Girl Scouts Earn Preparedness Merit Badges: Troops from across NYC Receive Training, Education from FEMA and American Red Cross

Photo Credit: Steven Thorne/American Red Cross

by Jessica Kirk

NEW YORK, NY -- Girl Scouts from across New York City and the surrounding region gathered on Saturday, June 17 at the FEMA Region II office at One World Trade Center for Girl Scouts Day 2017: Girl Scout today, Emergency Manager Tomorrow, hosted by FEMA Region II and the American Red Cross. The rationale was to help the Scouts learn about Disaster Preparedness, providing them the knowledge they need to earn a Girl Scouts badge and an honorary FEMA badge.

Photo credit: Steven Thorne/American Red Cross

Photo Credit: Steven Thorne/American Red Cross

From the youngest Daisies and Brownies to Juniors and Seniors, each Scout learned how to implement basic measures, including which items to include in a Go-Kit and the importance of accurate information dissemination before, during, and following a disaster. From pet preparedness and flooding to Mitigation techniques and fire safety, there was a lot to learn.

Jennifer Ramirez, Red Cross Corps member, taught Scouts the correct way to identify if fire exists on the other side of a door: by using the back of the hand on the doorknob. She also discussed what to do if you cannot leave the room you are in, what to use to block smoke from getting in beneath the door, and how to gain the attention of the fire department from inside a window. Ramirez also spent time instructing Scouts how to calm themselves when anxious by taking deep breaths.

Joe Lenz, also a member of the Red Cross Corps, asked Scouts, "Why do we use a pillowcase for our go bag?"

Photo Credit: Steven Thorne/American Red Cross

"It's like Santa's pack!" said one Scout.

"Yes, it's very light and thin, and easy for you to carry over your shoulder." Joe went on to teach the Scouts about preparing to be safe. He said, "We're entrusting you to be part of The Pillowcase Project family."

Which items are included in the pillowcase? Food, water, a flashlight, medicine, and important documents. Ramirez and Lenz also encouraged the Scouts to speak with their parents/guardians about getting the bags ready.

First Aid instructors, also from the Red Cross, taught the Scouts when to call 911, and what information to provide. Scouts also learned: which items to include in a First Aid kit, how to speak with their families about establishing a fire plan, including choosing a neighborhood evacuation place to meet after the home is evacuated.

Commencement included participating in a song and dance to reinforce what was learned throughout the day and how to be prepared. All attendees participated in the official Girl Scout Promise to practice disaster safety and First Aid. Each Scout earned a special disaster readiness badge and agreed to spread the word among their friends and communities.

In Case You Missed It - July 5

Red Cross volunteers used Yankee Stadium as a base to gather before splitting into smaller groups to install free smoke alarms in the Bronx as part of the Red Cross Home Fire Campaign.(Photo: Brett Whysel)

Over the last 7 days, the Greater New York Red Cross provided emergency assistance to 103 adults and 43 children following 54 local disasters. Here are some highlights from last week and a preview of upcoming activities (see below).

Last Week in Review

• On Tuesday evening, Greater NY volunteers responded to a 4-alarm fire on Hunts Point Ave in the Bronx and provided emergency housing, emergency financial assistance, and referrals to more than two dozen residents.
• This Independence Day weekend, the Red Cross encouraged the online community to support military members by sending them July 4th selfies through the Red Cross Hero Care app. 
• On Saturday morning, Red Cross volunteers rallied together at Yankees stadium before fanning out in the Bronx community to install free smoke alarms.
• On Friday, Greater NY Red Cross CEO Josh Lockwood spoke to a team from CBS Evening News about the Red Cross response to wildfires out West and how families can stay safe and prepared.
• On Thursday, LI Red Cross volunteers and employees from PSEG Long Island helped prepare and educate the Long Island community on home fire safety by installing free smoke alarms and providing relevant educational information.
•  On Wednesday evening into the late hours of the night, Red Cross volunteers responded to a 5-alarm fire on E. 9th St. and registered around 60 displaced residents for assistance. 
• On Wednesday, following a request by Emergency Officials reporting a multi-generational family of five adults and five children, with the oldest being a 101 years old, had been displaced by a home fire, Metro NY North Red Cross volunteers Rick and Nancy Stein and Patsy Gerhart responded and provided emotional support, along with needed emergency financial assistance to the family.
• Last Tuesday, Metro NY North Red Cross volunteers William Crespo and Cliff Young assisted two families displaced by a fire in Washingtonville with emotional support and emergency financial aid. 

