More than 50 trained Disaster Action Team volunteers from throughout the 15 communities of the Northeast Massachusetts Chapter of the American Red Cross responded to a call for assistance to open and staff emergency shelters during the severe winter storm that affected our area starting Thursday evening, February 25.  Volunteers trained in Mass Care and Shelter Operations opened emergency shelters at the Newbury Elementary School and the Fuller School in Gloucester.  The Red Cross teamed up with emergency officials from these localities along with volunteers from the Medical Reserve Corp to provide beds and meals to local residents forced from their homes due to storm damage or lack of heat.  Both of these shelters were operated as regional shelters to accomodate families from any of our 15 communities needing a place to stay.  An additional shelter was planned to open at the Ipswich Middle/High school late afternoon on Friday, but it was determined to not be needed when electric company officials reported that electricity would be restored to Ipswich later in the evening.  Volunteer disaster assessment workers are surveying the damage in the Chapter and caseworkers are meeting with clients who have lost their homes due to the storm damage.   Local emergency response officials, along with city and town governments, were instrumental in working with the Red Cross to provide for the needs of their residents in all 15 communities. For more information please call 978-922-2224.

Disaster Action Team members again responded to calls for assistance as streams and rivers flowed over their banks flooding many homes in mid-March, as ground water flooded basements and first floor apartments, and ocean waves tore away land beneath homes on North Shore barrier beaches.   Volunteers worked throughout our 15 communities surveying damage, handing out clean-up kits, and assisting residents in need of emergency services.  In addition, volunteers specially trained to respond out of the area responded to assist other eastern Massachusetts Red Cross Chapters to help residents in need.   For more information, please call 978-922-2224.