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| Photo credit Chris Tyree/The Virginian-Pilot |
In addition to providing food and health services, the Red Cross is also assessing the condition of homes in the area. This information will help the Red Cross determine how many people need help and how much help they will need. That information is often shared with state, local, and federal government agencies to aid in their planning efforts as well.
Because local telephone lines are down, the Red Cross is encouraging local residents to use the Safe and Well service to stay in touch with family and friends. The
Safe and Well Website provides disaster
victims with a confidential way to let their
loved ones know of their general location and status. It can be accessed at www.RedCross.org.
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Office of Investigations, Compliance and Ethics Warns about Email Scam
Monday, April 21, 2008 — The Office of Investigations, Compliance and Ethics has been alerted to communications circulating via email claiming that the Red Cross, in collaboration with the Romania Government, is asking for donations to help the people in Tecuci, Romania. The email asks to make a wire transfer of over $100 to a bank account in Romania; or for donations under $100 to use a Pay Pal account addressed as redcross@representative.com
The American Red Cross does not advertise for donations to be sent to a Romanian Bank account. This is an email scam using the American Red Cross brand, and the Internet Crime Complaint Center of the FBI has been notified. If you received this email, treat it with caution. To avoid becoming a victim of fraud, do not forward any personal information in response to unsolicited and suspicious emails.
If you would like to make a donation to the Red Cross, only use the authorized Red Cross Website, www.redcross.org or www.icrc.org
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Strong Waters, Stronger Friendships
A flood damaged homes in a Missouri town but couldn’t weaken ties among local neighbors
By Allen Crabtree, Public Affairs Volunteer, Southern Maine Chapter
Thursday, April 10, 2008 — By the time the angry, muddy waters of the Black River breached their banks in Piedmont, Missouri, in mid-March, heavy rains had been falling for a week, long enough to raise the river eight to ten feet above flood stage. Homes had floated off their foundations, propane tanks were bobbing like corks in the torrent, and campers had come loose from their connections far upriver and floated to rest in carports and back yards.
 The home of Jimmy and Jennifer Morales was inundated with chest-deep water when the Black River overflowed near Piedmont, MO. Shown here (l-r) are Red Cross volunteer Allen Crabtree, Jennifer and Jimmy Morales. Photo credit: Greg Gaines, American Red Cross Piedmont, MO March 24, 2008 |
"There was no time to get out," said Jimmy Morales, an unfortunate homeowner. "One of our dogs barked, and I looked out the door and saw the water coming in a wave up the street. We only had fifteen to twenty minutes before it was right at our doorstep."
Jimmy and his wife, Jennifer, barely had time to flee as waist-deep water poured through their front door. As both their cars floated away, the couple scooped up their two cats and three dogs and took them to a neighbor's two-story home for safety. They found the neighbor asleep in his recliner, sitting in water up to his chest.
"He was still watching TV, and when Jennifer woke him, he tried to change the channels," Jimmy said. "We really had a hard time convincing him to move upstairs with us so he would be safe."
As the group huddled on the second floor, Jimmy looked out the back window and saw another neighbor trapped in his single-story home with his wife. They were unable to open their door or windows and had taken refuge on the kitchen cabinets. Jimmy swam over to their house and smashed a window so they could escape.
As the waters continued to rise, the Missouri State Water Patrol and State Highway Patrol began launching boats to rescue people. One such boat ferried Jimmy, Jennifer, and their neighbors to safety. They were taken to a Red Cross shelter at the Harvest Baptist Church in Piedmont, where they were able to dry off, eat a hot meal, and contemplate what the future held for them.
Victims Helping Victims
After a few days, the flood waters of the Black River had partially receded and roads had become passable. Jimmy and Jennifer were able to return to their home, or what was left of it. They found one of their cars perched atop stumps in a neighbor's yard; the other had floated to the very edge of the river. One of them actually started and appeared to be running fine, so the couple have transportation for the time being.
"Now that we have wheels again, we're looking after our neighbors," said Jennifer. "We talked the owner of a seasonal motel in town into renting all of us rooms, and we were able to move out of the Red Cross shelter after a few days. We appreciated all the help the Red Cross gave us, but we know we couldn't stay there forever."
When the Red Cross opened a Service Distribution Site in town, Jimmy and Jennifer were there to apply for emergency family assistance. Red Cross volunteer Kris Thompson interviewed them and issued them a Client Assistance Card so they could buy food, clothing, and prescriptions help pay for temporary housing and repairs. Later, they brought many of their neighbors to the Red Cross site so they could apply for emergency assistance as well and pick up some cleaning supplies.
Jimmy and Jennifer plan to stay in their neighborhood. They have no flood insurance and have lost nearly everything, but in the six years they have owned their home they have developed strong ties with their neighbors. With the emergency assistance they received from the Red Cross, they have been given a chance to catch their breath, plan their future, and return some of the good will they received by helping their neighbors.
