Red Cross Establishes Shelter in Ajo
Monday, July 20, 2009
By: Andrea Fleisher
For Immediate Release
(TUCSON) July 20, 2009, 12:00 p.m. -- The Southern Arizona Chapter of the American Red Cross is operating a shelter in Ajo to aid residents affected by a monsoon-related power outage.
The air-conditioned shelter, located at Ajo High School, 111 N. Well Rd., opened last night and can accommodate up to 200 people. The Red Cross is prepared to operate the shelter overnight tonight, into Tuesday, or however long it takes for electricity to be restored to the area.
At least 16 specially-trained Red Cross Disaster Action Team volunteers are on-site, plus the Emergency Response Vehicle. Two meals and a snack will be provided today. The volunteers are meeting with the individuals affected and interviewing them to determine their immediate disaster-caused needs.
Red Cross opened the shelter by request of the Pima County Emergency Operations Center and is working closely with them. Red Cross will also be providing 38 cots, blankets, and comfort kits to the Tohoho O'odham Nation to assist with shelter needs in the community of Hickiwan.
In Southern Arizona, American Red Cross volunteers respond to a local house fire or flood every other day. The Southern Arizona Red Cross is able to meet the immediate needs of our neighbors in need because of the generous support of Southern Arizonans. If you would like to make a donation to help victims of a local disaster like this one, please visit http://www.redcrossarizona.org/.
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The American Red Cross helps people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies, and is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. The Southern Arizona Chapter serves communities across Pima, Greenlee, Graham, Cochise and Santa Cruz counties. Every day Red Cross volunteers provide disaster relief to their neighbors affected by disasters, emergency assistance to members of the Armed Forces, preparedness and safety education to families and businesses, and international communications assistance for refugees. The Red Cross is not a government agency; it relies on donations of time, money, and blood to do its work. To make a financial donation, volunteer, enroll in CPR or First Aid, request disaster or Armed Forces emergency assistance, contact us by visiting http://www.redcrossarizona.org/ or calling 1-800-341-6943. To give blood, visit http://www.givebloodgivelife.org/ or call 1-800-GIVE LIFE.
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