Red Cross Chapter Responds to Help House Fire Victims in Olean, NY

The Southwestern NY American Red Cross Disaster Action Team (DAT) responded to provide disaster relief following a house fire on West Eighth Street in Olean last night.

DAT volunteers Stu Moore and Alice Frost were on scene to provide the initial disaster assistance. Temporary housing, clothing, and meals are services typically offered to address emergency needs. The local Red Cross chapter will continue working with the family and their recovery process if additional services or referrals are necessary.

All disaster assistance offered by the American Red Cross is complimentary and made possible by generous contributions from the American people and residents of Cattaraugus County. The United Way organizations of Cattaraugus County also provide financial support to the local Red Cross mission.

Honoring a Leadership Volunteer- Clayton Sweeney completes three years of service as Chair of Local and NYS Red Cross Organizations

Clayton Sweeney, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the American Red Cross of Southwestern New York and Co-Chair of the New York State Council of the American Red Cross, will be honored for his service to the community and to the Red Cross at the Chapter’s upcoming annual meeting.  Clayton began his local volunteer service to the Red Cross in 2007 when he became a leadership volunteer and member of the board of directors.  He actively participated in the governance of the Chapter, helping it to prepare for and navigate a significant reorganization, which was successfully completed in 2009.  During this time Clayton applied his considerable knowledge as a renowned lawyer and international businessman to ensure the local Red Cross continued to deliver on its mission while judiciously caretaking the valuable resources contributed by community donors.

In 2010, Clayton was elected to serve as the Chair of the board of the local Red Cross, and was also elected to serve as the volunteer co-chair of the American Red Cross New York State Council, leading Red Cross management and leadership volunteers in statewide initiatives to improve operational effectiveness.  During Clayton’s tenure as a leader of the New York State Council, Red Cross chapters in New York State completed the reorganization process undertaken by the national organization, improved financial management processes, and responded to multiple disasters in New York State, to include the 2010 Olean/Portville floods, Hurricane Irene in 2011, and Hurricane Sandy in 2012.  As a result of his leadership, Red Cross organizations across New York State were better able to provide emergency food, clothing, shelter, health services, and mental health services in the aftermath of some of the State’s biggest disasters.

Clayton’s six years of service to his community will be honored at the annual meeting of the American Red Cross of Southwestern New York, to be held at 6:00pm on Thursday, June 27th, at the Elks Club in Olean, New York (209 W. State St).  The guest speaker will be Tara Hughes, LCSW-R, New York State’s Disaster Mental Health Advisor for The American Red Cross; Tara is an experienced Disaster Responder for the Red Cross, and has led Red Cross disaster mental health services in the aftermath of the flight 3407 crash, Hurricane Irene, Hurricane Sandy, the Newtown School Shootings, and the Boston Marathon bombing, among others.  Tara, a professor at the University at Buffalo, is also Clayton’s daughter; besides sharing some of her disaster response experiences with Red Cross Members, she will join the membership in activities to honor her father for his years of volunteer service.

Anyone who has donated time, blood, or money to the Red Cross is a member and is invited to attend the annual meeting.  A buffet dinner will be served at a cost of $18 per person; please RSVP to one of our local offices (Jamestown 716-664-5115; Olean 716-372-5800; Wellsville 585-593-1531). 

Clayton Sweeney (second from right) was honored for his service by the four Regional Chief Executive Officers of the American Red Cross in New York State; from left, Josh Lockwood (Greater New York), Rosie Taravella, (Central New York), Gary Striar (Northeastern New York), (Clayton Sweeney), and (far right) Nancy Blaschak (Western New York/Finger Lakes).

Red Cross to Hold Annual Meeting

The American Red Cross of Southwestern New York will be holding its annual meeting on June 27, 2013 at Olean Elks Lodge on 209 W. State Street. A reception will start at 6:00pm and the dinner and program will start at 6:30pm. The dinner cost is $18.00 per person. This year’s guest speaker is Tara S. Hughes, LCSW-R; New York State Disaster Mental Health Advisor for the American Red Cross.

The Annual Meeting is open to all who have supported the Red Cross throughout the past year by donating time, blood, or money. If you would like to attend please contact your local Red Cross Office in Jamestown at 716-664-5115, Olean at 716-372-5800 or in Wellsville at 585-593-1531 by June 21, 2013. The American Red Cross of Southwestern NY is a United Way Agency.

Local Red Cross Chapter Responds to Help House Fire Victims in Silver Creek, NY

The Southwestern NY American Red Cross Disaster Action Team (DAT) responded to provide disaster relief following a house fire in Silver Creek on Saturday June 1^st.

DAT volunteers Sandy and David Brown were on scene to provide the initial disaster assistance. Temporary housing, clothing, and meals are services typically offered to address emergency needs. The local Red Cross chapter will continue working with the families and their recovery process if additional services or referrals are necessary.

All disaster assistance offered by the American Red Cross is complimentary and made possible by generous contributions from the American people and residents of Chautauqua County. The United Way organizations of Chautauqua County also provide financial support to the local Red Cross mission.

