In small towns and rural and remote communities, people share the desire and the responsibility to help others in times of need. Most often this is an unplanned response, but there are also several local volunteer groups that train and plan to help others during emergencies.
Consider your local fire departments, rescue squad, ambulance and Salvation Army.
Larger organizations also stand ready to help when needed. Most famous is the American Red Cross. We hear about their presence at hurricanes and international crises, but did you know they are active in Lake and Cook counties as well?
Every time there is a house fire, the Red Cross is only a phone call away. Just ask your fire chief or 911 dispatcher for their emergency number. Red Cross volunteers are on-call around the clock and can provide temporary lodging, personal and comfort kits, funding for food and clothing, and recovery guidance to those who have unexpectedly lost everything and don’t know where to turn.
September is National Preparedness Month, and a good time to get ready for all types of emergencies. The Red Cross provides classroom and online training for everything from babysitting to CPR. For businesses and other organizations, their Ready Rating program provides a Preparedness Survey and Scorecard, Next Steps Report, and Emergency Response Plans toolkit.
In addition, the Red Cross provides service to the Armed Forces, veterans and their families, and is the nation’s largest supplier of lifesaving blood products.
Red Cross services are provided solely through the power of compassionate volunteers and generous donors. Could you be one of them? To find out, contact the Northland Chapter of the American Red Cross at 218-722-0071.
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