Local Red Cross Volunteers Respond to Northern NJ Flooding

Sussex County Volunteers Ilene Lazar (L) and Arlene Blaum (R) pictured with Northern NJ Chapter volunteer Joe	Sussex County Red Cross Volunteer Ricky Gunter (L) with Bob Newkirk (R) of the NNJ Red Cross Chapter

Newton, NJ, March 30, 2010 – In comparison to neighboring counties, Sussex County has faired relatively well through the torrential rains over the past weeks. Over 8,000 homes have been affected by the flooding in the towns of: Wayne, Pequannock, Pompton Lakes, Paterson, Lincoln Park, Hawthorne, Fairfield, Little Falls, Totowa and Woodland Park.  Local volunteers from the Sussex County Chapter of the American Red Cross have been providing assistance and support to neighboring Red Cross chapters over the past two weeks. Sussex County Chapter volunteer Bernie Boyle helped out with driving an Emergency Response Vehicle (ERV) delivering food and clean up supplies to neighborhoods in Little Falls on Sunday, March 21st. Boyle expects to return to help out in the next few days as residents begin to clean up after a second round of heavy rain and flooding. “People were extremely appreciative of the help of the Red Cross.”  When asked about the impact of the floods, Boyle responded, “The people are amazing. I saw neighbor helping neighbor to carry destroyed belongings to the curb. I saw every single house on a street four blocks long had debris curbside and in dumpsters. It was devastating to see the loss.”

The aftermath of flooding in a Little Falls neighborhood.

Sussex County Volunteers assisting in relief efforts include:
Sue Alario	Deb Haff
Arlene Blaum	Ilene Lazar
Bernie Boyle	Jim Rich
Jackie Cascio	Phyllis Sheppard
Sue Curcione	Carol Lee Spages
Roger Gengaro	Paul Spergel
Rick Gunter
Volunteers assisted with Disaster Assessment, Sheltering, and Meal/snack distribution

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.

Contributions can be made to the American Red Cross, earmarked for the NJ Floods and mailed to the Chapter at 93 Spring Street, Suite 101, Newton, NJ  07860. For more information, please visit www.sussexredcross.org or call our office at 973-579-1600.