In 2007 in the Bronx, the chapter:

• Responded to 560fires and other emergencies
• Assisted 4,066 adults and children with food, shelter and/or counseling following a disaster

Notable Activities in 2007:

Shelter for Building Evacuees
A fire in the mechanical room at the 10-story 125-apartment building at 2332 Tiebout Avenue in the Fordham section of the Bronx the night of March 16 forced the evacuation of all residents. More than 20 Chapter volunteers and employees established a shelter at nearby PS 9 and provided a warm, secure environment for 374 people (236 adults and 138 children) during the cold, snowy night. Residents received drinks, snacks, hot meals and financial assistance and more than 80 residents spent the night in the shelter on Red Cross cots. Mental health counselors were available. By Saturday evening the Chapter had placed 15 families, 33 adults and 16 children, in overnight housing in hotels.

Reception Center Opened After Courtyard Collapse
A partial collapse of the courtyard of a six-story apartment building complex on Aqueduct Avenue in the Kingsbridge Heights section of the Bronx on March 12 forced the evacuation of hundreds of residents who received assistance at a Red Cross Reception Center at nearby PS 33. Fifteen Red Cross volunteers and employees provided 145 residents, including 51 children, with hot meals, beverages and snacks. Twelve families consisting of 32 adults and 22 children were housed at area hotels for three nights until the building could be reoccupied.

Assistance at Tragic Fire
After the devastating Bronx fire that took the lives of 10 people, nine of them young children, on Woodycrest Avenue on March 7, the Greater New York Chapter brought comfort and assistance to the families affected by the tragic blaze. Six volunteers and employees provided meals, clothing and comfort kits to the Magassa and Soumare families, as well as drinks and snacks to the hundreds of first responders at the scene. In the days after the fire, the Chapter provided vital ongoing assistance to the families in the form of housing in hotels, disaster mental health counseling, emergency financial assistance for food and clothing, metro cards and transportation around the city, and financial assistance for the funerals.

Help at Grand Concourse Fire
When a 4-alarm fire ravaged an apartment building at 1840 Grand Concourse at around 5 pm on February 9, more than 13 Greater New York Chapter responders were on hand to help those who fled 68 affected apartments. The Chapter opened a Reception Center at nearby PS 117 at 1865 Morris Avenue where employees and volunteers provided hot food and beverages to 50 adults and 17 children and arranged for temporary housing for seven families of 19 adults and 10 children.

In 2006 in the Bronx, the chapter:

• Responded to 544 fires and other emergencies
• Assisted 3,113 adults and children with food, shelter and/or counseling following a disaster

Notable Activities in 2006:

On Friday, September 22, a 2-alarm blaze began at 3004 Heath Avenue at 11:53 am. One Red Cross responder was on the scene to help 15 people: 12 adults and 3 children. The Red Cross also provided one household of 1 adult and 1 child with emergency housing.

On Wednesday, August 23 four Red Cross volunteers and staff rushed to a 3-alarm fire at a commercial building, 1235 Bronx River Avenue. A number of adjacent residential buildings were affected by the flames and smoke of the blaze. The Chapter helped 14 adults and 3 children with beverages and meals and arranged for emergency housing for 5 households of 11 adults and 3 children.

On Sunday May 21, two buildings at 3053-3055 Hull Avenue were vacated due to a large fallen tree. Three Red Cross responders offered assistance to fourteen affected families (23 adults and 23 children). The Chapter also provided 10 families with emergency housing for two days.

On Saturday May 6, six Red Cross staff members and volunteers responded to a three-alarm fire at an apartment building at 1868 Harrison Avenue.  The Chapter provided 18 adults and 3 children with hot food, blankets, diapers, snacks, metro cards and bottled water.

On Sunday, February 26, at a 3-alarm fire broke out at 20 W. Mosholu Parkway South. Red Cross assisted 24 adults and 11 children, providing 10 adults and 8 children with emergency housing.

On Wednesday, February 1, more than 50 Red Cross staff and volunteers responded to a six-alarm fire at 1270 Gerard Avenue. Red Cross set up a Reception Center at nearby PS 218, and served 500 lunches and 300 hot dinners. Two ARC/GNY Emergency Response Vehicles (ERVs) provided snacks and drinks for building residents and responders. The Chapter assisted 87 families (210 adults and 77 children) with food, mental health counseling, and financial assistance and provided 11 families with temporary housing.

In 2005 in the Bronx, the chapter:

• Responded to 527 fires and other emergencies
• Assisted 2,687 adults and children with food, shelter and/or counseling following a disaster