Local American Red Cross Remembers Hurricane Katrina

One year ago, the United States braced itself for Hurricane Katrina. What followed was unimaginable in size and scope. But communities across this nation joined the American Red Cross in rising to the challenge of feeding, sheltering and providing emotional support to millions of our neighbors on the Gulf Coast.

Local Red Cross chapters and their community partners were at the heart of the response to Hurricane Katrina. The San Gabriel Pomona Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross deployed about 150 volunteers, including some from La Canada, to the affected areas on the Gulf Coast and raised approximately $4.7 million that went directly to the national organization’s Katrina Relief Fund.

“Many organizations in our community joined forces to provide help to our neighbors on the Gulf Coast,” said Chapter Board Member and Service Delivery Committee Chairman Mark Stapf, who was deployed to Louisiana shortly after Hurricane Katrina wreaked havoc on the Gulf Coast on Aug. 29 last year.

“This anniversary gives us the opportunity to thank all of the Red Cross volunteers, partners and donors who gave their time and their financial resources to help those who suffered because of this disaster,” Stapf said.

Nationwide, the Red Cross served tens of millions of meals and snacks, shelters thousands of people, provided emergency assistance to more than four million people and mobilized nearly a quarter of a million Red Cross responders.

The Red Cross continues to help Hurricane Katrina, Rita and Wilma survivors through its Hurricane Recovery Program. This program assists survivors with emotional support services and helps in planning their recovery by providing them with information and referral services.

The Red Cross is also preparing should an emergency happen here. It has improved its disaster relief systems to be better, bigger and faster. It has more disaster relief supplies in more locations across the country. In our own community, the San Gabriel Pomona Valley Chapter is working to expand and develop local partnership efforts.

“We are reaching out to our community’s business, academic, civic, technology, faith-based and government leaders to make sure that we are all prepared for any disaster,” said Chapter Interim CEO Jack French.

The Red Cross is also encouraging people to be their own first responders when emergencies happen. Individuals and families can take these simple steps to sustain themselves before, during, and after a disaster:

Get a Kit:

Build a disaster supplies kit including water, non-perishable food, radio, flashlight and extra batteries for both, a first aid kit, and necessary medications. Store important family documents (wills, passports, insurance policies, deeds, etc.) in a portable, waterproof and fireproof container as part of your kit.

Prepare supplies for pets and family members with specific needs.

Make a Plan:

Make evacuation and communication plans.

Plan ahead for the possibility of becoming separated from your family and friends by choosing an out-of-town contact that each family or household member can call or email should a disaster occur.

Be Informed:

Talk to your family about the types of disasters that can happen in your community.

Follow the directions of emergency officials.