Red Cross helping more this winter with increased emergencies

Feb. 12--FRANKLIN COUNTY -- The American Red Cross has been busier than ever over the last few months as cold weather and several fires have sent families looking for emergency help.

"Our primary purpose is to help our Franklin County residents and our Cumberland County residents with their immediate disaster needs," said Allen White Jr. emergency response specialist. "We want to make sure if they have been displaced, to make sure they have a roof over their heads, to have something to eat or clothing until either they deal with insurance companies or other types of agencies that can help."

White said Red Cross volunteers have been called out more this winter than past years.

"We have definitely seen an increase in activity this winter," White said. "In the past three weeks, we responded to six fires within Franklin County alone."

The Red Cross, a non-profit that provides disaster relief, heath services and international work, is summoned by emergency and fire personnel to fire scenes if they deem it necessary for residents to get assistance.

White said the local Red Cross has about 30 active disaster volunteers who take turns every week being on call when disasters, such as extreme flooding or hurricanes happen.

"In Franklin County, we have been quite fortunate," White said. "Other areas have seen things that are more extreme."

Carolyn Blackshire, Chambersburg, is a disaster team captain and has volunteered for four years.

She works as a registered nurse and said it's nice to be able to put her past experience to work.

"I think it's just about being there if an individual has lost anything," Blackshire said. "Especially if there are children involved."

Joy Brouse, Chambersburg, is a licensed EMT, worked as a firefighter and was trained as a combat medic with the Navy. For 7 1/2 years, she has worked as a disaster volunteer.

"Sometimes people would come into the office after a fire. I can require vividly this young woman who had a large amount of children, I could just see the relief pour over her when she learned we would help her," Brouse said. "I can just see the relief on their faces and it's not just this one case."

She said she became interested in working with the Red Cross after a flood in Chambersburg several years ago.

Bonnie Hann, Ft. Loudon, and her husband got involved after seeing a fire's effects in 2009.

"It's a privilege of a volunteer to help people, a privilege that enriches our lives," Hann said.

The Red Cross also has many volunteers who teach in other programs.

Larry Coleman, Chambersburg, has been a disaster team captain for about a year and said people sometimes don't fully understand everything the Red Cross does.

"Most people think that when we go to a fire, we hand them some blankets and leave. There is more to it than that. We make a decision on how much damage is done to the property and how much we can help," Coleman said. "We go through the paperwork."

Coleman also teaches in the Red Cross' youth program and helps to teach children about washing their hands properly and keeping themselves safe if they need to be home alone. Work is underway on a project in conjunction with Walt Disney Corp. called Pillow Talk that will focus on disaster preparedness for kids.

Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer with the Red Cross can contact the Franklin County office at 264-6214, or visit http://www.redcross.org.

Lauren Cappuccio can be contacted at 262-4754.

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