Upcoming Events and Opportunities

• July 5-7, 10-12, 14: Red Cross blood drives will take place from 2 to 7 p.m. at the Greater NY Red Cross building located at 520 West 49th Street, Manhattan. Schedule an appointment to donate today.
• Aug 22-27: Do you like to volunteer? Do you like golf? If so, have we got an opportunity for you! Sign up today to volunteer at THE NORTHERN TRUST at Glen Oaks Club in Old Westbury, NY. For $75, you gain daily access to the tournament for you and a guest, a logoed polo shirt and baseball cap, and much more. Plus, your efforts will support the mission of the American Red Cross. Learn more here.

"Without the Red Cross, I think we would be lost.”

By Kylie Davidson, American Red Cross in Greater New York

After a five-alarm fire tore through the sixth floor of a 112-unit apartment complex in Elmhurst, Queens, Red Cross volunteers immediately responded to provide emergency relief to more than 300 affected residents including Kevin Rojas and his mother.

On April 11, 2017 Kevin Rojas was picking up his girlfriend to go see a movie when fire trucks raced by his car. When he turned onto his street, Rojas discovered with great anxiety that the fire trucks were headed to his own apartment complex.

“I was watching the fire happen before my eyes,” Rojas said. “It was like being in the movies.”

As his building burned, Rojas stood across the street in shock watching firefighters battle the blaze well into the night. He was so focused on the fire, he didn’t realize Red Cross volunteers had arrived on scene to assist those affected and displaced by the fire.

The Red Cross established a reception center and shelter at PS-13Q, a nearby school, and provided food, temporary housing, and other emergency relief services to the more than 300 residents affected by the fire. It was at the shelter that Rojas reconnected with many of his neighbors.

“They were there so quickly,” Rojas said.

The damage from the fire was extensive. The sixth floor was completely destroyed, and the fifth floor sustained severe smoke, water damage and mold. Rojas’ apartment was on the fifth floor.

“Everything was lost,” Rojas said. “We left everything behind.”

Along with meals for several days after the fire, Rojas turned to the Red Cross for emergency financial assistance for basic necessities.

As for housing, Rojas’ girlfriend lives a half a block away from his apartment, so he and his mother had a place to stay after the fire. They will continue to live there until they are able to return home in several months.

Over the years the apartment complex had grown into a tightly-knit community, with many of the neighbors having known each other for decades. Following the fire, they’ve stayed connected, offering each other support as they cope with the loss. Rojas, who has lived in the building for the past 30 years, adopted an informal leadership role among the tenants, advocating on their behalf to help ensure they’re receiving the assistance and information they need.

Two months after the fire, Rojas visited the Red Cross on behalf of his family and many of his neighbors, reconnecting with Red Cross caseworkers and inquiring about additional resources available to them, like gift cards provided by Stop and Shop and vouchers for furniture.

“It’s a blessing honestly… tremendous amount of help,” Rojas said. “Without the Red Cross, I think we would be lost.”

In Case You Missed It - June 26

LI Red Cross CEO Neela Lockel and volunteer Craig Cooper appeared on WLNY on Sunday morning.

Over the last 7 days, the Greater New York Red Cross provided emergency assistance to 92 adults and 30 children following 47 local disasters. Here are some highlights from last week and a preview of upcoming activities (see below).

