Red Cross, Congresswoman Clarke Team up to Help Get Brooklyn Residents More Prepared

L to R: John Waldman (American Red Cross), Zellnor Myrie, Congresswoman Yvette Clarke, Assemblywoman Diana Richardson, Alex Poku (American Red Cross)

The American Red Cross teamed up with Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke this last Sunday, October 28, 2018 in Crown Heights to provide emergency preparedness training to local residents at the Shalom Senior Center. Also supporting the event are NY State Assembly Members Jaime Williams and Diana Richardson.

“The American Red Cross urges everyone to make sure they are prepared for a disaster and not wait until an emergency occurs and it’s too late,” said Josh Lockwood, Regional CEO, American Red Cross in Greater NY. “Thank you to Congresswoman Clarke and NY State Assembly Members Williams and Richardson, for their commitment to helping keep NYers safe and prepared.”

“Far too many families don’t have emergency plans. Prior to Hurricane Sandy, many Brooklyn residents never imagined we would see a storm of that magnitude. However, emergencies come in many forms, from hurricanes, to blackouts, to home fires – and no community is exempt. Central Brooklyn neighborhoods are filled with old, historic buildings which are more susceptible to disasters due to poor ventilation and lack of emergency access points among other things. American Red Cross’ emergency preparedness training will equip families with knowledge to plan, respond, and recover from potential disasters. I encourage everyone to engage in this important conversation.”

The event is part of the Citizen Preparedness Training, a partnership between the Red Cross and New York State providing free emergency preparedness education. The presentation titled, Prepare, Respond, Recover: What to do When Disaster Strikes, is taught by experienced Red Cross instructors and gives a comprehensive overview on how to prepare for natural and man-made disasters and how to respond to and recover from them. It also provides information on types of common disasters, ways to prepare as an individual, family and community member, what to do when disaster strikes and what actions you can take afterwards to aid in your recovery.

Established in 2014, Citizen Preparedness Corps has empowered more than 60,000 NYC residents with emergency preparedness skills and resources. The partnership with Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke represents an ongoing commitment by the U.S. House of Representatives to emergency preparedness.

To learn more about the Red Cross Citizen Preparedness Training, click here.

About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.

"Three Questions"...with Night Shift Disaster Responder Francisco Resto

“Three Questions …” is an American Red Cross in Greater New York blog series featuring staff, volunteers, and partners who help carry out our humanitarian mission. Through these short interviews, we hope to shine a light on our different programs and get to know those who make this work possible.

Francisco Resto is a longtime member of the American Red Cross disaster services team. Resto joined the organization 11 years ago as an Emergency Communications Center dispatcher and currently serves as a disaster responder. In this role he goes to the scene of fires, floods, vacates, building collapses, and other emergencies across all five boroughs where he delivers emergency humanitarian relief to affected residents. And what makes Resto’s already-unique job even more so are his work hours: 10:00 P.M. to 6:30 A.M. Along with his full-time job with the Red Cross, Resto is also a full-time student. We recently caught up with him for a quick chat to learn about what it is like taking on this important role in the middle of the night.

Often the residents you are helping are woken up by some kind of disaster. How do people react to seeing the Red Cross in the middle of the night?

I usually get comments like, “Its three in the morning, and you guys are here?!” Having someone present at all times of day is in and of itself comforting. We let people know that we’re here to help and here to guide. Our presence, often unexpected, means a lot.

A lot of people consider NYC the City that never sleeps. Do you have a different perspective on the City now that you are responding in the middle of night, a different perspective than if you were responding during the day?

The City feels so small at night. The reason why I say that is because, yes, New York is a large city; it’s very dense, but at night there are so few people on the streets so you can get anywhere in 20 minutes. Even if it’s the northern most part of the Bronx or Far Rockaway, you can get anywhere pretty fast. This means a lot when you are heading to help a family who really needs the assistance.

Is there a memory of a particular family you have helped on your night shift that has stuck with you?

It is difficult to remember one particular family since I respond to incidents on an almost nightly basis, but I do remember a night shift about ten months ago in the middle of the cold winter: a 5-alarm fire in the Bronx displacing an entire building with roughly 60 units. Most of the clients had alternative means of housing and did not need Red Cross assistance, which is a great thing, but we did end up housing roughly ten large families.