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Business Leader, Nonprofit Volunteer to Head
the American Red Cross
National Headquarters |
Contact: Suzy DeFrancis |
WASHINGTON, Tuesday, April 08, 2008 — Gail J. McGovern, a successful business executive and proven nonprofit fundraiser, was today named President and CEO of the American Red Cross. McGovern, who held top management positions at AT&T Corporation and Fidelity Investments, has experience running large organizations in competitive industries, and a track record for improving business performance and service delivery to the public. Currently, she teaches marketing at the Harvard Business School. 
“Gail McGovern brings outstanding leadership skills from the private sector, coupled with a deep commitment to volunteerism,” said Bonnie McElveen-Hunter, Chairman of the Board of the Red Cross. “With a passion for our noble mission and the people we serve, Gail will ensure excellence in all areas of Red Cross service. On behalf of the entire Board of Governors, who voted unanimously to approve her selection, we warmly welcome Gail to the American Red Cross family.”
“It is an honor to be asked to lead the American Red Cross, the helping hand to so many people in times of disaster and crisis,” said McGovern. “I am humbled and inspired by this incredible humanitarian network of thousands of volunteers, workers, and supporters serving their neighbors in communities across our Nation and world. I look forward to joining them and am committed to the long-term growth and success of the Red Cross and its life-saving mission.”
McGovern has been recognized twice by Fortune magazine as one of the most powerful and influential women in corporate America. She spent 24 years (1974-1998) at AT&T where she began as a computer programmer and rose through the ranks to the second largest job in AT&T, Executive Vice President of the Consumer Markets Division. In that position, she had direct responsibility for residential long distance and internet services, servicing 75 million customers, generating $26 billion in revenue and overseeing 40,000 employees.
Joining Fidelity Investments in 1999, McGovern oversaw all retail distribution channels in 85 locations. A year later, she became President of Fidelity Personal Investments and was responsible for 4.5 million customers, $500 billion in assets, and 10,000 employees.
McGovern became a member of the Harvard Business School faculty in June 2002. In 2007, she was appointed to the chaired position of the MBA Class of 1996 Professor of Management Practice and teaches in the MBA and Executive programs.
Over the years, much of her volunteer time has been devoted to nonprofit fundraising. As a member of the Board of Trustees and co-chair of the Campaign Executive Committee at The Johns Hopkins University, McGovern and her colleagues kicked off a $2 billion, seven-year campaign. The development team exceeded that goal two years ahead of schedule and has now increased the goal to $3.2 billion. Her fundraising activities also include events for Children's Hospital Boston, Dana Farber, and the United Way of Boston. She also serves on two for-profit boards: the Board of Directors of Hartford Financial Group and DTE Energy.
Born in 1952, McGovern received her Bachelor of Arts in Quantitative Sciences from The Johns Hopkins University in 1974. She received an MBA from Columbia University in 1987. She currently resides in Boston with her husband and 18 year old daughter.
McGovern will start with the American Red Cross on June 23, taking over from Mary S. Elcano, who is serving as Acting President and CEO. Ms. Elcano will return to her position as General Counsel and Corporate Secretary. In addition, the Red Cross recently announced that Jeffrey T. Towers, a veteran fundraiser with more than 25 years experience in the non-profit sector, will become Chief Development Officer for the organization. In this role, Towers will be responsible for the overall fundraising efforts of the charity.
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Storms Cause Severe Flooding; Red Cross Responding
Rising waters have forced many residents from their homes, and more rains may be on the way
Friday, March 21, 2008 — Across the Midwest, the beginning of spring has shown that March not only comes in like a lion, it often remains one for much of the month.
| Red Cross chapters and volunteers in four states are responding to severe spring storms that have resulted in near-record floods this week. The Red Cross is providing shelter, feeding, and other emergency assistance to residents affected by flooding in Arkansas, Illinois, Missouri and Ohio. The Red Cross is working with community partners such as local churches, the Southern Baptist Convention, and local emergency management officials to provide support and assistance. |  A family in House Springs, Missouri, awaits rescue as
rising waters threaten their farmhouse. (Photo by Emily Rasinski/St. Louis Post-Dispatch.) |
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Red Cross Busy as More Storms Hit Georgia
A second day of severe weather left thousands more homeless and without power across northern Georgia and western South Carolina
By Stuart Hales, Content Manager, RedCross.org
Sunday, March 16, 2008 — Severe weather struck Atlanta and northern Georgia for a second straight day on Saturday, keeping Red Cross disaster relief volunteers busy providing shelter, assessment, and health and mental health services. The Red Cross opened three shelters in Georgia last night and another in South Carolina and is conducting disaster assessment activities today in both states. Heavy storms, some of which may have spawned tornadoes, blew down trees, tore roofs off homes and buildings, downed power lines, and shattered windows. |
 Damage from storms that devastated northern Georgia and western South Carolina is still being assessed.(Photo courtesy wsbtv.com.) |