Category: News

That haze in the air, the subliminal smell that makes you want to barbecue for dinner, the gentle ballad of wailing sirens flying down the road. Yes, Cinco de Mayo is right around the corner! Wait, no…..fire season. I mean FIRE SEASON!

Thanks to record dry conditions, warm temperatures and winds throughout California, it’s that time of year again already! Red Flag Warnings are in effect as wildfires are beginning to crop up throughout the state, providing a not-so-gentle reminder that the time to be wildfire ready is NOW. Continue reading Are You Ready for Wildfire Season?

Well, there it goes. Did you see it? Winter certainly was in a big hurry to get out of town this year. If you blinked, chances are you missed the low temperatures all together. And now here we are, staring the fast-approaching summer right in the face!

For many of us, the warm sunshine is a most welcome sight. We can’t wait to swap the rain boots for flip flops, pull the cover off our swimming pools, and dive right into California’s greatest time of year (of course this is just one writer’s opinion). Continue reading May is National Water Safety Month

The week of April 21-27, 2013 is National Volunteer Week! It’s a time to celebrate people doing extraordinary things through service. While we certainly appreciate and value these types of recognition weeks, for those of us in local Red Cross chapters that are fortunate enough to see the incredible work and dedication of volunteers in action on a daily basis, it’s hard to understand why there’s only ONE week per year set aside. The service, passion and energy Red Cross volunteers bring each and everyday is simply invaluable.

With a national workforce that is 97 percent volunteer, it is fair to say that the Red Cross simply could not fulfill its mission without the efforts of these selfless individuals. We proudly recognize and appreciate your work and passion for service – not only this week, but EVERY week. Continue reading THANK YOU, Volunteers!!

As the Midwest battles devastating flood waters and braces for a long recovery, the American Red Cross is helping residents in flooded communities by providing food, supplies, and emotional support while also supporting sandbagging operations in nearby states that are preparing for flooding.

To support the flood relief efforts, the Capital Region Chapter has deployed local volunteers to help in some of the areas impacted. As of Thursday morning, five disaster services volunteers from Sacramento and surrounding areas were en route to Illinois to begin a two week assignment as part of the flood relief operation. Continue reading Capital Region Chapter Deploys Five Volunteers to Illinois for Flood Relief

The recent tragedies in Boston and in Texas have left permanent scars in the lives of those affected. Lives and homes have been lost, and the world’s of many were changed in an instant. For those of us not directly impacted, the events have nontheless left us shaken and unsure of what may happen next.

What is often difficult to grasp is simply not knowing what’s next. An unfortunate reality is that accidents do happen and tragedy can strike without so much as a moment’s notice.

But we are not helpless. There are a number of things that we can do to both reduce our risk/exposure to such events AND prepare ourselves to react and respond should disaster occur. Continue reading Boston and Texas Tragedies a Reminder of Our Need to Be Ready

WASHINGTON, Monday, April 15, 2013 — Our hearts go out to everyone in Boston dealing with this tragedy and our thoughts are with all of those injured.

Right now, it’s important for people in Boston to listen to the advice of local officials and stay at home so that the roads are clear for emergency responders. If you are in Boston or have loved ones there, knowing people are safe is the best way to bring peace of mind. It is important for people to connect with one another. If you have access to a computer, go to redcross.org/safeandwell to list yourself as safe. If you don’t, they can text loved ones or call a one family member and ask them to register you on the site. We are experiencing high volume, so please check back if you have a problem connecting. Continue reading Red Cross Statement on Boston Marathon Explosions

*The following article was published by Congressional Quarterly on Monday, April 8, 2013*

By Jennifer Scholtes, CQ Staff

Immediately following the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, the Red Cross was seeing Facebook and Twitter messages posted by survivors saying their family members were trapped beneath the rubble, but the organization that helps people during disasters was largely helpless in the realm of social media. Continue reading Red Cross Expands Social Media Presence

Kicking into high gear this week is the annual Get Prepared, California! auction to promote earthquake preparedness and to support the American Red Cross. The online auction runs through April 26, with many once-in-a-lifetime items available for bidding at www.GetPreparedCalifornia.org.

Exclusive items available for bidding include opportunities to meet celebrity bands and musicians such as Shania Twain, Maroon 5 and Justin Bieber, meet star athletes and see them in action, get dance lessons from the pros at Dancing with the Stars and tickets to this year’s final show, and win a Kennedy Space Center All-Access Space Pass astronaut-training experience. Continue reading Annual Star-Studded Auction to Support Red Cross Offers Exclusive Items