I remember arriving on scene and trying to navigate and evaluate the chaotic fire scene. There were faces in the crowd that just couldn’t believe a fire could happen to them in the cold of winter at almost 11 at night. Most of the clients we assisted were huddled inside a typical Bronx Bodega just across the street from the fire building.The cold winter air, the frozen water on the ground, and the grief of losing a home, I knew I needed to help get a better place for them to gather. After working to secure an MTA bus I approached the group, quickly announced my name, the organization I represented, and informed the clients we have a bus on the scene to keep everyone warm and safe, and we would immediately begin the process for those who need a place to stay for the night that was warm and dry. We assisted the families present with housing, financial assistance, and all the necessary mass care items needed at the time in record time, closing out the incident in roughly 2-3 hours.

In Case You Missed It – Oct 29

Volunteers installing free smoke alarms over the weekend with
Assemblywoman Pellegrino. (Photo: Lori-Ann Pizzarelli)

Over the last 7 days, the Greater New York Red Cross provided emergency assistance to 70 adults and 26 children following 44 disaster responses. Here are some highlights from last week and a preview of upcoming activities. (see below)

Last Week in Review

• On the six-year anniversary, PIX11 reported on how one Long Island community gathered to remember Superstorm Sandy and discuss a new initiative in honor of the residents and first responders of the disaster. 
• Yesterday, Red Cross volunteers supported the local community and veterans at the 2018 Suffolk Country Marathon by distributing water, coffee, supplies, and operations management to event staff and runners. 
• On Sunday Assemblywoman Christine DiBartolo Pellegrino teamed up with the Red Cross in support of fire safety, installing 59 smoke alarms in one day making the City a bit safer in the process. 
• Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke sponsored a Red Cross Emergency Preparedness Training presentation at the Brooklyn Shalom Senior Center on Sunday. 
• Red Cross volunteer Greg Davidson is preparing for the TCS New York City Marathon, which he is running in support of the American Red Cross. Check out his awesome training video!
• Clara Barton (who bears a striking resemblance to long-time volunteer Oonaugh Turrito) alongside fellow Red Crossers in Queens shared preparedness information with parents at PS 205Q on Friday. 
• Trained by the American Red Cross, Amanda Robinson of WeWork helped save a choking colleague’s life in Brooklyn. She recently received the American Red Cross Certificate of Merit for her actions.
• Special thank you to National Grid and PSEG Long Island for supporting Thursday's American Red Cross Home Fire event! We also salute the Brentwood Library who also played a role in making this event a success. 
• Thank you NYC Emergency Management First Deputy Commissioner Calvin Drayton for speaking to Red Cross staff last week about leadership and for sharing his insight on the past, present, and future of emergency management. 
• In the latest #MyRedCrossLife Instagram post, Edras Hidalgo’s shared his story about how volunteering with the Red Cross is making a positive impact on his family. 

Upcoming Events

• Oct 30, Nov 2 & 5: 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! 
• Nov 15: American Red Cross is hosting their inaugural Sunrise to Save Lives Breakfast to eliminate measles around the world through improved vaccination coverage. To purchase tickets, please visit: https://501auctions.com/sunrisetosavelives. For questions and sponsorship opportunities, please contact Dawn Neilson at dawn.neilson@redcross.org or 516-747-3500 ext. 203. 
• Dec 13: Join the Red Cross Young Patrons’ Holiday Soirée for a night of conversation, drinks, live music and general holiday cheer at the beautiful and historic Players Club in Gramercy Park. To purchase tickets today!

In Case You Missed It – Oct 22

Red Cross volunteers providing comfort, a hot meal, snacks, and water to
Hope and her 3-week-old daughter, Scarlett in Panama City.

Over the last 7 days, the Greater New York Red Cross provided emergency assistance to 101 adults and 40 children following 39 disaster responses. Here are some highlights from last week and a preview of upcoming activities. (see below)