Last Week in Review

• On Sunday morning, WLNY Exit 10/55 aired a recent interview with LI Red Cross CEO Neela Lockel and volunteer Craig Cooper. They sat down with host Richard Rose to discuss the LI Red Cross Centennial and hurricane preparedness. 
• The Greater NY Red Cross provided emergency assistance to a family affected by a multiple-alarm fire in Glendale, Queens on Saturday evening. 
• The Greater NY Red Cross collaborated with J.P. Morgan for a Missing Maps map-a-thon, mapping vulnerable communities in Myanmar. The Missing Maps project, supported by the OpenStreetMap Foundation, is an initiative to chart areas largely missing from maps and in need of assistance from humanitarian organizations. 
• On Thursday, the Greater NY Red Cross provided emergency financial assistance and housing, along with food and water, to 10 families affected by a 6-alarm fire on Olmstead Ave in the Bronx. The Red Cross followed up with the families in the days that followed to offer referrals to appropriate partners and agencies that could offer additional assistance. 
• On the official 100th birthday of the Long Island Red Cross, volunteers, board members, and staff gathered outside Mineola City Hall, along with Mineola Deputy Mayor Paul Pereira, to celebrate a century of service. Newsday also published an article highlighting the work of the LI Red Cross over the last hundred years. 
• On Wednesday, Red Cross Metro NY North volunteers Andy Papademetriou and Chad Sterrett responded to an apartment fire in Port Chester that displaced two families.
• Our Disaster Cycle Services teams from NYC, Long Island and Metro NY North gathered on Tuesday at the American Red Cross Middletown Warehouse for a meeting, break-out session and barbecue. 
• On Monday, employees and volunteers from the Greater NY Red Cross participated in Career Day at New World Preparatory Charter School in Staten Island, representing American Red Cross emergency managers.
• Amid weather reports of thunder storms and possible flash flooding, the Red Cross shared safety tips and weather updates to encourage preparedness for potential emergencies caused by the severe conditions. 
• The Greater NY Red Cross provided temporary housing for a family of 6 following a home fire in East Flatbush early Monday morning.

Upcoming Events and Opportunities

• June 27-30, July 3: Red Cross blood drives will take place from 2 to 7 p.m. at the Greater NY Red Cross building located at 520 West 49th Street, Manhattan. Schedule an appointment to donate today.
• July 1: The Home Fire Preparedness Campaign is coming to the Bronx to help make the community safer one home at a time. Volunteer to help out, or sign up to get a free smoke alarm installed in your home. 
• Aug 22-27: Do you like to volunteer? Do you like golf? If so, have we got an opportunity for you! Sign up today to volunteer at THE NORTHERN TRUST at Glen Oaks Club in Old Westbury, NY. For $75, you gain daily access to the tournament for you and a guest, a logoed polo shirt and baseball cap, and much more. Plus, your efforts will support the mission of the American Red Cross. Learn more here.

In Case You Missed It - June 19

Last Thursday night, Red Cross volunteers, employees, and board members from across New York came 

together to celebrate the LI Red Cross’s Centennial Celebration.

Over the last 7 days, the Greater New York Red Cross provided emergency assistance to 106 adults and 37 children following 52 local disasters. Here are some highlights from last week and a preview of upcoming activities (see below).

