Why Volunteering is Important to Panhandle Communities

Written by Mary Lou Farnum, volunteer contributor

In observance of  National Volunteer Week we interviewed Red Cross volunteers Bryan and Darla Friemel. Listen to them discuss why they are proud to be a part of the Red Cross response during community disasters.

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Disaster Action Team Responds to Pierce Street Fire

Written by Mary Lou Farnum, volunteer contributor

When emergency dispatchers call for Red Cross response to an emergency such as the recent Pierce Street industrial fire, Disaster Action Team (DAT) volunteers pride themselves on being on scene in an instant.  

Tuesday night one husband and wife team helped two families displaced as a result of the fire, made sure they had a safe place to stay and help provide for their other immediate needs.  

In addition, two other DAT volunteers delivered donated sandwiches from Chick Fil-A to the mobile command unit.  

When businesses burn, Potter County’s first responders work tirelessly to keep the fire from spreading and creating even more havoc in our community. The Red Cross is proud to support our firefighters and other responders.

If you want to become a part of our volunteer team, please contact our volunteer specialist Molly Mabery by emailing her at Molly.Mabery@redcross.org.

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Thank you Red Cross Volunteers!

Photo credit: Mary Lou Farnum

Written by Mary Lou Farnum

Without our volunteers the American Red Cross could not provide assistance to families who experience disasters such as the recent tornadoes that touched down across Texas and Oklahoma. 

One of our chapter volunteers, Raenell Gore, was deployed early Monday morning to work as a supervisor for client casework. 

Although she is staying at a staff shelter and getting only a few hours of sleep, she tells us that she loves responding to the immediate needs of clients. It makes her heart smile to provide a hot meal or a warm hug to folks who smile and hug back.

So...here's to ALL our volunteers.  We salute you!  

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Report from Woodward OK

Written by T.D.Smyers, Regional CEO of North Texas Region, American Red Cross

After the bout with tornadoes earlier this month in the Dallas metro area, the weekend's terrible tornado outbreak across the south and mid-west underscored the point that there is no springtime rest for the ARC Volunteer - the most vital and needed resource a family can hope for following disaster.

Hundreds of families have been displaced by a storm system that produced 122 tornadoes and has claimed lives. Much work is to be done as we move ahead, but already, our region is helping. Cindy Nickell from the Eastern Texas Panhandle Chapter was the first to offer aid to Oklahoma as she was on the safe side of the storm system and could travel without peril. Next out was Dan Halyburton from the Public Affairs Team. Dan is in Woodward, Oklahoma and sent back this quick 45 second video clip about what he was seeing. 

We can relate to how the folks in OK, KS, NE and IA are feeling; and the Red Cross family comes from near and far to help when needed. In fact, even more volunteers have been called to action, spending this special week helping our neighbors to the north.

Volunteer spirit is, of course, a Red Cross Fundamental Principle. It's also a principle on which our country was founded. Volunteers won our freedom; established our republic and expanded this country across an unexplored land. In this same spirit, volunteers continue to provide humanitarian relief to those most in need through One Red Cross, an organization like no other.

It's fitting, as National Volunteer Week kicks off, to thank everyone who helped here at home; to those on the ground in OK and to those who will be deployed for the next storm. It is you who keep the Red Cross mission alive and changing lives!

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Texas State Guard and DPS Partner with Red Cross

Photo Credit: Darla Friemel/American Red Cross
Written by Mary Lou Farnum

Red Cross volunteer instructors Raenell Gore and Mary Lou Farnum delivered Shelter Operations and Shelter Simulation training to 22 members of the 2^nd Battalion, 39^th Composite Group, Amarillo Area, Texas State Guard.  The training took place on Saturday, April 14 at the State Guard’s brand new facility, located on NW 24th Street. 

Also in attendance was Joe Menshew, the Department of Public Safety, Region 5B, District Coordinator. 

A simultaneous training was conducted in Lubbock for 40 more Texas State Guard members. DPS State Coordinator, Region 5, David Solis and Colleen O’Neal, Region 5A, District Coordinator, attended the Lubbock training. Volunteer Bill Curnow taught the Lubbock class.

When disaster hits the Panhandle and South Plains Region this Spring, rest assured that our Texas State Guard and Department of Public Safety partners are prepared to help us provide a safe, secure environment for shelter clients. We are lucky indeed to have them at our side.

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Blog Title: How the Blog Should be Formatted

Photo Credit: Mary Lou Farnum/American Red Cross
Written by Mary Lou Farnum

This is the body copy. Now is the time to insert something into the blog!

If using videos from You Tube, embed by using HTML code

Forma pictures to be on right side

use medium size for pictures


Font should be Georgia and Normal size


Put title in title box not in content area

When ending sentences, follow period with only ONE space.


After publishing a post, send out email to Red Cross staff advising them.

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Protecting Yourself from Hail and High Water: Thun...

Written by Lilly Watson 

Before bringing those May flowers we hope to see in a few short weeks, April showers bring a heightened chance of severe storms and hail. 


These weather outbreaks are able to move from nothing to severe quickly, so it is important to know your steps to safety no matter where you are when it hits your area.


Watch this video from our friend Jim Cantore of The Weather Channel:



It is always safest to be indoors during a storm, but we have tips today on preventative measures you can take to stay as safe as possible no matter where you are caught in the storms.


If you are indoors:


Stay away from windows and sky lights that can break from hail damage.


Avoid using the phone or electrical appliances to steer clear of the danger of electrocution should your house be struck by lightning.


Make sure everyone in your home is accounted for and in one general area.


If you are outdoors:


Seek shelter immediately. If you cannot find anywhere to go, find an object that can help you protect your head from large hail.


Remember that using trees for shelter is a last resort. Trees can lose branches during a storm and isolated trees may attract lighting.


If you are caught driving when the storm hits:


Stop driving. If you can see a safe place close-by to drive to (such as inside of a garage, under a highway overpass, or under a service station awning), do so as soon as you can. Make sure you pull completely off the highway.


Stay in the vehicle until it stops hailing. Your car will furnish reasonable protection.


Pull beneath and overpass or gas station awning to protect your windshield from hail.


Lay across your seat with your back to the car windows to protect your face and eyes. If you have a blanket in your car place it over yourself to guard you should your windshield break from hail damage. Also cover any children in the car, making sure their eyes are covered, and put any very small children beneath you, also covering their eyes.


Avoid low areas or pulling into ditches so your car cannot be swept away by rising water or deep hail.

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Red Cross Urges Preparedness for Weekend Forecasts

Forecasters are predicting severe storms that could lead to possible tornadoes in our area over the next several days.

In this video, Anita Foster walks you through the basics of getting together a kit. Take the time today to prepare your family since severe storm season is just beginning and experts are predicting a very active year. 

We also know that being prepared while on the road can be challenging but you can prepare by staying alert of weather forecasts, packing a kit for a car and following safety precautions issued for travelers. 

The most important thing this weekend is to stay weather aware and get a kit, make a plan, and be informed.

Here is a checklist of items that you might wish to put into your kit.

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Welcome back!

Photo Credit: Mary Lou Farnum/American Red Cross
Written by Mary Lou Farnum

Red Cross volunteers from the Texas Panhandle Chapter returned home this afternoon after having spent a week in the Dallas/Ft.Worth metro area responding to the recent tornadoes that ripped through the area last Tuesday (April 3,2012). They delivered food, snacks, water, and clean up kits to area residents in Forney.

Looks like they are coming home just in time!  Keep your heads down folks.  Warnings are out right now about heavy storms with possible hail northeast of Amarillo.

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