Last Week in Review

• Red Crossers are working around the clock to provide safe shelter, hot meals, emotional support and so much more to the thousands affected by Hurricane Michael. Our Regional CEO posted a special thank you to a group of volunteers in Tallahassee, Fla. 
• Our Communications Officer Mike de Vulpillieres who recently traveled to North Carolina to help document the work of the Red Cross following Hurricane Florence shared a story about a woman he met in Fayetteville, Sonja Graham, and her recovery process.
• On Friday, 11 members of our FDNY DART team left for Florida to support Hurricane Michael relief efforts. Several of these volunteers had just returned from North Carolina where they helped residents impacted by Hurricane Florence only to head back out for another multiple-week deployment. 
• MIRA USA and Council Member Daniel Dromm teamed up to offer disaster preparedness training to residents in Jackson Heights, N.Y. 
• Councilman Justin Brannan partnered with the Red Cross to offer free smoke alarms to anyone who needs them. 
• Red Cross superstar Joe Spaccerelli shared his best practices for preparedness with top emergency managers from across the country on Thursday at a conference hosted by NYC Emergency Management.. 
• Our Sr. Director of Government and Community Relations John Waldman met with Councilman Keith Powers on Monday and Councilman Alan Maisel on Tuesday to strengthen our partnerships to more effectively deliver vital emergency preparedness education and training. 
• On Monday Red Cross wished a Happy 10th Red Cross Anniversary to Ronnie G. Rigos! Thank you for everything you do for this organization, Ronnie! We could not do what we do without volunteers like him! 

Upcoming Events

• Oct 22, 23 & 29: 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! 
• Oct 25, 27: “Sound the Alarm” fire safety smoke alarm installation events are coming to Long Island on Oct 25 (in partnership with PSEG Long Island) and in Newburgh on Oct 27. 
• Nov 4: The deadline for signing up for the Marathon Medical Spotter Team has been extended to Oct 23. The Spotter Team will monitor marathon runners in the post finish walk-off area and accompany those needing medical assistance to the nearest medical tent. Spotters MUST attend a “Hand-Only CPR” session to prepare for the event, and have a Red Cross ID. Active Red Cross volunteers can sign up on Volunteer Connection here.

In Case You Missed It – Oct 15

Over the last 7 days, the Greater New York Red Cross provided emergency assistance to 92 adults and 29 children following 37 disaster responses. Here are some highlights from last week and a preview of upcoming activities. (see below)

Last Week in Review 

• On Wednesday Mike Tirico hosted the annual Red Cross Gala, honoring civic leaders and local heroes. Thank you to all our sponsors, who have supported this organization in making a difference around the globe during and after disasters. A highlight of the night included Aaron Sorkin honoring Private Emmanuel Mensah posthumously with ARC’s Local Hero Award. Among other honorees were Hearst for their humanitarian work, Macy’s for their corporate leadership, and IBM for 100 years of partnership. Special guests included actress Brenda Vaccaro and artist Gavin Degraw, who made this night unforgettable.
• American Red Cross volunteers are on the ground helping people who have been impacted by Hurricane Michael. On Friday, almost 2,900 people stayed in as many as 37 Red Cross community evacuation centers across Florida, Georgia and Alabama. ARC has served 30,000 snacks and is working with partners to start serving tens of thousands of hot meals each day. Click here to read more and learn how you can help!
• On Friday American Red Cross participated at the Baldwin fire department open house, signing up members of the community for free smoke alarm installations.
• On Thursday morning, MNYN volunteers were on scene in Monticello providing financial assistance, referrals, and support to ten families who have been displaced due to a water condition.
• ARC’s John Waldman met with Councilman Justin Brannan at City Hall on Thursday and is excited to announce the councilman’s partnership with the American Red Cross in Greater New York to deliver vital services to the community.
• The Red Cross team attended the FDNY annual memorial service on Riverside Drive on Wednesday.
• Last Monday The American Red Cross committed $1 million to aid communities impacted by earthquakes and tsunami in Indonesia.

Upcoming Events Activities

•  Oct 15, 19: 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!
• Oct 21: We will partner with the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) and FDNY Foundation to help "Sound the Alarm" by installing free smoke alarms in Brooklyn. Learn more by clicking here.

