By Kristin Alexander Staying in an emergency shelter can be overwhelming for anyone. Having just escaped a hurricane, wildfire, flood or other disaster, emotions are high. No matter how well they are run, shelters can be crowded, loud, and lacking the familiar comforts of home. For children with autism spectrum disorder prone to overstimulation, those conditions can be … Continue reading Amazon partnership bringing comfort to kids with autism spectrum disorder
How Augie Berendsen survived the great November flood
Augie Berendsen points out some of the damage caused by flooding near his Everson home, November 18, 2021 By Gordon Williams Augie Berendsen of Everson WA knew the flooding had become really bad when he began hearing calls for help from the fields outside his farmhouse home. It was dark on the evening of November 14th … Continue reading How Augie Berendsen survived the great November flood
“We lost everything…” A home fire is devastating. The Red Cross is here to help
Emergency response to the Maple Crest Apartment fire in Tukwila, WA on August 17, 2021 By Abby Lutz “Let’s go, let’s go -- there’s a fire, we’ve got to get out of here!” Those were the words that awoke Samantha Walker on August 17, 2021 in her Tukwila apartment. Her husband, Isiac Walker, woke up … Continue reading “We lost everything…” A home fire is devastating. The Red Cross is here to help
How this “almost-a-volunteer” is serving the Red Cross and her community
Melissa Burdg of Mead WA pitched in to help the Red Cross, even before becoming a full-fledged volunteer. By Gordon Williams Some 90 percent of Red Cross responders are volunteers — giving their own time and effort to help others in need. This article will introduce you to Melissa Burdg of Mead WA who pitched in … Continue reading How this “almost-a-volunteer” is serving the Red Cross and her community
Next Generation Emergency Response Vehicle Brings Boost to Red Cross Disaster Response
By Jennifer Astion This summer, the Greater Inland Northwest Chapter of the Red Cross will be reaching out to the community with a new Emergency Response Vehicle built specifically for disaster relief missions. Thanks to the generous support of individual donations and a $50,000 gift from BNSF Railway, the chapter will use the new vehicle … Continue reading Next Generation Emergency Response Vehicle Brings Boost to Red Cross Disaster Response
Red Cross closely watching climate change
Ryan Rodin (left) is executive director of the Greater Inland Northwest Red Cross chapter and a leading voice on the impact of climate change on disaster intensity, impact and response. By Gordon Williams When you’re the executive director of the Greater Inland Northwest Red Cross chapter, wildfires; their cause, frequency, and community impact, are never … Continue reading Red Cross closely watching climate change
Volunteering on the frontlines: Rhonda Jack
By Gordon Williams Rhonda Jack of Wenatchee, WA first volunteered for the American Red Cross in 2014 after watching news reports about the Oso WA landslide that killed 43 people and destroyed a town. “The Red Cross played an important role at Oso and I wanted to be part of it,” Rhonda says. Back then, … Continue reading Volunteering on the frontlines: Rhonda Jack
Pandemic brings out the best in Red Cross volunteers and others
By Mark Walker Legions of American Red Cross volunteers have stepped up over the last year and a half to help the nation confront the deadly COVID-19 pandemic. Be it staffing emergency shelters, assisting with vaccine distribution or making sure the emergency needs of fire victims are met, volunteers have responded in droves during the … Continue reading Pandemic brings out the best in Red Cross volunteers and others
How the Red Cross managed a wicked wildfire season
By Gordon Williams We’re barely into Spring, but the American Red Cross is already looking ahead to a summer wildfire season that could be as bad as the record-setting season that scorched Washington in 2020. Between an unprecedented number of fires and the strictures imposed by Covid-19, the 2020 wildfire season stressed Red Cross resources … Continue reading How the Red Cross managed a wicked wildfire season
Volunteer Sharon Andrews takes a new role in Red Cross technology
By Gordon Williams Sharon Andrews It takes willing hands and compassion to carry out the Red Cross mission of aiding disaster victims and managing the nation's blood supply. But it also takes a ton of technology to make sure that mission is carried out effectively and efficiently. Volunteer Sharon Andrews of Spokane WA says she … Continue reading Volunteer Sharon Andrews takes a new role in Red Cross technology
American Red Cross NW Region 