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The Jersey Coast Chapter Reflects: Five Years Post-Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma

TINTON FALLS, August 25, 2010 – Five years ago, Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma changed the lives of millions of people and prompted a response by the American Red Cross that was unprecedented in both size and scope. Who could forget the vivid media images of these destructive hurricanes? These images resonated not only in the areas affected by the hurricanes - but also throughout the nation and the entire New Jersey coastline. Residents of Monmouth and Ocean County turned to their Jersey Coast Chapter of the American Red Cross, ready to extend a helping hand to those affected by the trio of hurricanes.

In any disaster, the American Red Cross quickly mobilizes workers and supplies to address urgent needs of disaster victims, which includes providing shelter, food, water, counseling and other assistance. “We are one of 20 disaster hubs in the entire country,” said Tara Kelly, CEO of the Jersey Coast Chapter. The facility located in Tinton Falls is the home to a 70,000 square foot warehouse in which supplies can be distributed in bulk and sent to places where disasters are occurring. The Jersey Coast Chapter helped in the distribution of supplies to affected areas of the 2005 hurricanes and also directly assisted many displaced families from the affected areas with immediate disaster assistance. Nearly 8,000 generous donors from Monmouth and Ocean County donated 1.5 million dollars to the hurricane relief effort, which was sent directly to those needing assistance.

As with any large-scale disaster, there is an immediate outpour of community support. Nearly 900 people from Monmouth and Ocean County felt an overwhelming desire to help with the relief efforts and became trained volunteers. Carol Cohen of Brick Township was one of the people who walked into the Jersey Coast Chapter after seeing the devastation of Katrina on television. “I wanted to go to Katrina, but I didn’t realize all of the training you need to be sent out,” said Cohen. In order to be deployed to a Red Cross Disaster Operation, the volunteer must first go through a series of training. During the storms, 117 previously trained disaster volunteers from our community were deployed to the affected areas. The first lesson involves one of the biggest messages of the Red Cross: you must be prepared. “The more I learned, the more I wanted to volunteer locally. The lesson here is, don’t wait for the next great tragedy. Get trained now,” said Cohen. After the hurricanes, Cohen continued to be an avid disaster volunteer, responding to local disasters. She continues to be active with the disaster department at the Jersey Coast Chapter. She is now a member of the staff, serving as the Director of Health and Safety Services, prompted by her desire to become involved during the hurricanes of 2005.

Since the storms, the Jersey Coast Chapter has grown into a regional chapter, now encompassing Monmouth, Ocean, Atlantic, Cumberland, Salem, Gloucester and Cape May Counties. In turn, this has expanded the number of active disaster volunteers who are available to provide assistance in the event of a large disaster nationally and/or locally and increased responsibility of those responding to disasters.

The fifth anniversary of the hurricanes of 2005 is a reminder and lesson that the unthinkable can happen and that everyone must do their part to prepare. The investments made in preparedness today can save lives and livelihoods tomorrow.

For more information on how you can support the Jersey Coast Chapter, please call (732) 493-9100 or visit our website jerseycoast-redcross.org.

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About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies nearly half of the nation's blood; teaches lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization — not a government agency — and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit www.redcross.org or join our blog at http://blog.redcross.org.