Local Red Cross Helping With Several Emergency Situations
NORTH TEXAS (CBSDFW.COM) - The American Red Cross is out in force today looking for people who need help after Sunday night's violent storms.
Teams are being sent out into the field to help ensure residents know there is assistance available.
"We want to make sure that if anybody has structural damage to their homes, and they can't stay in their home, that they know the Red Cross can help," explained Anita Foster, spokeswoman for the Dallas Chapter of the American Red Cross.
In addition to structural damage, Foster said electrical outages have made it dangerous for some residents to remain in their homes.
"We also want to make sure that the thousands of people that are still without power, that are cleaning away debris and things like that, have plenty of water and Gatorade," she said.
The Red Cross has also opened a cooling center/shelter for residents affected by the storms. The center was opened in Haltom City, at the Christian Center of Fort Worth located at 4301 N.E. 28th Street. The facility is air conditioned and will have bottled water and areas where residents can charge their cell phones. Red Cross officials say the center will be open until power is restored in the area and all "families can remain safely at their homes."
Damage from severe weather isn't the only emergency situation that the local Red Cross is dealing with.
"On top of that, we still have crews at Possum Kingdom Lake," Foster said. "We've been out there since Friday when fire officials asked for us to come out and provide hydration support to the firefighters working those wildfires."
With an already limited budget, Foster said providing assistance with multiple disasters is straining resources.
Anyone wanting to help the Red Cross can click here to make a donation or call (214) 678-4800 to make a gift over the phone.
Ironically, the cooling station almost didn't open on time after the air conditioner at the building stopped working. Foster said a church member helped repair the a/c, thus making the center cool and comfortable.
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