Kanarraville Shelter for New Harmony Wildfire Evacuees

Washington & Iron Counties, UTAH (Sunday, August 30, 2009) The Mountain Valley Chapter and the Greater Salt Lake Area Chapter of the American Red Cross have disaster action teams on the scene to help the families who have been forced from their homes this weekend due to a dangerous wildfire raging in Washington and Iron Counties. The Red Cross can provide immediate essential needs for the families which can include a place to sleep, meals to eat and clothes to wear. The Red Cross can also help people affected by disasters like this wildfire with items like eye glasses or lost prescriptions due to the fire. Disaster Action Teams are on the scene and also offer families simple kindness, showing them that someone cares about the trauma they are going through. Individuals in the area affected by this disaster who need assistance need to report to the Red Cross shelter at 50 S. Main in Kanarraville to register.
Additional Red Cross Disaster Action Teams are on alert throughout the state, the disaster trained volunteers are on standby and ready to go in case they are needed. More details will be released as soon as they become available.

Red Cross Chapters in Utah respond to up to 200 incidents each year, some of them render multiple families homeless. Nationwide, the American Red Cross’s local chapters help victims of major and minor disasters by offering immediate comfort, which may include food, a warm place to stay, clothing and other life necessities. Volunteers give comfort kits to victims of fire, flood or other disasters. The kits include helpful items like toothbrushes, toothpaste and a toy for children.

You can help victims of fires like this one by donating to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund at www.redcross.org or by calling 1-800-REDCROSS. On those rare occasions when donations exceed Red Cross expenses for a specific disaster, contributions are used to prepare for and serve victims of other disasters.

About the American Red Cross in Utah: The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and counsels victims of disasters; teaches lifesaving skills; supplies blood to 30 area hospitals; and supports military members and their families. The organization also provides emergency utility assistance and international family tracing services. The American Red Cross is a nonprofit organization, not a government funded agency, which depends entirely upon volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its humanitarian mission. Donate your time or resources to your local Red Cross: Mountain Valley Chapter/Provo (801) 373-8580, Northern Utah Chapter/Ogden (801) 627-0000, Cache Valley Area/Logan (435)752-1125, Greater Salt Lake Area Chapter 801-323-7000. Visit www.utahredcross.org click on “Across Utah.”