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During the 2004 Martin Luther King holiday
weekend, many New Yorkers curled up in bed to escape the
bone-chilling weather. At the same time, American Red Cross in
Greater New York employees and volunteers braved the cold and spent
the weekend helping their fellow community members by responding to
52 disasters, including a devastating eight-alarm blaze in Brooklyn.
Following is a timeline of how the Red Cross
helped New Yorkers throughout the holiday weekend:
Friday, January 16, 6 p.m.
At the request of New York City’s Office of
Emergency Management, the Red Cross mobilizes trained volunteers to
staff warming centers set up by the city in each borough to help
those affected by the subfreezing weather. Additional volunteers
are also put on stand-by.
Saturday, January 17, 6 a.m.
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“The kindness of strangers really comes
out during a disaster. We arrived with a huge order of a
hundred burgers and fries to McDonalds and the manager threw in
several freebies for us, giving us additional toys for the kids
at the Reception Center, and helped us load everything in the
car.” - Red Cross Volunteer |
New volunteers arrive at the warming centers to
begin their 12-hour shifts. At 7 a.m., the Fire Department alerts
the Red Cross about a major fire at a 135-unit residential apartment
building in Sheepshead Bay in Brooklyn. The Red Cross Emergency
Services Responder on the scene alerts the Emergency Communications
Center to send for additional volunteers and supplies.
Saturday, Noon
The city shuts down the warming centers and the
Red Cross houses five clients from the centers in hotels so they'll
have a warm place to stay. Volunteers are then redeployed to the
massive Brooklyn fire.
In the meantime, dozens of other Red Cross
staff members deal with a soaring number of fires and other local
emergencies. The Red Cross has responded to 12 fires since midnight
and the number continues to grow. Extra staff members come in on
their day off and additional volunteers respond to the call for
help. By the end of the weekend, the total number of fires would
rise to 52 - setting a new record since last year's power outage.
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“The Red Cross really brings communities
together and encourages neighbors helping neighbors. You
completely forget if you’ve been on your feet for 14 hours
because the work is so rewarding.” -
Red Cross Volunteer |
Meanwhile in Brooklyn, Red Cross volunteers set
up a family reception center in a private yacht club that generously
donated their space. The Red Cross volunteers and staff provide
refreshments and distribute new clothes, slippers and blankets,
since many of the residents were forced to leave the building early
in the morning in their pajamas. In addition, the Red Cross also
provides food, drinks and support for all of the emergency personnel
at the scene.
Since many residents are concerned about pets
still in the building, the Red Cross suggests to the Office of
Emergency Management to bring in representatives from the Center for
Animal Care and Control to rescue animals left behind at the
disaster site.
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“Our volunteers were so touched to be able to
help the people affected at the fire. These volunteers are so
dedicated and so good at what they do. They never complain. They
just put the clients first and do what needs to be done.”
- Red Cross Volunteer |
While residents talk with Red Cross
caseworkers, several ARC/GNY volunteers look after the rescued pets,
offering relief to pet owners in the process of rebuilding their
lives. Residents meet with Red Cross caseworkers and volunteers to
seek assistance with food money, vouchers
for clothing at area department stores, and help with temporary
housing.
Saturday, 6 p.m.
Red Cross volunteers provide dinner for the
residents, arrange for 104 individuals to stay in nearby hotels, and
work late into the night, preparing for another full day of
servicing families affected by this fire.
Sunday, January 18, 8 a.m.
The Red Cross reopens the reception center to
continue servicing clients. As some residents are able to return to
rescue some belongings, the Red Cross has mental health volunteers
available to help them deal with the trauma and sense of loss.
Firefighters and city officials commend the Red Cross on offering
this service.
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“The clients would find anyone wearing a
Red Cross jacket and come and thank us for being there to assist
them through the trauma. We help them focus and begin to build a
plan for their future. So many people just wanted to give us a
hug for simply being there.” - Red
Cross Volunteer |
Sunday, Noon
The Red Cross
continues to provide mental health
and spiritual care support, as well as food.
By the end of the day, all pets are accounted
for and reunited with their loving owners.
Monday, January 19, 6 p.m.
The Red Cross officially closes the reception
center and continues helping people from their headquarters at 150
Amsterdam Avenue.
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“There was one incident that really
touched me and brought home the importance of our mental health
representatives. There was a woman who had lost her
husband in the fire, who was a retired firefighter. He saved 40
lives that day, but had a heart attack as he was heading back
down after alerting people door to door about the fire.
When his widow told her neighbors that he’d passed away, her
neighbors began hysterically crying. But our mental health
counselors were there to help all of them through it, every step
of the way.” - Red Cross Volunteer |
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