Disaster Services - other than Responses

Plainfield, NJ: The Tri-County Red Cross is participating in a statewide Red Cross exercise next week that requires us to conduct a test of our electronic call-down system today (7/13). This test will simulate what would happen if we experienced a hurricane warning and had contact volunteers to help set up shelters.

This is only a test. 

If you are a registered disaster volunteer or a member of our disaster reserves, you should have received an e-mail with a quick availability survey. If you are part of either of these groups and you did not receive an e-mail, please contact Emergency Services Director Mike Prasad by e-mail at prasadm@usa.redcross.org and he will send one to you right away.

If you would like to become part of our disaster volunteer pool to help support and operate shelters in our area during a disaster like a hurricane, please contact Mike at the e-mail address above. We have a constant need for more disaster shelter volunteers and all of the training is free.

SOMERSET, N.J. -- Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) in Burlington, Cumberland, Ocean, and Somerset counties will close at 6 p.m. on Friday, June 11, but flood survivors can continue to register for, or receive additional information on federal assistance though a variety of ways. Click here for more details. Please note that the deadline for applying for FEMA assistance has been extended to July 1, 2010.

SOMERSET, N.J. -- The 2010 hurricane season begins on June 1, and experts predict it will be more active than usual. 

With hurricane season upon us, officials from the Federal Emergency Management (FEMA) and the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management (NJ-OEM) urge residents to ensure that their families, homes and businesses are prepared for the risks associated with hurricanes and tropical storms.

"Now is the time for all New Jersey residents to get ready for threatening weather," said FEMA's William L. Vogel, the federal coordinating officer for the current disaster recovery efforts in New Jersey. "It's pretty simple stuff - Prepare an emergency kit, develop a family emergency plan and stay informed. These are simple things that could help save lives and property."

Learn more about those steps you can take by attending a "Be Red Cross Ready" presentation in our chapter - we have a number of them offered in June and July. Check out our web calendar for the dates, times and locations of these free presentations.

More information about the 2010 Hurricane season along with tips from FEMA and the NJ-OEM can be found here. 

 

 

 

Plainfield, NJ: The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), as part of the Presidential Declaration of Emergency for the March flooding in New Jersey, has announced that registration for disaster assistance is now open to homeowners, renters and business owners affected by the severe storms and flooding in Atlantic, Bergen, Cape May, Essex, Gloucester, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Passaic, Somerset, and Union counties. You can register by phone at 1-800-621-3362 (TTY 800-462-7585) or online at www.disasterassistance.gov. FEMA recommends you register as soon as possible, even if you have flood insurance, as some losses may not be covered by that insurance.

Plainfield, NJ: 

Carlos Varon, Emergency Services Director (ESD) from the Nassau County Chapter in Mineola, NY, visited the Tri-County Red Cross chapter in Plainfield, NJ on February 3, 2010 to see where his dad Al Varon volunteers in the disaster services office. Al is one of the lead volunteers who translates many of our documents into Spanish - and he's a wiz on Excel, too!

On the right is Mike Prasad, ESD for the Tri-County Chapter.

You and your family members can volunteer with the Tri-County Red Cross, too! Click on the Volunteer link at the top of our page to find out about our current volunteer opportunities.