ARC/GNY on the Scene of the Morningside Heights Fire
Imagine that your apartment is on fire and you can’t get to your belongings,
important medications, money, or clothing. When tragedy struck in Morningside
Heights on November 19, 2002 and an entire apartment building was engulfed in
flames, the American Red Cross was there to help the 67 children and 201 adults
affected by the six-alarm fire. We opened a Service Center where more than 40
volunteers, 7 nurses, and 15 mental health counselors and spiritual care
counselors offered support to the victims as well as to firefighters controlling
the blaze.
We gave these displaced residents a safe haven by offering food and
clothing assistance, helping replace medication, and distributing blankets
and hot drinks.
One of the residents we helped was 105-year-old Katie Duchand, who despite
through a century of change, never thought she would have to ask anyone for
help. When she was forced out of her home by the fire, we gave her food and
clothing, as well as guiding her to other agencies that could provide
additional assistance.
“I am so glad the Red Cross was there to provide us support that night,”
said Ms. Duchand. “They came through at the toughest time and were there to
help me get back on my feet.”
Red Cross mental health volunteers are an essential part of every disaster
response. In this case, they supported the fire victims every step of the
way – during the evacuation, at the service center, and when some of the
residents were able to go back into the buildings to retrieve possessions.
“People react differently at different times,” said the co-chair of
Disaster Mental Health Services of the American Red Cross in Greater New
York. “For some people, the emotional impact hits after they’ve taken care
of practical matters. For others, it affects them more when they’re able to
go back into the building. We’re there to provide comfort and support every
step of the way.”
Many of the residents were also concerned about the welfare of their pets.
When Red Cross staff saw that several residents were having difficulty
carrying their pets in blankets in the busy area, they obtained carriers
from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. “When
you address people’s concerns with their pets, you help provide a more
comprehensive service by taking care of every member of their family,” said
the Red Cross Disaster Services employee who arranged for the animal
carriers.
How Red Cross Volunteer Carolyn Coffey Helped at Morningside
Heights Fire
Awakened by her Red Cross pager in the middle of a November night, Public
Affairs
volunteer Carolyn Coffey rushed to help at the scene of a six-alarm fire in
Morningside Heights.
At the scene, she gave the affected residents the latest information on the
Red Cross’s relief efforts. She spoke with several reporters and was gratified
by their perception of the Red Cross. “One of the TV reporters pulled me aside
just to say what a great job the Red Cross had done responding to September 11.”
She also talked with some of the affected residents. “I spoke
with a little girl who was concerned about where she and her family
were going to sleep that night,” Carolyn said. “I explained how the
Red Cross works and that we would put her family in a hotel if they
couldn’t go back in their apartment. The girl’s face immediately lit
up. She went from being worried and concerned to feeling reassured.
It’s worth getting up in the middle of the night to help people in
such a crisis and ease a little girl’s fear.”
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