Great Food, Good Cause

The Louisville Area Chapter Community Emergency Services is hosting the Yellow Ribbon Warriors fund-raising event to benefit the American Red Cross. The event is from 6 to 10 pm June 4 at Bearno’s Pizza, 4105 Dixie HWY.

All you need to do is inform your server that you are there for the Red Cross fundraiser, and a portion of your bill will benefit the Red Cross.

The fundraiser is just one of many events planned during our Heroes Campaign. Make sure to check out our Blog and Facebook in the upcoming weeks for more opportunities to support your local Red Cross chapter :D

The Louisville Area Chapter Call Center provides services to the men and women of our Armed Forces such as helping them return home during a family emergency. Last year the call center responded to over 160,000 military family emergencies--over 1,200 in the Louisville area alone.

Got any plans this weekend ...?

Put on your running shoes Kentuckiana! People hanging around Louisville for the holiday weekend can participate in "Run for the L of it!" a 5K run sponsored by the U of L Alumni Association. The run begins 8 a.m. Saturday, May 29 at Fourth Street Live. Registration is $15 for U of L students and $25 for U of L Alumni and friends. A portion of the proceeds from the event will benefit American Red Cross disaster recovery efforts.

Operation Wrap Up

Janine, director of the disaster operation, gives an update on the chapter's response to the Kentucky floods and tornadoes. Now in it's final days, the operation has assisted over 1,100 people affected by the recent severe weather with the help of over 500 Red Cross workers!

EOC Part 2

Here our CEO, Keith Alvey, continues his tour of the Emergency Operations Center.



For the rest of Keith's tour visit the Louisville Area Chapter YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/user/LouisvilleRedCross.

Tracking Red Cross Assistance

A lot goes on during a disaster, and with the American Red Cross being supported by financial contributions, it's important to keep track of the donated dollar. Donna joined our disaster operation from Oklahoma to help us track our volunteers and the materials we send out to help those affected.

Disaster Mental Health

The physical devastation a disaster has on a community is easy to see, but disasters also have a mental effect. Here Lisa, our disaster mental health expert, shares how the Red Cross mentally supports both people affected by disaster and its own volunteers.

Mass Care during a disaster

Aleks, our sheltering supervisor, gives an update on shelter operations and bulk distribution for the Kentucky floods and tornadoes. Even though all shelters are officially closed, there is still work to be done to help those affected recover.

Emergency Operations Center

The Louisville Area Chapter uses its Emergency Operations Center as headquarters during relief operations such as the Kentucky floods and tornadoes. Chapter CEO, Keith Alvey gives a brief introduction to some of the work going on to assist those affected by disaster.

Flood help from across the country

During major disaster operations, American Red Cross workers come to help out from chapters across the state and across the country. Here a couple of Red Crossers from outside the Louisville Area Chapter give you an update on how they are helping the Kentucky Flood Relief operation in the areas of Health Services and Client Casework.

Kentucky Flood Update 2

Janine, deputy director for the Kentucky floods operation, gives an update on what the Louisville Area Chapter is doing to help those affected by the May 2 flood.

Kentucky Floods Staffing

Only one shelter remains open in the aftermath of last week's flooding, but there is still a lot of work to do. Here Kim, our head of staffing during this disaster relief operation, talks about the importance of volunteers, especially in the time of a disaster.



If you would like to become a Red Cross volunteer contact your local chapter or call 1-800-RED CROSS.

Kentucky Floods Client Casework

Once the flood waters clear, many people may find themselves without food, shelter, clothing, and other basic needs. This is where client casework comes into play. Red Cross client caseworkers make sure those affected by disaster are provided with their immediate emergency needs. Check out this video from two of the Louisville Chapter's finest caseworkers.

Kentucky Flood Update 1

In response to last weekend's severe weather, the Louisville Area Chapter is doing its best to support disaster relief efforts state-wide. For more information on what Red Cross is doing to help those affected, check out the video below with Christy, assistant job director for LAC's disaster response to the floods.

What is Mass Care?

During disaster response one of the main roles of the Red Cross is Mass Care. If you’re not a Red Cross worker, you’re probably thinking “What is Mass Care, anyway?”

Mass Care encompasses many of the Red Cross services including sheltering, the preparation of food, mobile feeding, and bulk distribution. Mobile feeding and bulk distribution are often carried out using the Emergency Response Vehicles (ERVs) often seen in photos and on TV. Specially designed to carry food in “cambros,” (large, plastic, re-sealable containers) the ERVs can carry up to 2,000 pounds of cargo. That’s a lot of food for a lot of people.

ERVs are also used in bulk distribution. Bulk distribution includes the delivery of comfort kits containing toothbrushes and toiletry items, or even clean-up kits containing sponges and bleach to help people clean up after disasters like the recent flooding. Whether it is shampoo or a mop, materials must be collected and distributed by teams of hard-working Red Cross volunteers, all of whom are part of the Mass Care team.

For more information on how you can help with mass care or any other task during a disaster, contact the Louisville Area Chapter at 589-4450 or visit louisville-redcross.org.

LAC responds to Kentucky flooding

Mother Nature is at it again, this time hammering southern Kentucky and counties surrounding Louisville with over 10 inches of rain in some areas. Our friends based in Bardstown and Bowling Green are seeing the most damage caused by overflowing rivers. Even though the full extent of the flood damage has yet to be determined, Red Cross volunteers from across the state are mobilizing to help those in need.

Many people in the Boston and New Haven areas are unable to access their homes, leaving them without food and clean clothing. A team of volunteers traveled from the Louisville Area Chapter to Marion County this morning to provide food and water for stranded residents via an ERV (Emergency Response Vehicle). More volunteers are preparing to deploy as news from disaster assessment teams comes in, and our client caseworkers are already meeting with flood victims to ensure their immediate emergency needs are met.

Stay tuned to the LAC blog for reports on the chapter’s response to the widespread flooding.