaster Assessment, Facilities Management, Procurement, Transportation Management, IT, Public Affairs, and Fundraising are only some of the specialties.

The American Red Cross never allows a volunteer to enter a disaster situation with out training. If you would like to provide relief, either at the local or national levels, contact the Upstate Chapter today at (864) 271-8222 to become involved.

Tuesday, February 06, 2007

Local Volunteers Continue Relief in Florida

Friday's storm was the second-deadliest combination of thunderstorms and tornadoes in Florida history. Joe Hawkins and Robert Neil, two seasoned Red Cross relief workers from Greenville are there and amazed at what they see.

"The devastation is extensive," remarks Hawkins who daily drives an Emergency Response Vehicle through Valusia County neighborhoods. Echos of chainsaws, hammers, and dump trucks can still be heard there. Hawkins continues, "Trees are twisted off and ripped from their roots, homes have been blown apart down to the foundation, people are in shock over the damage."

Joe and Robert are working long hours providing a vital life-link to Florida residents. Together, they have delivered nearly 4,000 meals working from 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.

The violent F4 tornado packed winds as high as 165 mph, about 30 mph higher than Hurricane Katrina. Many Florida residents without homes today say they never felt a breeze the night the storms ravaged the state. The Red Cross estimates that over 2000 homes received major or minor structural damage, or were destroyed completely totaling near $70 million dollars in damage thus far.

The need for Red Cross services continues as a curfew is still in effect for Florida residents in storm damaged areas. Progress Energy and Sumter Electric Co-op have restored power to the homes that can safely receive electricity. "We expect to be here until next weekend," states Hawkins, "but as long as there is a need, we will remain."

Joe and Robert are two of the 434 "Red Crossers" that responded to Florida. They represent some of the finest citizens the Upstate has to offer. They are truly modern day heroes.

Sunday, February 04, 2007

Reuniting Families in Tragedy

When tragedy strikes, the Red Cross is there to lend a hand enabling disaster victims to begin the recovery process.

Reconnecting with family, friends and loved ones jump starts the healing process, and one way Florida's disaster victims can convey their welfare is through the American Red Cross' Safe and Well website. The Red Cross encourages individuals and families to register themselves as “safe and well” on the site, which is accessible at all times via www.redcross.org.

With Internet access, people within a disaster area are able to select and post standard “safe and well” messages on the Safe and Well Website. Sample standardized messages for posting include:

􀂃 I am safe and well
􀂃 Family and I are safe and well
􀂃 Currently at a shelter
􀂃 Currently at home
􀂃 Currently at friend/family member/neighbor’s house
􀂃 Will make phone calls when able
􀂃 Will email when able
􀂃 Will mail letter/postcard when able

Using a last name and phone number (home, cell, or work) or complete home address, family members outside of the disaster-affected areas can search the website for the “safe and well” messages left by their loved ones.

The Safe and Well website complies with all privacy and child protection laws. Because of these concerns, no location information will be publicly displayed on this website. Every person maintains the right to determine how best to communicate their contact information and whereabouts to family members.

The Safe and Well website is just one more way the American Red Cross provides peace of mind for those directly or indirectly affected by tragedy.

Saturday, February 03, 2007

Upstate Red Cross Responds to Devastating Florida Tornadoes

Central Florida residents and vacationers received a devastating blow to the start of February as tornadoes ripped through communities across the state, prompting Florida Gov. Charlie Crist to declare a state of emergency in Lake, Seminole, Sumter and Volusia counties.

Overnight, volunteers from the Upstate Red Cross sprang into action. "When we heard the news, we knew we had to help," stated Joe Hawkins, a seasoned disaster response volunteer whose most recent deployment was to Louisiana during Hurricane Katrina.

The Upstate Chapter has deployed four volunteers so far, some of whom left late last night for Daytona Beach one of the hardest hit, Valusia County cities in Central Florida. The deployed relief workers will be doing a variety of activities while on their two-week assignment. Some will deliver meals in the affected neighborhoods, others will comfort victims who find solice in Red Cross shelters, while others will comb weather-torn neighborhoods assessing the extent of damage.

"Red Cross volunteers are some of the Upstate's most selfless residents," states Red Cross spokesman Brian Scoles. "Our volunteers will leave their homes, families, and jobs in the middle of the night if need be. They leave knowing it will be two or three weeks, sometimes longer, before returning home."

The Upstate Chapter's mission is to care for the emergency, disaster-caused needs of residents throughout the Upstate, but they also care for the needs of friends and neighbors across the country.

If you would like to get involved with the American Red Cross, call the Upstate Chapter at (864) 271-8222 or by logging onto the Chapter's website at upstatescredcross.org to begin the process today.