American Red Cross of Northwest Indiana Services
For the People of Lake, Jasper, and Newton Counties
Mission Statement
The American Red Cross, a humanitarian organization led by volunteers, guided by its Congressional Charter and the Fundamental Principles of the International Red Cross Movement, will provide relief to victims of disasters and help people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies.
2007 Southern California Wildfires.
Red Cross volunteer Chris Lazzaro hands out food in a rest area for firefighters battling the Malibu fire. Photographer: Talia Frenkel
Since 1917, the American Red Cross of Northwest Indiana Chapter has responded to both small weekly disasters and major periodic disasters like the Northwest Indiana Floods of August 2007, the Northwest Indiana Floods of September 2006, the Kankakee and Iroquois River Floods of 2003, the Northwest Indiana Winter Storm of 1996, the Roselawn American Eagle Aviation Disaster of 1994, the Highland Floods of 1990, and other historic major disasters that have occurred here such as the Hammond Flood of 1954.
Northwest Indiana Flash Floods - 2007
The American Red Cross of Northwest Indiana responded to provide for the emergency needs of area residents affected by the rains of July 26, the severe storms on August 15 and 23, and the subsequent flooding. The American Red Cross of Northwest Indiana: provided client services seven days a week, conducted individual disaster assessments at the residence of each family seeking services from us; supported shelters opened by four area municipalities (East Chicago, Dyer, Merrillville, Lake Station) with cots and blankets; one nonprofit's shelter (Edgewater Systems in Gary); and one Red Cross Shelter at the Lake Station Boys and Girls Club.
The Red Cross: distributed: 671 heater meals, over 5,397 snacks, 578 disaster clean up kits, 112 comfort kits, hundreds of cases of water and bottled bleach, and other necessary and emergency supplies to those affected; established mobile feeding routes to provide meals to those without power and continued to feed people in affected areas; established bulk distribution sites in affected areas of Lake Station and Glen Park; provided direct financial and material assistance to 478 individuals and families needing American Red Cross help to either stay in their homes, return to their homes, or find new housing; provided 178 Health Service Contacts and 341 Mental Health Services Contacts. Over 70 Red Cross volunteers provided outreach, mental health services, health, information, referrals, and linkages to meet the local needs.
Northwest Indiana Flash Floods - 2006
When the flash floods of Northwest Indiana hit on September 13, 2006, the American Red Cross of Northwest Indiana provided food, clothing, and shelter to our Lake County neighbors, friends, and family members. We had our own major disaster right here where we live and work. The American Red Cross saw 1,246 people, distributed over $405,000 in financial and material assistance in a disaster relief operation whose total cost reached just over $435,000. The Red Cross provided 798 meals, over 13,000 snacks and beverages, and 1,550 cleanup kits to local residents. Over 150 mobilized Red Cross disaster volunteers provided outreach, mental health services, health, information, referrals, and linkages to meet the local needs.
Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma - 2005
When Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma hit in the fall of 2005, 780 people from the Gulf affected states came to Northwest Indiana, and over the course of the next three months your local Red Cross Chapter provided food, clothing, shelter, case management, mental health, and health services, and linked people to local human services organizations. 100% of the funds collected for Hurricane Katrina went to the National Disaster Relief fund. The American Red Cross is working everyday to help people in need to recover from this, and other major disasters.
The real story is in what we do day in and day out, week after week, throughout the year.
The American Red Cross of Northwest Indiana is a nonprofit organization, receives no government funding, and relies entirely upon the generosity of the people of Northwest Indiana. When extraordinary events happen, the American Red Cross of Northwest Indiana is there for the citizens of Lake, Jasper, and Newton Counties. Most people do not know that the local Chapter does not keep any of the funds collected for these extraordinary disasters. Now, we need your help to continue our work locally in responding to local emergencies and disasters day-in and day-out, help to better prepare our region, and to recruit, train, and retain a new generation of volunteers.
Red Cross Emergency/Disaster Response
Summary - The American Red Cross of Northwest Indiana provides critical immediate assistance to people affected by local emergencies, such as home fires, by providing up to three nights of shelter, replacement clothing, food, replacement prescriptions, prescription glasses, needed medical devices, information and referral linking people to needed area human services, and ongoing casework. Our services enable people to stay employed, in their community, and their children in neighborhood schools, while families relocate and put their lives back together after experiencing a personal catastrophe. The average direct financial assistance provided to a family of four is $735. We respond to local emergencies and disasters throughout Lake, Jasper, and Newton counties within two hours of notification 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, 365 days a year. Disaster Relief operations are in support of local firefighters, police, and other first responders and consist of food, hot and cold beverages, and blankets during extended search, rescue, and recovery operations.
