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Red Cross needs help after ‘rash of fires’
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By: MAUNETTE LOEKS, Staff Reporter
With a new director at its helm, the Greater Nebraska Panhandle Chapter of the American Red Cross is taking stock. And, it has great needs, Executive Director Jann Rouzee said.
Rouzee has been heading the chapter, formerly known as the North Platte Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross, for two months. Headquartered in Scottsbluff, the Panhandle chapter provides emergency response services to all 11 counties of the Panhandle.
Since July, the Red Cross chapter has provided aid to 13 families or individuals suffering fires and helped one family encountering damages after a storm. In just the last month, Rouzee said, the Red Cross gave help to eight families or individuals who were victims of fire, with six of the families receiving monetary assistance.
The Red Cross’ emergency disaster fund “is wiped out because we have had a rash of fires,” Rouzee said.
In a Crawford fire, three buildings were destroyed in one fire, including the residence and home-based business of the family. Most recently, a Minatare couple, Michael and Christine Smith, have been staying in a Scottsbluff motel after their home was destroyed by fire on Nov. 7. Rouzee said the American Red Cross is still providing assistance to the family, which is looking for a rental home and trying to meet other needs, such as furniture.
When the Red Cross responds to a disaster, Rouzee explains, volunteers assess the needs of victims and try to meet the most urgent needs regarding shelter, food and clothing. Special needs, such as replacing work-related clothing that has been destroyed, or other needs will be addressed. Some victims’ needs vary, depending on factors such as the number of children in a family.
The amount of assistance given in disasters is determined on the national level of the Red Cross. Rouzee touted it as an advantage because training and other guidelines are the same throughout the nation, allowing volunteers to provide aid at a variety of disasters, from hurricanes to wildfires.
“There is equality across the board,” Rouzee said. “We serve everyone unconditionally.”
As a non-profit organization, the local Red Cross relies heavily on donations to replenish its fund for providing services in emergencies and disasters, Rouzee said. Replenishing that fund is one of the greatest needs of the local chapter.
“The Red Cross is a gift to the American people from the American people,” she said, noting that the Red Cross doesn’t receive federal or state monies. “We rely heavily on contributions.”
Dollars from the Red Cross go toward families in all of the communities served by the Red Cross. It comes full circle, she said, benefiting residents of the communities and businesses as the Red Cross provides aid and supplies, such as purchasing food at a local restaurant or housing someone in a local hotel.
“If there is a disaster, anywhere in the Panhandle, we are there,” Rouzee said. “We serve anyone at their time of need. Our chapter covers 11 counties, which is over 14,000 square miles and 90,000 people.”
With its wide breadth of coverage, Rouzee said that not only is the chapter needing contributions for its emergency work, but also volunteers to respond to disasters, as well as health and safety volunteers.
Health and safety volunteers fill such duties as providing training in CPR, babysitting courses and swimming lessons. However, the Red Cross has its greatest need of volunteers in disaster training.
“One of my goals is to make significant changes,” Rouzee said, stressing that she wants to bring the Red Cross back to the forefront of people’s minds when they need help in a disaster.
The chapter recently had two volunteers – Alisha Rindels of Scottsbluff and Rhonda Buescher of Bushnell – complete mass sheltering classes. One volunteer, Jim Schaeffer of Chadron, responded to Hurricane Ike and Hurricane Gustav. However, only six volunteers here have disaster aid training. Ideally, the Red Cross would like to have a Disaster Action Volunteer, or “DAT,” stationed in each of the geographic regions served throughout the Panhandle. The goal is to have volunteers that can respond quickly and in an appropriate amount of time.
“We can’t reach the number of people we need to provide services to without sending the same people out for fires or other disasters,” Rouzee said. “And, they get burned out, so we would like to set up a system where the goal is to be able to share the response. The more people we get that are trained, the better.”
The need for contributions – and volunteers — is urgent, Rouzee stresses. With that in mind, the Red Cross is asking for donations and is offering orientation classes for potential volunteers.
Disaster response volunteers need only complete a minimum of six hours, or three classes, to be trained to respond. A Disaster Action Team orientation will be held on Dec. 3, 5:30 p.m., at the Greater Nebraska Panhandle Chapter of the American Red Cross Chapter’s office. The office is located 3701 Ave. D., Ste. S100 in Scottsbluff.
An orientation for all areas overseen by the American Red Cross will be held on Dec. 9, 5:30 p.m., also at the Red Cross offices.