In Case You Missed It - Oct 8

Volunteers supporting Saturday's Sound the Alarm event in Long Island

Over the last 7 days, the Greater New York Red Cross provided emergency assistance to 87 adults and 25 children following 50 disaster responses. Here are some highlights from last week and a preview of upcoming activities. (see below)

Last Week in Review 

• Saturday was a great day for our Sound the Alarm program. Thank you to all the awesome volunteers who installed 101 alarms in 44 homes in Leisure Village! 
• American Red Cross shared fire safety information at Brentwood Fire Department’s Open House on Saturday. 
• MIRA USA and the American Red Cross teamed up to train and prepare Miraísts to help the community in case of a disaster. 
• Red Cross volunteers were on scene in the city of Peekskill providing Emergency Assistance and support to 6 families affected by a fire. 
• On Friday Allstate presented ARC with $30,000 in recognition of 45 Westchester agents volunteering to help commuters and their families prepare for unexpected disaster. 
• Thank you to our Red Cross volunteers who responded to the EF-O Tornado in Ronkonkoma, Long Island to assess damage, provide food, and offer support to those impacted on Wednesday. 
• On Tuesday Red Cross volunteer Janette shared about her work in the Latino Engagement Group. Click here to learn more about how she serves vulnerable communities after Hurricane Florence. 
• Our Communications Officer Mike de Vulpillieres, who was deployed to North Carolina, shared the stories of survivors of Hurricane Florence and how they make the best of a tough situation: Barry, Sonja, and Georgia.   
• The Eastern North Carolina Red Cross shared a story of our very own FDNY DART team helping their communities affected by Hurricane Florence. 

Upcoming Events

• Oct 10: Join us for the annual American Red Cross: Heroes Among Us gala at the Ziegfeld Ballroom to celebrate the civic leaders and heroic individuals who embody our humanitarian mission
• Oct 12, 13, 15: 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 on Oct 12 and 15. On Oct 13, the blood drive will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Renaissance Youth Center located at 3485 Third Avenue, Bronx. Schedule an appointment to donate today.  . 
• Nov 4: The American Red Cross Greater New York Region is proud to Run for the Red in November at the TCS New York City Marathon. Come be a part of Team Red Cross and sign up by Thursday, September 13! Space is limited, so secure your spot today! For more information, contact Bob Estremera at NYCmarathon@redcross.org or 212-875-2091

In Case You Missed It - Oct 1

Ringing the closing bell of NYSE to raise awareness for Hurricane Florence relief.

Over the last 7 days, the Greater New York Red Cross provided emergency assistance to 55 adults and 20 children following 37 disaster responses. Here are some highlights from last week and a preview of upcoming activities (see below).

Last Week in Review

• Thousands of Red Cross volunteers and employees are working around the clock to provide shelter, food, comfort and other emergency support to victims of Hurricane Florence. Get ground-level updates from some of our local Red Crossers deployed there now: Bruce Vesloski, Josh Lockwood, Brian Gerber, FDNY DART. And watch this video poem tribute to volunteers by Jamillah Abdul-Kareem.
• On Saturday MNYN teamed up with members of the Florida, NY Fire Department for the most successful Sound the Alarm Event to date! Volunteers visited 63 homes, installed 244 smoke alarms, and educated 175 people about fire safety.
• Long-time GNY Red Cross volunteer Christophe Lobry-Boulanger moderated an interesting discussion with Dr Jemilah Mahmood of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies on Friday about the current IFRC engagement during the high-level debate of the UN General Assembly in New York.
• On Friday, ARC continues to partner with Win to deliver services to the most vulnerable in our society.
• The masterminds behind the Metro New York Red and White Ball to be held on April 27th met for the first time. Thanks to Fairfield County Look for the fantastic pictures capturing the kick off luncheon.
• Congratulations to Chief External Relations Officer Desiree Ramos Reiner for being honored by Bergen County at the Hispanic Heritage Celebration for her Red Cross work on Wednesday.
• Last Tuesday, the Metro NY North chapter hosted its Annual Volunteer Recognition Night. Thank you to all our volunteers for your 24/7/365 compassion and work!
• American Red Cross Board Member and Head of Operations at Citibank, Don Callahan, rang the New York Stock Exchange Closing Bell on Monday in honor of the American Red Cross’s humanitarian efforts to support people affected by Hurrican Florence. Watch it here!

Upcoming Events

• Oct 2, 5, 8: 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 and other locations. Schedule an appointment to donate today.
• Oct 10: Join us for the annual American Red Cross: Heroes Among Us gala at the Ziegfeld Ballroom to celebrate the civic leaders and heroic individuals who embody our humanitarian mission.
• Nov 4: The American Red Cross Greater New York Region is proud to Run for the Red in November at the TCS New York City Marathon. Come be a part of Team Red Cross and sign up by Thursday, September 13! Space is limited, so secure your spot today! For more information, contact Bob Estremera at NYCmarathon@redcross.org or 212-875-2091.