Local Red Cross Provides Disaster Relief After early morning Fire Destroys Homes

Newton, NJ –August 12, 2010 - Jan Mandeville, a volunteer with the Disaster Action Team at the Sussex County Chapter of the American Red Cross received a call at 6:30 a.m. indicating that a fire had broken out in Hamburg and several families were displaced.  She immediately grabbed her “to go” disaster kit and headed out the door.  While en route, she contacted another Disaster Action Team Volunteer, Jane Pier, to assist and they met each other at the scene of the fire.

When Jan and Jane arrived at 62 King Cole Road, they found one family sitting in their car, making plans for the future.  Another family was heading to the hospital to seek medical treatment; and a third family-whose home was where the fire originated, was realizing that they had lost everything.  Jan and Jane offered comforting words to the families and reassured them that things would get better. 

Later that day, after being discharge from the hospital, one of the displaced families came to the Red Cross office seeking refuge.  With two small children, ages two and 11 months, and another on the way, they didn’t know where to turn.  Red Cross staff met with the family and reassured them that they were in the right place, and provided critical services such as a place for the family to stay for several days as well as financial assistance for food, clothing and diapers, meeting their immediate emergency needs.  The family members were also provided with comfort kits—filled with important toiletry items and even stuffed animals to comfort the children.

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies nearly half of the nation's blood; teaches lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization — not a government agency — and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit www.sussexredcross.org or call 973-579-1600.