For more information about the Greater Nebraska Panhandle Chapter of the American Red Cross, contact the Scottsbluff office, (308) 635-2114 or visit its Web site, www.gnpredcross.org.
Rouzee has been heading the chapter, formerly known as the North Platte Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross, for two months. Headquartered in Scottsbluff, the Panhandle chapter provides emergency response services to all 11 counties of the Panhandle.
Since July, the Red Cross chapter has provided aid to 13 families or individuals suffering fires and helped one family encountering damages after a storm. In just the last month, Rouzee said, the Red Cross gave help to eight families or individuals who were victims of fire, with six of the families receiving monetary assistance.
The Red Cross’ emergency disaster fund “is wiped out because we have had a rash of fires,” Rouzee said.
In a Crawford fire, three buildings were destroyed in one fire, including the residence and home-based business of the family. Most recently, a Minatare couple, Michael and Christine Smith, have been staying in a Scottsbluff motel after their home was destroyed by fire on Nov. 7. Rouzee said the American Red Cross is still providing assistance to the family, which is looking for a rental home and trying to meet other needs, such as furniture.
When the Red Cross responds to a disaster, Rouzee explains, volunteers assess the needs of victims and try to meet the most urgent needs regarding shelter, food and clothing. Special needs, such as replacing work-related clothing that has been destroyed, or other needs will be addressed. Some victims’ needs vary, depending on factors such as the number of children in a family.
The amount of assistance given in disasters is determined on the national level of the Red Cross. Rouzee touted it as an advantage because training and other guidelines are the same throughout the nation, allowing volunteers to provide aid at a variety of disasters, from hurricanes to wildfires.
“There is equality across the board,” Rouzee said. “We serve everyone unconditionally.”
As a non-profit organization, the local Red Cross relies heavily on donations to replenish its fund for providing services in emergencies and disasters, Rouzee said. Replenishing that fund is one of the greatest needs of the local chapter.
“The Red Cross is a gift to the American people from the American people,” she said, noting that the Red Cross doesn’t receive federal or state monies. “We rely heavily on contributions.”
Dollars from the Red Cross go toward families in all of the communities served by the Red Cross. It comes full circle, she said, benefiting residents of the communities and businesses as the Red Cross provides aid and supplies, such as purchasing food at a local restaurant or housing someone in a local hotel.
“If there is a disaster, anywhere in the Panhandle, we are there,” Rouzee said. “We serve anyone at their time of need. Our chapter covers 11 counties, which is over 14,000 square miles and 90,000 people.”
With its wide breadth of coverage, Rouzee said that not only is the chapter needing contributions for its emergency work, but also volunteers to respond to disasters, as well as health and safety volunteers.
Health and safety volunteers fill such duties as providing training in CPR, babysitting courses and swimming lessons. However, the Red Cross has its greatest need of volunteers in disaster training.
“One of my goals is to make significant changes,” Rouzee said, stressing that she wants to bring the Red Cross back to the forefront of people’s minds when they need help in a disaster.
The chapter recently had two volunteers – Alisha Rindels of Scottsbluff and Rhonda Buescher of Bushnell – complete mass sheltering classes. One volunteer, Jim Schaeffer of Chadron, responded to Hurricane Ike and Hurricane Gustav. However, only six volunteers here have disaster aid training. Ideally, the Red Cross would like to have a Disaster Action Volunteer, or “DAT,” stationed in each of the geographic regions served throughout the Panhandle. The goal is to have volunteers that can respond quickly and in an appropriate amount of time.
“We can’t reach the number of people we need to provide services to without sending the same people out for fires or other disasters,” Rouzee said. “And, they get burned out, so we would like to set up a system where the goal is to be able to share the response. The more people we get that are trained, the better.”
The need for contributions – and volunteers — is urgent, Rouzee stresses. With that in mind, the Red Cross is asking for donations and is offering orientation classes for potential volunteers.
Disaster response volunteers need only complete a minimum of six hours, or three classes, to be trained to respond. A Disaster Action Team orientation will be held on Dec. 3, 5:30 p.m., at the Greater Nebraska Panhandle Chapter of the American Red Cross Chapter’s office. The office is located 3701 Ave. D., Ste. S100 in Scottsbluff.
An orientation for all areas overseen by the American Red Cross will be held on Dec. 9, 5:30 p.m., also at the Red Cross offices.
For more information about the Greater Nebraska Panhandle Chapter of the American Red Cross, contact the Scottsbluff office, (308) 635-2114 or visit its Web site, www.gnpredcross.org.
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