Last Week in Review

• On Saturday, Greater NY Red Cross had medical spotters supporting the NYRR Queens 10K Race.
• On Friday, Red Cross volunteers from the Home Fire Campaign were presented with Volunteer Appreciation Awards from the Community Service Society of New York.
• On Thursday night, the Long Island Red Cross held its Centennial Celebration! The amazing emcees, New York Red Cross Board Members, and fantastic sponsors, along with the rest of those in attendance, came together to honor local community leaders. 
• Greater NY Red Cross Regional Director John Waldman accepted an award from NY Disaster Interfaith Services on behalf of the Red Cross staff and our amazing volunteers!
• The American Red Cross launched its First Aid App! It’s an important (and free!) tool, everyone can download to their mobile device. 
• On Wednesday, the Long Island Red Cross provided assistance to a family of 5 following a home fire in Uniondale, and the Greater NY Red Cross provided temporary housing and emergency relief following an apartment fire in Clason Point, Bronx.
• The Greater NY Red Cross and partner American Express were out in full force, creating cleanup kits for disaster survivors and writing thank-you cards for our military serving overseas. 
• The Greater NY Red Cross showed support for their colleagues at the British Red Cross and wished them well as they responded to the devastating Grenfell Tower fire.
• Wednesday was World Blood Donor Day, and the Red Cross and Niki Taylor joined together to honor the heroic blood and platelet donors who roll up a sleeve to help save lives!
• A new exhibit opened at the New-York Historical Society called World War I Beyond the Trenches includes historical depictions of women in the Red Cross. 
• Monday marked the one-year anniversary of the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, FL. In remembering the numerous lost lives and families affected by the shooting, Greater NY Red Cross CEO Josh Lockwood also issued a special thank you to Red Cross volunteers who helped provide assistance to the Orlando community during the tragedy last year. 

Upcoming Events and Opportunities

• June 20, 22 & 23: Red Cross blood drives will take place from 2:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Greater NY Red Cross building located at 520 West 49th Street, Manhattan. Schedule an appointment to donate today.
• Aug 22-27: Do you like to volunteer? Do you like golf? If so, have we got an opportunity for you! Sign up today to volunteer at THE NORTHERN TRUST at Glen Oaks Club in Old Westbury, NY. For $75, you gain daily access to the tournament for you and a guest, a logoed polo shirt and baseball cap, and much more. Plus, your efforts will support the mission of the American Red Cross. Learn more here.

In Case You Missed It - June 12

The new summer interns began their Red Cross experience by installing smoke alarms in Sheepshead Bay.

Over the last 7 days, the Greater New York Red Cross provided emergency assistance to 48 adults and 24 children following 33 local disasters. Here are some highlights from last week and a preview of upcoming activities (see below).

Last Week in Review

• On Sunday, the Greater NY region started gearing up for a heat wave, and Red Cross is here to help you stay cool with key tips for staying safe in the hot weather. 
• There is officially 42 days to go until the Red Cross Mudders make their début at Tough Mudder Long Island. Support them today!
• On Saturday, the Greater NY Red Cross set up a region-wide full-scale exercise that mimicked a real-life disaster scenario.
• Citi has been supporting the Red Cross for 100 years. NY Red Cross CEO Josh Lockwood joined them to celebrate.
• Disaster Program Manager Daniel Delgado and his team were out in Charleston installing over 60 smoke/ carbon alarms!
• Long Island Red Cross volunteers were at the scene of massive fire in Happauge to provide emergency assistance for 14 displaced families.
• June 7th was Global Running Day, and Team Red Cross is warming up for the NYC Marathon on November 5th! To join them, sign up here!
• Long Island Red Cross spent the day installing fire alarms with the Home Fire Campaign.
• Long Island Red Cross and ZebraTechnology partnered up to make communities safer with a day of service.
• On Tuesday, Red Cross NY and Disaster Cycle Services teams held a table top exercise on how to respond to surprise disasters with no notifications.
• On Monday, the panel at the 2017 Disaster Volunteer Conference included Joann Galardy of the American Red Cross of Greater New York.
• It’s almost the 100th Birthday of the Long Island Red Cross, as well as the American Junior Red Cross. To celebrate, we’ve pulled together 100 pictures for 100 years. In addition, the Long Island Red Cross has been sharing bits of its history, including its role offering canteen services for soldiers during both world wars and how public health played a major role in shaping Red Cross chapters.
• Red Cross kicked off Monday with a big welcome to the Red Cross Summer Interns! The interns spent their first day installing fire alarms in Sheepshead Bay as part of the Home Fire Campaign. 