2013 Hometown Heroes Recognized at American Red Cross Event

The Mission of the American Red Cross is to prevent and alleviate human suffering in the face of emergencies; when crises and disasters strike, the members and supporters of the American Red Cross join together and respond. This year, the Chautauqua County District of the Southwestern NY Chapter of the American Red Cross, together with major corporate sponsor NRG Dunkirk Power, conducted its eleventh annual “Salute to Hometown Heroes” celebration to recognize those local heroes who have demonstrated a tremendous willingness to help their neighbors during times of great need. This breakfast event celebration recognized and celebrated the knowledge, skill and actions of these exceptional individuals.

This year’s recipient of the Farm Fresh Foods Law Enforcement award was Patrolman James Muscato of the Westfield Police Department.  Patrolman Muscato responded to the scene of a fire in the Village of Westfield and his actions at that time saved the lives of several residents of the building.  Without hesitation, and at great risk to his own safety, he entered the house, at one point crawling on his hands, knees and stomach.  Patrolman Muscato’s actions demonstrate his dedication to the safety of the residents of Westfield.  We commend him for his bravery, dedication to duty, and unselfish actions.

Thomas Atwell of the Gerry Fire Department was the recipient of the Chautauqua Patrons Insurance Company Emergency Personnel Award.  Thomas is the 1^st Assistant Chief of the Gerry Fire Department, an EMT as well as Rodeo Chairman.  Thomas loves his community, and recently headed up a wonderful fundraiser for the chief of the Gerry fire department who is battling cancer.  The event was a great success.  “We say ‘God Bless’ to Tommy for his excellence and dedication to the Town of Gerry,” stated nominators David and Dorothy Miller.

Wayne Engstrom was awarded the Cummins, Inc. Workplace Hero award for 2013.  On August 2, 2012, Ted Card was working on a tractor when he became trapped between the tractor and the hay wagon it was pulling.  He was injured and unresponsive.  Wayne, who works with Ted, blocked the wagon and moved the tractor ahead, freeing Ted who then fell to the ground.  Wayne realized the situation was bad and immediately called 9-1-1 and attended to Ted until the Fluvanna Fire Department arrived.  “Thank you to Wayne for assisting my son when he needed it the most,” said Pat Carr.

Deborah Washington of Dunkirk was the recipient of the Nestlé Purina PetCare Animal Rescue Award.  Deborah goes through great efforts to feed and befriend feral cats daily.  She has hand raised kittens by the litter in her bathtub.  From her own resources, she has taken feral cats to be neutered and released them.  She has also taken very sick cats and nurtured them back to health.  She has also comforted them when they are dying.  She is very deserving of the Animal Rescue award for these reasons.

The winner of the KeyBank Youth Award responded to an emergency in his own home.  On July 15, 2012, an explosion rocked the home of the Sweet family.  The explosion buried the father of the family, Mark, under rubble and knocked his son Brandon off his feet.  Brandon was able to dig his father out of the rubble and assisted him outside and to the ambulance when it arrived.  He also carried his mother to an ambulance and cared for his other two brothers.  Brandon did all this while injured himself.  His actions set an example for all of us.

               

This year’s recipients of the Everyday’s TrueValue Firefighter award were Doug Crane, Michael Courtney and James Irwin of the Stanley Hose Company in Sherman, NY.  After the fire department was dispatched to a fire, these three fire fighters responded directly to the scene.  Upon arrival, they noticed the rear of the residence was fully involved and that two people were trapped in the second story bedroom.  The fire fighters used quick thinking and acquired two ladders from contractors and proceeded to rescue the victims from the home.  If it had not been for the brave actions of these men, the outcome could have been much worse.

The recipient of the NRG Dunkirk Power Humanitarian Award was Justin Brunacini.  A humanitarian is defined as a person having concern for or helping to improve the welfare and happiness of people, or someone who works to save human lives or alleviate suffering.  This year’s humanitarian award winner reflected these values when, while on his way to a friend’s home he noticed flames and smoke coming from a home.  Justin immediately stopped and attempted to alert the residents.  He quickly noticed there were people trapped on the second floor of the home.  With total disregard for his safety, Justin pulled his van alongside the burning home and rescued the occupants. He did not leave the residents until he was sure that they were safely in the care of fire and EMS personnel.  Justin showed us that day that he is a Hometown Hero.  He unselfishly stopped to help when it was needed most.

            

These heroes and those sponsoring their awards are being recognized by the American Red Cross in what has become an annual tradition. This year’s winners received their awards at the Hometown Heroes Breakfast held at the Moon Brook Country Club in Jamestown on Wednesday, May 29^th.  Award recipients also received a New York State Assembly Certificate of Merit from Assemblyman Andy Goodell and a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition from Congressman Tom Reed.  The SWNY Chapter Vice Chairman, John Plumb, extended special thanks to those who made this awards event possible - the staff at Moon Brook Country Club, Allison Beach who sang the National Anthem, Master of Ceremonies Terry Frank, WJTN News Director, and the many corporate award sponsors.  Mr. Plumb also thanked Spectrum Eyecare and Jamestown Mattress, two local companies that sponsored tables for the event.  Southwestern NY Chapter Executive Director Bill Tucker said it this way:  “Our Hometown Heroes Event is a wonderful way to recognize ordinary people doing extraordinary things.” 

