American Red Cross Making House Calls
  

More than 300 American Red Cross workers from across the state and country have responded to help families in the affected areas since winter storms swept along the northern Oregon coast on Dec. 2 and 3. Today, the Red Cross continues to send disaster relief teams directly into these communities to dish out hot meals and provide assistance to families affected by the storms and flooding.

Disaster relief teams include specialists in family recovery, mental health services and Red Cross nurses. They will be searching for families whose homes were damaged or destroyed by the storms and are still in need of help for basic and immediate emergency needs.

The Red Cross has set up service delivery sites at the following locations:

Vernonia – Cedar Ridge Camp
18962 Keasey Rd.

Astoria/Seaside – Camp Rilea
91204 Rilea Rd.

Tillamook – Oregon Dept. of Forestry
5005 3rd St.

Clatskanie – Community Education Center (old middle school building)
555 SE Bryant St.

Regular hours of operation will be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Due to high demand, service delivery sites may encounter long lines. The Red Cross asks that individuals and families visiting the sites have the following information available:

•       Head of household and form of identification
•       Pre-disaster address
•       Return contact phone number

For specific information, affected residents are urged to call 1-866-GET-INFO.

In the last week, the Red Cross has served nearly 45,000 meals and snacks to residents and relief workers, and has distributed more than 15,000 bulk items, including clean-up kits, boots and gloves, tarps, water, garbage bags and comfort kits. The Red Cross will continue to distribute meals out of emergency response vehicles and at designated kitchens in these communities. There are currently 10 mobile feeding units delivering hot meals and fresh water to the affected areas.

"Many people lost everything they have, and it's not easy to bounce back from something like that – especially during the holidays," said Thomas Bruner, CEO of the Oregon Trail Chapter. "A significant need for assistance still exists in these communities. Donations of money and time are the best ways to help right now."

The Red Cross asks those who want to help the organization to consider making a financial contribution. You can donate in the following ways:

By phone: 1-800-RED CROSS
Online: www.redcross.org
By mail (designate your donation to the "Western Oregon Floods"):

American Red Cross
Oregon Trail Chapter
3131 N. Vancouver Avenue
Portland, Oregon 97227

U.S. Bank, Costco, Sterling Savings Bank, Lowe's and Safeway locations throughout Oregon and Washington are also accepting donations to help the Red Cross in their relief efforts.

Red Cross volunteers in the affected areas are not allowed to accept donations for the disaster while they are working. Most volunteers should be able to provide donors with envelopes to mail their donations. The Red Cross does not accept in-kind donations of clothing, food or other items at any of their shelters or service delivery sites.

For the most up-to-date information about Red Cross relief and recovery efforts, media are encouraged to visit www.redcrossnw.wordpress.com. This site will be regularly d with photos, links to video downloads and news from both Oregon and Washington.