New year brings new crises for Red Cross

Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2000 | 11:15 a.m.

Most of the media reported few problems with the dawn of the new millennium.

But don't try telling that to the Clark County Chapter of the American Red Cross, which in the first 10 days of this year has assisted four to five times more families in crisis than it usually helps in a fortnight.

Starting Jan. 2 with a downtown apartment explosion that displaced 15 families, the local Red Cross has helped 43 families with small disasters. During a normal two-week period, about eight to 10 Southern Nevada families victimized by incidents require Red Cross assistance.

"We need money," said Carolyn Levering, director of disaster services for the local Red Cross. "The extra numbers of people uprooted by fire, flooding or other natural disasters in the past several months has resulted in an impending funding crisis for the chapter."

Not counting salary and operating expenses, the local Red Cross expects to spend more than $200,000 this year. Last year, the private, nonprofit agency spent $199,000 on disaster relief, Levering said.

In the past few days the agency has turned down requests from people wanting to donate clothing, blankets and shoes because the local Red Cross no longer stores such goods as part of its relief efforts.

"One way we help people after a disaster is to try to boost their self-esteem, and that includes giving them vouchers to purchase new clothes instead of having them rummage through boxes of old clothes," Levering said.

She says "dollar for dollar" the agency actually saves money with the voucher system because the Red Cross no longer has to tie up its few employees and limited resources to collect, sort, repair and store old clothes.

In addition to clothing vouchers, the agency also provides shelter at area hotels and motels, food and other emergency needs at no charge to the victims.

The recent series of disasters comes at the start of the second half of the agency's fiscal year, which ends June 30. Interestingly enough, the agency had a similar burst of activity at the start of the fiscal year by responding to the devastating flash floods last July.

Levering said her agency has been responding to an average of three fires a week.

The Red Cross, which has been in Las Vegas since 1917, also teaches life-saving skills like water safety and cardio-pulmonary resuscitation and provides AIDS awareness education.

To donate money to the Red Cross call 791-3311 or send checks or money orders to 1330 E. Karen Ave., Suite B, Las Vegas, NV 89109.