American Red Cross Offering Informational Meetings on Disaster Response

Pigeon Forge - The American Red Cross will host an informational meeting on Wednesday, February 21, 2007, at 7 p.m. in the Pigeon Forge Community Center. This informal meeting will provide instructions for becoming a disaster volunteer in the community. The meeting will instruct volunteers on how to respond to disasters in their communities and about the importance of disaster preparedness. Response to fires will be highlighted, since 98 percent of Red Cross responses are to fires. Last year alone in Sevier County, the Red Cross assisted 37 of the county’s families that were victims of fires. When a disaster strikes, the Red Cross volunteers determine the short and long-term needs of the victims. This can include providing temporary shelter or assistance to find long-term housing, vouchers for food and clothing, emergency medication, baby needs, psychological counseling, occupational items, as well as any other emergency needs a family might require as the result of a disaster. The volunteers of the Knoxville Area Chapter of the American Red Cross respond to more than 200 area disasters annually. In order to ensure that this disaster assistance remains free of charge, response teams are made up entirely of volunteers that serve in a variety of ways. For more information on how to make a difference in the community by becoming a disaster volunteer, please contact Katie Hutcheson at 584-2999.