Annual Emergency/Disaster Services
(does not include Flash Flood statistics):
- 81 Single Family Home and Apartment Fire responses
- 86 Families with 344 total family members assisted
- 18 Disaster Relief Operations for over 100 First Responders
(search, rescue, recovery operations)
Red Cross Disaster Prevention and Preparedness
Summary - The American Red Cross of Northwest Indiana works with local businesses, churches, community groups, corporations, schools, and service clubs in teaching disaster preparedness and prevention following the guidelines of our Together We Prepare program: Make a Plan, Build a Kit, Get Trained, Give Blood, and Volunteer.
Currently, we are recommending that people stockpile a three-week supply of food, water, and emergency supplies. We participate in drills and tabletops year round to practice coordinated responses to large-scale disasters. The American Red Cross also consults with businesses to prepare emergency action plans for potential emergencies and disasters.
Red Cross Health & Safety Training – 16,847 local people taught life-saving skills
Summary - If you have ever gone swimming at a community pool, beach, or Water Park that have lifeguards, American Red Cross trained lifeguards were there to protect you and your family. We also train many of the local firefighters, police, and emergency management personnel in CPR for the Professional Rescuer and other skills. There are over 17 locally offered courses that teach people lifesaving skills. The American Red Cross of Northwest Indiana also sells and trains people to use Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs). American Red Cross Emergency Response and Health and Safety Training are universally accepted credentials for workplace requirements and first responder certifications. American Red Cross accredited courses are based upon scientific evidence from a series of academic studies that conclusively prove that our training and certification process meets the highest standards in the safety training industry.
Annual Local Service Highlights:
- 225 disaster prevention presentations for 1,450 participants
- 10,417 people trained in Standard First Aid, CPR, and AED
- 3,964 people trained in water safety and aquatics courses, including 571 local lifeguards
- 2,643 people provided with HIV/AIDS prevention education
- 145 seniors and children provided with family care-giving and babysitting courses respectively
- 139 people enrolled in our Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and professional rescuer programs
Services to Armed Forces – 590 local families served
Summary - Our Armed Forces Emergency Services (AFES) answers an average of two (2) calls a day, 365 days per year, from local military families in crisis, most often the critical illness or death of an immediate family member. Each case costs a minimum of $57 per communication. The Red Cross has fulfilled the role of providing emergency communications and family support services since before World War I, and we provide pre-deployment training to military families to educate them about the resources available to them.
Services to Armed Forces Local Service Highlights:
- 590 military families served receive emergency communications
- Local families receive grants and loans to assist during times of financial distress.
- 125 families briefed prior to the planned deployment of their loved ones.
- Case management provided to facilitate health and mental health services, for financial counseling, and other serious problems.
Volunteers
189 local volunteers work with the American Red Cross of Northwest Indiana as:
Volunteer Board Members leading the Chapter, community volunteers helping in our offices,
highly trained disaster services volunteers who respond to disasters, and community
volunteers assisting our small and dedicated staff in these and all other aspects of local Red Cross Chapter operations.
Your local Red Cross Chapter needs your help now, not only to maintain an American Red Cross presence in Northwest Indiana and continue responding to local emergencies and “small” disasters every day, but also to strengthen our preparedness and response to the potential major natural and manmade disasters that could happen in Northwest Indiana.
Please consider a financial investment in the American Red Cross of Northwest Indiana. Your gift will be deeply appreciated. The return on your investment is a healthier, safer, better prepared community, and a greater capacity for your local Red Cross Chapter to prepare for, respond to, and provide relief for local emergencies and disasters. If you are interested in hearing more about what the American Red Cross is accomplishing in Northwest Indiana, please give me a call at 219-756-5360, I would love to talk to you and answer any questions that you may have.
Volunteers lead out organization and highly trained volunteers provide our services. An investment of your time as an American Red Cross volunteer on our Board, as a Disaster Services volunteer, and in other roles multiplies your investment many times over. Thank you in advance for helping us to better prepare for and respond to emergencies and disasters in Northwest Indiana.
Thank you for your consideration,
Gordon T. Johnson, Chief Executive Officer
219-756-5360 ext. 12
GordonTJohnson@aol.com
Your Local Red Cross
Serving the people and communities of Northwest Indiana for 90 years!
American Red Cross of Northwest Indiana
791 E. 83rd Avenue
Merrillville, IN 46410
219-756-5360 (Phone)
219-756-5371 (Fax)
www.nwindiana-redcross.org