Upcoming Events and Opportunities

• June 12, 14, 15 & 17: Red Cross blood drives will be held from 2 to 7 p.m. at the Greater NY Red Cross Building located at 520 West 49th Street, Manhattan. Schedule an appointment to donate today.
• June 15: The American Red Cross on Long Island will celebrate 100 years of service to the Long Island community and recognize heroes from the community who embody the spirit of the Red Cross at its Centennial Celebration Gala at the Nassau Country Club in Glen Cove, NY. 
• Aug 22-27: Do you like to volunteer? Do you like golf? If so, have we got an opportunity for you! Sign up today to volunteer at THE NORTHERN TRUST at Glen Oaks Club in Old Westbury. For $75, you gain daily access to the tournament for you and a guest, a logoed polo shirt & baseball cap, and much more. Plus, your efforts will support the mission of the American Red Cross. Learn more here.

In Case You Missed It - June 5

MMC Global volunteers serve the Harlem community through fire safety education and smoke detector installations.  

Over the last 7 days, the Greater New York Red Cross provided emergency assistance to 88 adults and 40 children following 43 local disasters. Here are some highlights from last week and a preview of upcoming activities (see below).

Last Week in Review

• On Saturday, the Red Cross partnered with volunteers from MIRA USA to help make Queens Village safer by installing 105 free smoke alarms to 15 households. 
• Red Cross Metro North worked behind the scenes of a fire in Mt. Vernon providing care to five families (eight adults and nine children) displaced by the tragic fire. 
• Friday was National Doughnut Day, and the Red Cross celebrated the brave women who served our troops as Donut Dollies. 
• Red Cross Greater New York published a video of a 5-alarm fire from last April that impacted hundred of Queens residents. 
• Mercer hosted a successful Pillowcase Project Build on Friday. Thank you to all of the volunteers!
• Early on Thursday, Red Cross Metro NY North volunteers Eli Russ & Donnalene Mitchell assisted a Mount Vernon family of seven, following a fast moving fire. Sadly, a family pet was lost in the fire. 
• Mary Lynn Westmoreland, Chair of NYC Area, U.S. Department of Defense Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, presented an award to the American Red Cross in Greater NY for support of Guard and Reserve members employed by the American Red Cross. 
• On Wednesday, Red Cross NY and partner MMC Global were out in Harlem to help end home fires by installing free smoke detectors. 
• Long Island Red Cross CEO Neela Lockel, alongside Nassau and Suffolk County officials, discussed hurricane preparedness. Here are the top 6 Red Cross tips to stay safe! 
• Congratulations to Red Cross board member Janey Whiteside, of American Express, for being named a “woman to watch” on the Ad Age’s 2017 list! 

Upcoming Events and Opportunities

• June 5 & 9: Red Cross blood drives will take place from 2 to 7 pm at the American Red Cross in Greater New York building, located at 520 West 49th Street in Manhattan. Schedule an appointment to donate today.
• June 10: The 2017 Full-Scale Exercise American Red Cross of Greater New York's regional opportunity to test and train to our current plans, policies, and procedures for serving our clients in a large-scale Disaster Relief Operation. We are looking for volunteer actors to play the roles of survivors in a shelter. Please complete this form if you are interested in participating in the Full-Scale Exercise as an actor. 
• June 15: The American Red Cross on Long Island will celebrate 100 years of service to the Long Island community and recognize heroes from the community who embody the spirit of the Red Cross at its Centennial Celebration Gala at the Nassau Country Club in Glen Cove, NY. 
• Aug 22-27: Do you like to volunteer? Do you like golf? If so, have we got an opportunity for you! Sign up today to volunteer at THE NORTHERN TRUST at Glen Oaks Club in Old Westbury, NY. For $75, you gain daily access to the tournament for you and a guest, a logoed polo shirt & baseball cap, and much more. Plus, your efforts will support the mission of the American Red Cross. Learn more here.