Red Cross Will Open Five Centers for Quake Victims

The American Red Cross will open five service centers today to address the long-term needs of victims of Thursday’s earthquake and its Sunday morning aftershock, a spokeswoman said Sunday.

“Their purpose is to help the disaster victims sort out what they need and what they need to do to get back on their feet,” said Jessie Thompson, a supervisor with the Red Cross general information office.

In addition to food, shelter and medical care, the centers, located in Los Angeles, Alhambra and Whittier, will provide information about government and private agencies that help people replace household items, find new housing and rebuild homes and businesses, Thompson said.

The five service centers are located at Joslyn Senior Center, 200 N. Chapel St., Alhambra; Salazar Recreation Center, 3864 Whittier Blvd., East Los Angeles; Hollywood Recreation Center, 1122 Cole Ave.; Echo Park Recreation Center, 1632 Bellevue Ave., and Whittier Community Center, 7630 S. Washington Ave., Whittier.

The service centers will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Red Cross spokeswoman Angela Tabar said she expected more than 600 people--100 more than Saturday--to spend Sunday night at eight temporary shelters that the relief organization opened after Thursday’s earthquake.

The Red Cross closed its shelter at Bell High School on Saturday afternoon, only to reopen it Sunday morning for those left homeless by the aftershock.

The Red Cross is also operating eight emergency shelters: at the Joslyn Senior Center in Alhambra; Whittier Community Center, and California High School, 9800 Mills Ave., Whittier; Bell High School, 4328 Bell Ave., Bell; Hollywood High School, 1521 N. Highland Ave.; Garfield High School, 5101 East 6th St.; Belmont High School, 1572 W. 2nd St., and Roosevelt High School, 456 S. Matthew St.