Funds raised through this event will support local Chapter programs such as disaster relief operations and Service to Armed Forces activities in Chautauqua County.

PHOTO CAPTION: Front row, L to R: Justin Brunacini, Brandon Sweet, Deborah Washington, Patrolman James Muscato and Wayne Engstrom.  Back row, L to R: Thomas Atwell, Doug Crane, James Irwin and Michael Courtney.

Red Cross Offers Tips for Safe Holiday Travel

It’s almost Memorial Day and for many it will mean heading out on the highway to a fun destination for the long holiday weekend. The American Red Cross has some travel safety information everyone can follow to help them enjoy their trip.

With more people on the roads, it’s important to drive safely. Be well rested and alert, use your seat belts, observe speed limits and follow the rules of the road. If you plan on drinking alcohol, designate a driver who won’t drink.
Other tips for a safe trip include:

• Give your full attention to the road. Avoid distractions such as cell phones.
• Don’t follow another vehicle too closely.
• Use caution in work zones.
• Make frequent stops. 
• Clean your vehicle’s lights and windows to help you see, especially at night.
• Turn your headlights on as dusk approaches, or during inclement weather.
• Don’t overdrive your headlights.

If you are traveling with your pet, the Red Cross has special advice to make your trip more enjoyable.

 Pay attention to the weather forecast for your destination. Travel and weather web sites can help you avoid storms and other regional issues that could impact your safety.

• Don’t let your vehicle’s gas tank get too low. If you have car trouble, pull as far as possible off the highway.
• Carry a Disaster Supplies Kit in your trunk.
• Let someone know your destination, your route, and when you expect to arrive. If your car gets stuck along the way, help can be sent along your predetermined route.
• Find out what disasters may occur in the place where you are traveling, especially if they are disasters you have never experienced before. Find out how you would get information in the event of a disaster (local radio systems, emergency alert systems).

DOWNLOAD FREE APPS Another thing people can do is download the free Red Cross apps for mobile devices. The first aid app puts expert advice for everyday emergency at someone’s fingertips. If you know what disasters can occur near your destination, apps are available to help. The free apps are available for direct download from the Apple or Google Play for Android app stores.

Tornadoes Strike Quickly; People Should Be Prepared

The tornadoes that have hit in Oklahoma, Texas and other states in the past few days are a reminder that tornadoes can strike anywhere, at any time, and the best time to get ready is before the weather turns bad.

Experts warn that weather patterns can change quickly, and people should stay informed about any severe weather forecast for their community. The American Red Cross has safety steps people can take to be prepared should tornadoes threaten.

DOWNLOAD TORNADO APP One thing people should do is download the free American Red Cross Tornado App, available in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store for Android by searching for American Red Cross. The app gives mobile-device users instant access to local and real-time information, so they know what to do before, during and after a tornado.

The app includes important things like a high-pitched siren and tornado warning alert that signals when a NOAA tornado warning has been issued. This feature allows users to make critical decisions and to take actions to help keep themselves and their loved ones safe even in the middle of the night. An all-alert lets users know when a tornado warning has expired or has been cancelled.

Although severe tornadoes are more common in the Plains states, tornadoes have been reported in every state. Everyone should know the tornado danger signs, such as dark, often greenish clouds, a wall cloud, cloud of debris, large hail, funnel cloud or a loud, roaring noise. A tornado watch is issued when a tornado is possible in or near a specific area. A tornado warning means that a tornado has been spotted and that people should immediately seek shelter.

SAFETY STEPS The Red Cross urges everyone to pick a safe room in their household where loved ones and pets can gather, such as a basement, storm cellar or interior room on the lowest floor with no windows. Mobile homes are not safe during tornados. If someone is in a mobile home, they should get to the nearest sturdy building or shelter immediately—do not wait until the tornado is visible. People should also:

• Know their community’s warning system.
• Prepare for strong winds by removing diseased and damaged limbs from trees.
• Move or secure lawn furniture, trash cans, hanging plants or anything else that can be picked up by the wind and become a projectile
• If someone is caught outdoors, they should seek shelter in a basement, shelter or sturdy building. If that’s not possible, they should take the following steps:
• Get into a vehicle immediately, buckle your seat belt and try to drive to the closest sturdy shelter. If flying debris occurs while driving, pull over and park. They can stay in the car with the seat belt on with their head down below the windows, covering their head with their hands and a blanket if possible.
• If it is possible to safely get noticeably lower than the level of the roadway, another option is to exit the car and lie in the low area, covering their head with their hands.
• Your choice should be driven by your specific circumstances.

More information on tornado safety, including videos and downloadable checklists, is available in the Preparedness section of redcross.org.