CLEARFIELD – The American Red Cross responds to more than 70,000 disasters every year. Whether the disaster is a house fire, which we respond to quite often, an industrial accident affecting many people or a hurricane disrupting a very large area, the American Red Cross will be there when needed.
Red Cross chapters form the cornerstone of the organization’s response to disaster. The American Red Cross Disaster Services Program is a nationwide system of disaster planning, preparedness, community disaster education and mitigation, chapter readiness and disaster response throughout the United States and its territories. The program delivers high-quality services in a uniform and consistent manner.
Each chapter is rated by their Readiness Assessment Level. This includes the amount of people they can serve in their area and is determined by National Headquarters through the reports submitted by the chapter.
Readiness Levels are determined by the number of volunteers trained and to what level of training, facility and resource agreements available, disaster supplies on hand and more.
Disasters are rated by the level of disaster. Level I is a single family up to a 50 family disaster; Level II is from 50 – 250 family disaster; Level III is 250 – 500 family disaster and so forth.
If the disaster is so large that it exceeds the capacity of a chapter and its community to respond, the Red Cross activates its broader network of people and resources by reaching to neighboring chapters and National Headquarters.
This is why the Red Cross is always recruiting volunteers. If the Susquehanna River would severely flood its banks or a tornado would take out 100 – 200 homes, we must be ready to respond and serve those displaced families with our own resources.
We must have the necessary supplies and a set number of volunteers for each department of the operation. Shelter operations, mass care, client services, warehousing, and bulk distribution are just a few of the positions that must be filled and volunteers must be trained before they can respond. Each position requires several volunteers as the shelters must be manned 24/7.
I-80 Emergency Services Weekend will be held at the Clearfield High School on March 16, 17 and 18 and will provide the training you need to help serve your community in a time of disaster. This training is free of charge. We are offering a wide variety of courses to prepare you to help in the area best suited to you. Call 765-5516 to register. If you are unable to attend this training, please call the office and express your interest and we will include you in any upcoming training.
A multiphasic blood screening will be held at the Masonic Lodge in Goldenrod, Route 322 east of Clearfield, on March 24, 2007 from 6:30-9:30. The Multiphasic includes 35 blood tests. Prostate and thyroid are available for an additional fee. Free oximeter reading and blood pressure screening will be offered. Please call 765-5516 to register.
The silver tie and scarf, 2007 Punxsutawney Phil, made exclusively for the American Red Cross, is available at the Clearfield and Brookville Offices, Curwensville True Value, Reed Brothers Tool & Equipment Rental in Clearfield and Strattan Automotive for a donation of $6.00. A limited number of the previous years of Punxsutawney Phils are also available.
Order your Pies for Easter Dinner from the American Red Cross. A 10-inch pie for an $8.00 donation! Pick up or delivery on April 5. Order deadline is noon, March 29. Choose from Apple, blackberry, peach, cherry, red raspberry, pecan, caramel apple walnut, and pumpkin roll. Order forms will be at your place of business next week or you can call the office to order at 765-5516.
The Clearfield Red Cross office is still located at 309 West Locust St. in Clearfield. We have not moved into our new facility yet. An open house and 90th anniversary celebration are being planned for May.
Health & Safety Classes
Adult CPR – Clearfield – March 21
Brookville – March 7
Punxsutawney – March 5
Infant Child CPR – Clearfield – March 8
First Aid – Clearfield – March 22
Brookville – March 8
Punxsutawney – March 6
All of the above classes begin at 6:00 pm. Call 765-5516 to register in Clearfield or 849-2712 to register in Brookville & Punxsutawney.
Clearfield Bloodmobile Schedule
Friday, March 2 438 Front Place 12:00-6:00
Wednesday, March 7 Lock Haven 10:00-4:00
Saturday, March 10 Curwensville Moose 9:00-2:00
Monday, March 12 West Side United Methodist Church 12:00-6:00
Friday, March 16 438 Front Place 12:00-6:00
Wednesday, March 21 Quehanna Boot Camp 10:00-4:00
Jefferson Bloodmobile Schedule
Friday, March 9 Bethal Baptist Church-Sykesville Noon -6 PM
Tuesday, March 13 Saint Tobias Church-Brockway Noon -6 PM
Friday, March 16 Calvary Church of the Nazarene-Brookville Noon -6 PM
Friday, March 16 Punxsutawney Christian School Noon -6 PM
Tuesday, March 27 Reynoldsville Fire Hall 1 PM -7 PM
The American Red Cross is a non-profit organization. Although the government mandates us to provide certain emergency disaster services, they provide no funding. We are there to provide immediate emergency assistance in times of disaster with YOUR help! Your donation can put your care and concern into action as a general donation, a memorial donation or a donation made in Honor of a person or event. Please support your American Red Cross.
Checks may be sent to Clearfield-Jefferson Chapter, 309 W. Locust St., Clearfield, Pa 16830, or Clearfield-Jefferson Chapter, 275 Main St., Brookville, Pa 15825. VISA and MasterCard are accepted.
Red Cross is a United Way and United Fund Participating Agency and an RSVP Station.
