By Diane Toomey Volunteers Colleen Protzman and Ralph Roper during 2020 flood response in Whatcom County Colleen Protzman and Dee Anderson, her friend of 64 years, went looking for a volunteer opportunity in 2014 and landed at the American Red Cross. Shortly after joining, Colleen and Dee became part of the initial sheltering response team … Continue reading Why I volunteer: Colleen Protzman
Let’s Welcome Pedro the Penguin to the Red Cross
By Gordon Williams Pedro the Penguin, as seen on Ready.gov There’s a new face at the American Red Cross Northwest Region, and you will be seeing a lot of him in the years to come. His name is Pedro, and Regional Preparedness Specialist Hannah Knowles explains that he was brought aboard to close a gap … Continue reading Let’s Welcome Pedro the Penguin to the Red Cross
Where the “Wild” fits into WA Wildfire Risk
By Gordon Williams Photo: a homeowner talks with Red Cross volunteers during Washington's Wildfire season of 2015 Making predictions is always chancy, since events seldom play out exactly as you think they will. But here is a prediction that is likely to be 100 percent on the money: Demands on Red Cross resources — human … Continue reading Where the “Wild” fits into WA Wildfire Risk
When his home caught fire, the Red Cross was there to help
By Gordon Williams The early morning fire that broke out July 3 in the Lynnwood WA home of Inayat Dawari could have been so much worse. All of the dwelling’s 10 occupants — all members of one extended family — escaped the fire safely. And the home’s sprinkler system kept the fire from spreading beyond … Continue reading When his home caught fire, the Red Cross was there to help
Shake-out and brush-up on your tsunami survival skills
By Gordon Williams The number one reason for taking part in the Great Washington Shake-Out on October 17, 2019 is to practice and perfect your earthquake survival skills of drop, cover and hold on. Washington State is earthquake country and the quicker you can respond when the ground shakes, the better your chances of escaping … Continue reading Shake-out and brush-up on your tsunami survival skills
Drake Walters knows first-hand why smoke alarms are life-savers
By Gordon Williams On one level, Drake Walters of Suquamish, Washington is just one of the thousands of individuals across the United States who install smoke alarms as part of the American Red Cross Home Fire Campaign (HFC). Drake is a volunteer in the Kitsap and Olympic Peninsulas Chapter of the Red Cross, headquartered in … Continue reading Drake Walters knows first-hand why smoke alarms are life-savers
Why I Volunteer: Pooja Minhas
Pooja Minhas, Volunteer A passion for helping my community drew me to the American Red Cross. Volunteering has always been something I enjoy doing and I wanted to continue making an impact as I went through college. I saw what the Red Cross did during Hurricane Sandy in my home state and it stuck with … Continue reading Why I Volunteer: Pooja Minhas
The special gift Jan Mackem gives to disaster victims
By Gordon Williams Red Cross responders provide disaster victims with all manner of emergency supplies: blankets, clean-up kits, personal care items. But disaster victims on the Kitsap and Olympic peninsulas of Washington often get all that and something more: quilts made by hand by responder Jan Mackem and a half dozen of her colleagues. The … Continue reading The special gift Jan Mackem gives to disaster victims
What you can do to prevent wildfires
By Gordon Williams A firecracker, tossed by a 15-year old boy, started the fire that ravaged the Columbia River Gorge in the spring of 2018--burning for three months and scorching 50,000 acres. At almost the same time, a trash fire, near Yakima WA, not properly extinguished, burned 15 acres and damaged a building. Taken together, … Continue reading What you can do to prevent wildfires
America’s highest-risk volcanoes are right here in Washington
By Gordon Williams The U.S. Geological Survey recently published a new ranking of the nation’s most dangerous volcanoes, and Washington State is arguably at the top. The latest ranking updates a 2005 report, listing Kilauea in Hawaii as the most threatening volcano, followed by Washington State’s Mount St. Helens and Mount Rainier. Also in Washington … Continue reading America’s highest-risk volcanoes are right here in Washington
American Red Cross NW Region 